The use of biogas plants plays an important role in sustainable energy production and the circular economy. To prevent corrosion in the plant, hydrogen sulfide and organic pollutants must be removed. Activated carbon has proven to be particularly suitable for this purpose, as it can bind pollutants through both chemisorption and physisorption. However, the suitable method depends on the individual specifications of the biogas plant.
Biogas contains not only methane and carbon dioxide but also hydrogen sulfide (H2S), siloxanes, and other organic impurities (VOCs). These substances can cause corrosion to technical components and lead to operational disruptions. Therefore, targeted gas cleaning is required to ensure high gas quality and improve the economic efficiency of the plant.
The selection of suitable gas treatment processes is crucial for the efficient operation of biogas plants. In addition to biological processes and washing methods, the use of activated carbon has proven to be particularly effective.
Activated carbon is successfully used to remove hydrogen sulfide, organic pollutants, and siloxanes from biogas. Various types of activated carbon are available, specifically developed for the requirements in biogas plants.
The optimal conditions for one group of pollutants can impair the adsorption of the other. While H2S removal requires moisture and oxygen, VOCs need a dry and cool environment. Therefore, the priority should be set according to the main problem of the plant.
In addition to pollutant removal, the upgrading of biogas to biomethane is increasingly coming into focus, especially when injection into the natural gas grid is targeted.
Biogas plants can be expanded with an appropriate upgrading unit to produce high-quality biomethane. For injection into the natural gas grid, the CO2 content must be significantly reduced, as it lowers the energy content of the gas.
Carbon molecular sieves (CMS), originally developed in Essen, enable the efficient separation of CO2 using pressure swing adsorption (PSA). This ensures that the quality requirements for injection into the natural gas grid are reliably met.
We are happy to assist you in selecting the appropriate activated carbon for your biogas plant. In addition to providing high-quality activated carbons, we also offer consulting services for process optimization.
Our partner, CarboTech AC GmbH, is one of the world's leading suppliers of powdered and granular activated carbons. The processing or reactivation is also carried out at CarboTech in Essen, Germany. The fluidized bed process makes the reactivation of activated carbon more efficient than in the usual rotary kiln – with correspondingly positive effects on its performance.
The parameters pH, conductivity, and acidity are among the most important measurements to check regularly for boiler water treatment.
Two processes can be considered for the expansion of the 4th treatment stage or micropollutant elimination. Financial support is provided by the Wastewater Fund of the Federal Office for the Environment.