BIOGAS PURIFICATION

TECHNOLOGIES
SCRUBBING
SCRUBBING
• Used to remove CO2and H2S(more soluble in water than CH4)

• The absorption process is purely physical.

• Usually biogas is pressurized and fed to the bottom of a packed

column while water is fed on the top and so absorption process is
operated counter-currently
SCRUBBING
• Water scrubbing can be used for selective removal of H2S since H2S
is more soluble than CO2 in water.

• Water which exits the column with absorbed CO2and/or H2S can be
regenerated and re-circulated back to the scrubber.
SCRUBBING
• Regeneration is accomplished by de-pressuring or by stripping with air
in a similar column.

• Stripping with air is not recommended when high levels of H2S are
handled since water quickly becomes contaminated with S0 which
causes operational problems.

• When cheap water can be used, for example, outlet water from a sewage
treatment plant, the most cost efficient method is not to re-circulate the
water.
CO2 SCRUBBING FROM BIOGAS
• Several basic mechanisms are involved to achieve selective separation
of gas constituents.

• These may include physical or chemical absorption. Adsorption on a

solid surface, membrane separation, cryogenic separation and
chemical conversion.
PEG SCRUBBING
• Polyethylene glycol (PEG) scrubbing relies on the same underlying
mechanism as water scrubbing.

• The big difference between water and PEG is that CO2and H2S are more
soluble in PEG which results in a lower solvent demand and reduced pumping.

• Due to formation of elementary sulfur stripping the PEG is normally done

with steam or inert gas rather than with air.

• Removing H2S beforehand is an alternative

SCRUBBING OF H2S (hydrogen sulphide)
• H2S is always present in biogas, although concentrations vary with the
feedstock.
• It has to be removed in order to avoid corrosion in compressors, gas
storage tanks and engines.
• H2S is poisonous and corrosive as well as environmentally hazardous
since it is converted to sulphur dioxide by combustion.
• It also contaminates upgrading process. H2S can be removed either in
the digester, from the crude biogas or in upgrading process
SCRUBBING OF H2S (hydrogen sulphide)
• The most commonly used H2S removal process can be classified into
two general categories namely:
(1) dry oxidation process
It can be used for removal of H2S from gas streams by
converting it either into sulphur or oxides of sulphur. This process is
used where the sulphur content of gas is relatively low and high
purities are required. Some of these methods are described below.
SCRUBBING OF H2S (hydrogen sulphide)
(2) liquid phase oxidation process

• This process is primarily used for the treatment of gases

containing relatively low concentration of H2S. It may be
either:
• (a) physical absorption process
• (b) chemical absorption process
SCRUBBING OF H2S (hydrogen sulphide)
• In physical absorption process the H2S can be absorbed by the
solvents. One of the solvent is water.

• Chemical absorption of H2S can take place with iron salt solutions
like iron chloride. This method is extremely effective in reducing high
H2S levels.
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
• Advantages
• No special chemicals required (except relatively inexpensive PEG) and removal of both
CO2and H2S.

• Disadvantages
• Requires a lot of water even with regeneration
• Limitations on H2S removal, because the CO2 decreases pH of the solution
• Corrosion to the equipment caused by H2S.

• Cost of water scrubbing;

• 0.13 €/Nm3biogas(De Hulluet al, 2008)
REFERENCES:
1. S.S. Kapdi, V.K. Vijay*, S.K. Rajesh, Rajendra Prasad
• Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology,
New Delhi 110 016, India
• Received 8 May 2003; accepted 23 September 2004
• 2. A Review of Biogas Utilisation, Purification and Upgrading
Technologies
• Olumide Wesley Awe, Yaqian Zhao, Ange Nzihou, Doan Pham Minh, Nathalie
Lyczko
• Submitted on 20 Oct 2018
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