METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM AIR

• US 20080087165A1
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Lackner, Klaus, Wright, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/51
• 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: A01G 9/246 Air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/10 Inorganic absorbents chemical reactants B01D2251/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/204 Amines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/30 Ionic liquids and zwitter-ions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/38 Hydrophobic membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1493 Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 41/05 in the strongly basic form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 47/14 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/50 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 : Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/18 : Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/36 : Means for collection or storage of gas; Gas holders
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/00 : Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se F04B
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 : Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A method and apparatus for extracting CO₂ from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO₂ to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO₂ to greenhouses where increased levels of CO₂ will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO₂ is fed to an algae culture.

Claims

1. A process for removing carbon dioxide from ambient air, comprising the steps of passing ambient air in contact with a sorbent to absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and delivering the extracted air to the interior of the greenhouse.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the sorbent comprises an ion exchange resin.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the sorbent has a carbon dioxide holding ability dependent on humidity.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the ion exchange resin is a component of a heterogenous ion exchange membrane.

5. The process of claim 4, including the step of preconditioning the ion exchange membrane by first hydrating and then drying the membrane before use.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein a carbon credit is generated for the carbon dioxide removed.

7. An apparatus for adding carbon dioxide to a greenhouse which comprises an extractor for extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air outside of the greenhouse and delivering the extracted carbon dioxide into the greenhouse.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the extractor comprises a heterogenous ion exchange membrane.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ion exchange resin of the membrane comprises a humidity sensitive ion exchange resin.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a strong base Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the exchange resin is moveable from the outside to the inside of the greenhouse.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the extractor is mounted on a moveable fixture built into a wall of the greenhouse.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the extractor is located adjacent a lower end of a convection tower built adjacent the greenhouse.

14. A method for preconditioning a humidity sensitive ion exchange heterogenous membrane for use for carbon dioxide extraction from air comprising first hydrating and then drying the material before use.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a strong base Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.

16. A process for extraction of carbon dioxide from air which comprises providing a first store of a humidity sensitive sorbent, passing the air in contact with the sorbent under a first H₂O partial pressure whereupon carbon dioxide is absorbed on the sorbent, and raising the H₂O partial pressure whereupon carbon dioxide is exhaled by the sorbent.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the sorbent comprises a strong base Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.

18. A process for extraction of carbon dioxide from air which comprises providing a first store of a first sorbent;

passing the air in contact with the first sorbent whereupon carbon dioxide is absorbed on the first sorbent;

interacting the first sorbent with a second sorbent whereupon carbon dioxide is absorbed onto the second sorbent from the first sorbent; and

raising the H₂O partial pressure whereupon carbon dioxide is exhaled by the second sorbent.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the first sorbent and the second sorbent each comprise a strong base Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.

20. The process of claim 18, wherein the first sorbent and the second sorbent are in a selectively closed loop recirculating system.

21. An apparatus for extraction of carbon dioxide from the air comprising:

a first store of humidity sensitive sorbent;

a second store of humidity sensitive sorbent, and

a selectively closed loop recirculation system for selectively recirculating air through the first store and the second store.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, including flow valves for controlling recirculation.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first store of sorbent and second store of sorbent comprise the same ion exchange resin.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first store of ion exchange resin and the second store of ion exchange resin each comprise a strong base Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.

25. A process for removing carbon dioxide from ambient air, comprising the steps of absorbing carbon dioxide from ambient air using a sorbent, and releasing the carbon dioxide from the sorbent to an algae culture.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein the sorbent releases the carbon dioxide upon being immersed in the algae culture.

27. The process of claim 26, wherein the algae is subsequently immersed in a nutrient solution.

28. The process of claim 25, wherein the sorbent comprises a carbonate/bicarbonate brine.

29. The process of claim 25, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent using an electro-dialysis process.

30. The process of claim 25, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent using a gas-permeable membrane.

31. The process of claim 25, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent using an anion-permeable membrane.

32. The process of claim 25, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent using a humidity swing.

33. The process of claim 25, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent using a humidity swing.

34. An apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from ambient air, comprising;

a collector including a sorbent for removing carbon dioxide from air;

a separation station for separating the carbon dioxide from the sorbent; and

a delivery system for delivering the carbon dioxide from the extractor to a bioreactor containing algae.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the separation station separates the carbon dioxide from the sorbent using a humidity swing.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the bioreactor has a percolating mechanism for bringing the gaseous carbon dioxide released into contact with the algae culture.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the bioreactor has a headspace for bringing the gaseous carbon dioxide released into contact with the algae culture.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the sorbent is sodium carbonate which becomes sodium bicarbonate upon absorbing carbon dioxide.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the separation station is an electrodialytic cell having a first half-cell and a second half-cell.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the delivery system is configured to deliver sodium bicarbonate in substantially equal amounts to each of the first half-cell and the second half-cell.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the delivery system is configured to deliver sodium bicarbonate in substantially equal amounts to each of the first half-cell and the bioreactor.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, the first half cell and the second half cell each being divided by an anion permeable membrane

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the separation station comprises a membrane cell.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the membrane cell has a gas permeable membrane.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the membrane cell has an anion permeable membrane.

46. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a harvester for harvesting algae.