Dual method of hydrogen production

Abstract

The present invention provides a dual method of hydrogen production, wherein organic feed material is heated with excess or diverted heat from a secondary hydrogen production method, thereby substantially deactivating or killing methanogens within the organic feed material. Hydrogen producing microorganisms contained or added to the organic feed material metabolize the organic feed material in a bioreactor to produce hydrogen in a primary hydrogen production method. As the methanogens are no longer substantially present to convert produced hydrogen to methane, a biogas that contains hydrogen without substantial methane can be produced.

1 . A method for dually producing hydrogen, comprising the steps of: 
 performing a secondary hydrogen production method wherein hydrogen is produced from one or a series of reactions under elevated temperatures to produce hydrogen and oxygen, the secondary hydrogen production method producing liquids or gases of elevated temperatures that provide heat.    heating organic feed material in a primary hydrogen production method with heat from the secondary hydrogen production method, wherein the organic feed material is conducive to the growth of hydrogen producing microorganisms.    conveying the organic feed material into a bioreactor of the primary hydrogen production method, wherein the bioreactor is an anaerobic environment, and    removing hydrogen from the bioreactor.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic feed material is inoculated with hydrogen producing microorganisms.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the organic feed material is inoculated within the bioreactor.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein heat is conveyed from the secondary hydrogen production system to the primary hydrogen production method with a heat exchanger.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquids and gases of elevated temperatures are selected from the group consisting of water, stream, hydrochloric acid, oxygen and sulfur dioxide.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquids and gases of elevated temperatures are at a temperature in a range of about 100 to 1000° C.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic feed material is heated in one or a multiplicity of containers or passages prior to conveyance into the bioreactor.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic feed material is heated by the heat to a temperature of about 60 to 100° C.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic feed material in the bioreactor has a controlled pH.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the organic feed material is controlled to a pH between about 3.5 and 6.0 pH.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary hydrogen production method is electrolysis.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary hydrogen production method is a sulfur-iodine system.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic feed material is conveyed into the bioreactor with the aid of a pump.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the organic feed material is controlled with an electronic controller.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein hydrogen is produced in the bioreactor by hydrogen producing microorganisms metabolizing the organic feed solution.  
   
   
       16 . A method for dually producing hydrogen, comprising the steps of: 
 performing a secondary hydrogen production method wherein hydrogen is produced from electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen, the secondary hydrogen production method producing heated liquids or gases that provide heat,    heating organic feed material in a primary hydrogen production method with heat from the secondary hydrogen production method, wherein the organic feed material is conducive to the growth of hydrogen producing microorganisms,    conveying the organic feed material into a bioreactor of the primary hydrogen production method, wherein the bioreactor is an anaerobic environment, and    removing hydrogen from the bioreactor.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the heat is conveyed from the secondary hydrogen production system to the primary hydrogen production method with a heat exchanger.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the organic feed material in the bioreactor has a controlled pH.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the organic feed material is controlled to a pH between about 3.5 and 6.0 pH.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein hydrogen is produced in the bioreactor by hydrogen producing microorganisms metabolizing the organic feed material.