Frontiers in Environmental Science (May 2017)

Biogas Production from Local Biomass Feedstock in the Mekong Delta and Its Utilization for a Direct Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

  • Yusuke Shiratori,
  • Takeo Yamakawa,
  • Mio Sakamoto,
  • Hinomi Yoshida,
  • Takuya Kitaoka,
  • Quang Tuyen Tran,
  • Duc Chanh Tin Doan,
  • Mau Chien Dang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00025
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5

Abstract

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Fuel-flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies are presently under study in a Vietnam-Japan international joint research project. The purpose of this project is to develop and demonstrate an SOFC-incorporated energy circulation system for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region. Lab-scale methane fermentation experiments in this study with a mixture of biomass feedstock collected in the Mekong Delta (shrimp pond sludge, bagasse, and molasses from sugar production) recorded biogas production yield over 400 L kgVS−1 with H2S concentration below 50 ppm level. This real biogas was directly supplied to an SOFC without any fuel processing such as desulfurization, methane enrichment and pre-reforming, and stable power generation was achieved by applying paper-structured catalyst (PSC) technology.

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