Method and device for the reversible adsorption of carbon dioxide

• US 10,722,835 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skytree B.V.
• Original Assignee: Skytree B.V.
• Inventors: Beaumont, Maximus Llewelyn, Thirkettle, Anthony Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, Jr., Frank M
• Application Number:
  US15/509,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20170296961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 95 96, 95106, 95115, 95139, 95148, 96121, 96126, 96130, 96131, 96136, 96144, 96146, 423230
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/02 Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/18 Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/042 Introducing gases into the water, e.g. aerators, air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/202 Polymeric adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/306 Surface area, e.g. BET-specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/308 Pore size
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2256/22 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0415 Beds in cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/053 with storage or buffer vessel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/20 comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/226 Coordination polymers, e.g. metal-organic frameworks [MOF], zeolitic imidazolate frameworks [ZIF] preparation of metal complexes containing carboxylic acid moieties C07C51/418; MOF's per se C07F
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/261 obtained by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds per se C08F
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/267 Cross-linked polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/2805 Sorbents inside a permeable or porous casing, e.g. inside a container, bag or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28052 Several layers of identical or different sorbents stacked in a housing, e.g. in a column
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28059 : being less than 100 m2/g
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28069 : Pore volume, e.g. total pore volume, mesopore volume, micropore volume
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28078 : Pore diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/2808 : being less than 2 nm, i.e. micropores or nanopores
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28083 : being in the range 2-50 nm, i.e. mesopores
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28085 : being more than 50 nm, i.e. macropores
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3425 : of sorbents or filter aids comprising organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3441 : Regeneration or reactivation by electric current, ultrasound or irradiation, e.g. electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays, UV, light, microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3458 : in the gas phase
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3483 : by thermal treatment not covered by groups B01J20/3441 - B01J20/3475, e.g. by heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3491 : by pressure treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/62 : In a cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0015 : characterised by the adsorbent
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0021 : Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/50 : Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 : Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for the reversible adsorption of carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, comprising at least one adsorbent vessel comprising one or a plurality of gas permeable cartridge vessels of an inert and dimensionally stable material, and each cartridge comprising a suitable polymeric particular adsorbent having a primary amino functionality; to an arrangement including the device, and to a method for ad- and desorption of carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. A device for the reversible adsorption of carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, comprising:

at least one adsorbent vessel comprising one or a plurality of gas permeable cartridge vessels of an inert and dimensionally stable material, and each cartridge comprising a suitable polymeric particular adsorbent having only a primary amino functionality at a total capacity of at least 2.0 eq./l, a surface area (BET) in the range of from 25 to 75 m²/g, and an average pore diameter of 1 to 200 nm; and

further comprising;

a means for desorption of the adsorbed carbon dioxide by pressure, humidity, or temperature adsorption swing, or both;

a means for directing the desorbed gas mixture from the adsorbent cartridges;

a means for the supplying the gas mixture to the cartridges;

a means for recuperation of heat or fluids or heat and fluids, and a desorbed gas mixture;

at least one of;

a means for measuring the carbon dioxide adsorption level, a means for measuring carbon dioxide gas flow rates, and a means for contacting the adsorbent with a warm fluid for inducing desorption of the carbon dioxide; and

an arrangement to subject the cartridges to reduced pressure, and subsequently to contact the cartridges with water having a temperature in the range of from 60°

C. to 100°

C., and a means for separating water or water vapour from the released carbon dioxide for recycling to arrangement.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge vessels comprise a gas permeable membrane with an average pore diameter in the range of from 0.01-0.25 mm.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shape and thickness of the cartridges is determined by allowing for an adsorption-desorption regeneration cycle of between 2 and 24 hours.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein one or more cartridges are arranged sequentially or parallel, or sequentially and parallel such that one or more cartridges can be removed for replacement or maintenance without having to stop the adsorption process or without forcing the dismantling of the capture unit.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage buffer.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the storage buffer has a storage volume equivalent to an amount of carbon dioxide enriched gas mixture as required for of from 0.1 to 2 days CO₂ usage for a particular application.

7. The device according to claim 1, for the provision of a carbon dioxide enriched gas stream to an aquarium, further comprising a means for a subsequent desorption of the adsorbed carbon dioxide to form a carbon dioxide enriched gas stream, and a means for the supply of the carbon dioxide enriched gas stream to an aquarium, to form at least in part dissolved carbon dioxide.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a means for heating the saturated adsorbent electrically.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the storage buffer holds the carbon dioxide in any one or more of:

a compressed form, a solid storage structure comprising activated carbon or a metal organic framework.

