Continuous biomethanation of flue gas-carbon dioxide using bio-integrated carbon capture and utilization

Abstract

Biomethanation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from flue gas is a potential enabler of the green transition, particularly when integrated with the power-to-gas chain. However, challenges arise in achieving synthetic natural gas quality when utilizing CO₂ from diluted carbon sources, and the high costs of CO₂ separation using amine-based solutions make large-scale implementation unfeasible. We propose an innovative continuous biomethanation system that integrates carbon capture and CO₂ stripping through microbial utilization, eliminating expenses with the stripper. Stable continuous biomethane production (83-92 % methane purity) was achieved from flue gas-CO₂ using a biocompatible aqueous n-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) solution (50 mmol/L) under mesophilic and hydrogen-limiting conditions. MDEA was found to be recalcitrant to biodegradation and could be reused after regeneration. Demonstrating the microbial ability to simultaneously strip and convert the captured CO₂ and regenerate MDEA provides a new pathway for valorization of flue gas CO₂.

Keywords: BICCU; Biomethane; CCU; Continuous reactor system; MDEA; N-methyldiethanolamine; Power-to-X.