Abstract

We build and analyze a mathematical model of a system for biogas upgrading: an absorption column connected to a microalgae culture. The construction of the model is based on a chemical engineering approach and classical models of microalgae cultures. In our analysis, we prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions of a boundary value problem describing the absorption column. Some properties of this solution are also proved. Then, we use these results to study the long-term behavior of the mathematical model describing the coupled system. We state sufficient conditions for the existence of a globally attracting steady state characterized by the presence of microalgae. Finally, we find numerically the steady states of the system to test the efficiency of the system for purifying biogas.