EUBCE 2026 - Kiwook KWON - Volatile Organic Compounds in Biogas from Full-Scale Anaerobic Digestion plants: Implications for CO2 Upgrading and Cryogenic Liquefaction

Volatile Organic Compounds in Biogas from Full-Scale Anaerobic Digestion plants: Implications for CO2 Upgrading and Cryogenic Liquefaction

Short Introductive summary

This demonstration study focuses on the recovery of 99.999% ultra-high purity biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) from biogas at full-scale anaerobic digestion plants. Reflecting South Korea’s strategic position in the global semiconductor industry, the objective was to produce high-quality CO2 suitable for direct application in semiconductor manufacturing processes. Trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in biogas can co-condense during membrane-based upgrading and cryogenic liquefaction, potentially degrading the final product’s quality. This research investigated the behavior of 47 VOC species across operational facilities treating various feedstocks, including food waste, sewage sludge, and livestock manure. The findings reveal that VOC profiles are highly feedstock-dependent and that conventional desulfurization alone is insufficient for non-sulfur VOC control. Moreover, the study verified the condensation of ketones, esters, and terpenes into the liquid phase under cryogenic conditions (-20° C and 2 MPa). Consequently, the results emphasize that a stringent non-sulfur VOC management strategy, surpassing conventional processes, is vital for the production of high-value biogenic CO2

K. Kwon, Korea Testing Laboratory, Seoul, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
H. Kim, Korea Testing Laboratory, Seoul, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
S. KIm, Korea Testing Laboratory, Seoul, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Y. Jeon, Korea Testing Laboratory, Seoul, REPUBLIC OF KOREA