10. An arrangement for any of:

the enhancement of plant growth, beverage carbonation, pH control and storage of perishable goods, the arrangement comprising the device according to claim 1, and further comprising a means for distributing the desorbed carbon dioxide, wherein the means is any one or more of;

gas duct, pump or a sparger.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising at least one of:

a greenhouse for increasing plant growth, a vivarium, an aquarium, or a photo bioreactor for microalgae growth.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, further comprising a low energy grade provision means, wherein a low grade energy provision means is provided by electrical heating for heating the absorbent in a cartridge through direct contact with a heating means to a temperature of from 60°

C. to 150°

C.

13. An arrangement for the enhancement of plant growth in aquaria, comprising the device according to claim 1, and further comprising a means for distributing the desorbed carbon dioxide, wherein the distributing means is any one or more of:

a gas duct, or a sparger.

14. A process for separating carbon dioxide from a gas mixture by a temperature and humidity swing adsorption-desorption process, or a temperature or humidity swing adsorption-desorption process, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) in the device according to claim 1, contacting the gas mixture with the adsorbent at a pressure P₁, a humidity H₁ and a temperature T₁ until a desired amount of carbon dioxide is adsorbed onto the adsorbent, and

(b) desorbing at least part of the carbon dioxide adsorbed in step (a), to produce a stream enriched in carbon dioxide at a total pressure P₂ or a temperature T₂, or both, at which temperature the carbon dioxide has a lower adsorption constant with respect to the adsorbent and therefore at least in part desorbs.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein step (b) includes contacting the one or more cartridges with a fluid at a temperature in the range of from 60°

C. to 150°

C., or heating the adsorbent in a cartridge through direct contact with a heating means to a temperature of from 60°

C. to 150°

C., or both.

16. The process according to claim 14, wherein the contacting or heating, or both, is done at a reduced pressure.

17. The process according to claim 14, comprising alternating steps (a) and (b) in a pattern of between 0.1 minutes and 48 hours.

18. The process according to claim 14, comprising reversing the flow of the gas mixture for step (b) and increasing the temperature.

19. The process according to claim 14, further comprising:

(c) directing the released gaseous stream comprising the desorbed carbon dioxide to a desired application comprising any one or more of;

a green house, a (micro) algae photo incubator, a beverage plant, a vivarium, an aquarium, or a storage facility, wherein the released gaseous carbon dioxide is at least in part directed towards a carbon dioxide storage buffer.

20. The process according to claim 19, wherein the released gaseous carbon dioxide is at least in part sparged through an aqueous medium.

21. The process according to claim 14, wherein the carbon dioxide is released in a continuous or sequential manner.

22. Use of a device for the provision of carbon dioxide to aquaria, or for the provision of carbon dioxide to control the pH of an aqueous medium, the device comprising:

at least one adsorbent vessel comprising one or a plurality of gas permeable cartridge vessels of an inert and dimensionally stable material, and each cartridge comprising a suitable polymeric particular adsorbent having only a primary amino functionality at a total capacity of at least 2.0 eq./l, a surface area (BET) in the range of from 25 to 75 m²/g, and an average pore diameter of 1 to 200 nm; and

further comprising;

a means for desorption of the adsorbed carbon dioxide by pressure, humidity, or temperature adsorption swing, or both; and

a means for directing the desorbed gas mixture from the adsorbent cartridges.

23. Use of an arrangement for the provision of carbon dioxide to aquaria, or for the provision of carbon dioxide to control the pH of an aqueous medium, the arrangement comprising:

i) a device comprising;

at least one adsorbent vessel comprising one or a plurality of gas permeable cartridge vessels of an inert and dimensionally stable material, and each cartridge comprising a suitable polymeric particular adsorbent having only a primary amino functionality at a total capacity of at least 2.0 eq./l, a surface area (BET) in the range of from 25 to 75 m²/g, and an average pore diameter of 1 to 200 nm; and

further comprising;

a means for desorption of the adsorbed carbon dioxide by pressure, humidity, or temperature adsorption swing, or both; and

a means for directing the desorbed gas mixture from the adsorbent cartridges,

ii) a means for distributing the desorbed carbon dioxide, wherein the means is any one or more of;

gas duct, pump or a sparger.