Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A Review

Biogas consists of mainly methane, as a source of energy, and impurities such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, water, and siloxanes. These impurities, such as hydrogen sulphide, reduce the biogas energy content and corrode equipment that store, transport, or utilise biogas. Several reviews on u...

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Main Authors: Chipo Shonhiwa, Yolanda Mapantsela, Golden Makaka, Patrick Mukumba, Ngwarai Shambira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/14/5272
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author Chipo Shonhiwa
Yolanda Mapantsela
Golden Makaka
Patrick Mukumba
Ngwarai Shambira
author_facet Chipo Shonhiwa
Yolanda Mapantsela
Golden Makaka
Patrick Mukumba
Ngwarai Shambira
author_sort Chipo Shonhiwa
collection DOAJ
description Biogas consists of mainly methane, as a source of energy, and impurities such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, water, and siloxanes. These impurities, such as hydrogen sulphide, reduce the biogas energy content and corrode equipment that store, transport, or utilise biogas. Several reviews on upgrading biogas to biomethane have been published, but minimal focus has been put on upgrading biogas for commercialisation in South Africa. Thus, this study reviewed biogas upgrading techniques in South Africa to put together information on activities and experiences on biogas valorisation to enhance the chances for different stakeholders to learn and build on from local experiences. To capture all relevant information, literature from the past 10 years was retrieved from online databases and government, municipality, and companies’ websites and institutional repositories. The review covered the sorption, separation, and in situ techniques that are globally used for upgrading biogas. The status of the biogas sector and the upgrading activities that occur in the country with their cost, energy, and environmental impacts were given in detail. It is estimated that a total of 3 million Nm<sup>3</sup>d<sup>−1</sup> of biogas can be produced in the country from biogas substrates. Thus, researchers and entrepreneurs are encouraged to collaborate to utilise the abundant resources used for biogas production to enhance the commercialisation of biomethane.
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spelling doaj.art-c40688659dd1494180606f8180cf2e142023-11-18T19:07:55ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-07-011614527210.3390/en16145272Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A ReviewChipo Shonhiwa0Yolanda Mapantsela1Golden Makaka2Patrick Mukumba3Ngwarai Shambira4Physics Department, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South AfricaPhysics Department, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South AfricaPhysics Department, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South AfricaPhysics Department, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South AfricaPhysics Department, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South AfricaBiogas consists of mainly methane, as a source of energy, and impurities such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, water, and siloxanes. These impurities, such as hydrogen sulphide, reduce the biogas energy content and corrode equipment that store, transport, or utilise biogas. Several reviews on upgrading biogas to biomethane have been published, but minimal focus has been put on upgrading biogas for commercialisation in South Africa. Thus, this study reviewed biogas upgrading techniques in South Africa to put together information on activities and experiences on biogas valorisation to enhance the chances for different stakeholders to learn and build on from local experiences. To capture all relevant information, literature from the past 10 years was retrieved from online databases and government, municipality, and companies’ websites and institutional repositories. The review covered the sorption, separation, and in situ techniques that are globally used for upgrading biogas. The status of the biogas sector and the upgrading activities that occur in the country with their cost, energy, and environmental impacts were given in detail. It is estimated that a total of 3 million Nm<sup>3</sup>d<sup>−1</sup> of biogas can be produced in the country from biogas substrates. Thus, researchers and entrepreneurs are encouraged to collaborate to utilise the abundant resources used for biogas production to enhance the commercialisation of biomethane.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/14/5272biogasbiogas valorisationbiogas upgradingbiomethanesorptionseparation
spellingShingle Chipo Shonhiwa
Yolanda Mapantsela
Golden Makaka
Patrick Mukumba
Ngwarai Shambira
Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A Review
Energies
biogas
biogas valorisation
biogas upgrading
biomethane
sorption
separation
title Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A Review
title_full Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A Review
title_fullStr Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A Review
title_short Biogas Valorisation to Biomethane for Commercialisation in South Africa: A Review
title_sort biogas valorisation to biomethane for commercialisation in south africa a review
topic biogas
biogas valorisation
biogas upgrading
biomethane
sorption
separation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/14/5272
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AT goldenmakaka biogasvalorisationtobiomethaneforcommercialisationinsouthafricaareview
AT patrickmukumba biogasvalorisationtobiomethaneforcommercialisationinsouthafricaareview
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