Carbon Sequestration and Production of Hydrogen and Hydride

• US 20090202413A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surendra Saxena
• Original Assignee: Surendra Saxena
• Inventors: Saxena, Surendra
• Granted Patent: US 8,012,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/277
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0465 Composition of the impurity
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0475 the impurity being carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/86 Carbon dioxide sequestration
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/50 Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification C01B3/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 6/04 Hydrides of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, beryllium or magnesium; Addition complexes thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 7/07 Preparation from the hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/00 Technologies relating to oil refining and petrochemical industry

Abstract

This invention describes a complete sequestration of carbon (CO₂ and CO) from coal burning plants. In this process, hydrogen can be generated which in turn permits the reduction in the cost of hydride synthesis. The hydrides store hydrogen for on-board application for automobiles and fuel cells. Hydrogen generation and synthesis of hydrides is accomplished by using an integrated approach in which coal is used as a fuel and carbon is sequestered in the process. The CO and or CO₂ produced in coal burning power plants and the heat is used when available for producing hydrogen and hydrides. Carbon is used both as a reactant and as a fuel. Economically hydrogen production cost is comparable to or less than the current price of hydrogen produced from fossil-fuel with the added benefit of carbon sequestration and reducing global warming. Specific processes for synthesizing important hydrogen storage materials, hydrides are described. A hydrogen based automobile becomes viable as the cost of the hydrogen production and hydride synthesis is reduced. Although coal-burning power plant is specified here, any power plant, coal- or natural gas-burning, can be subjected to similar treatment.

Claims

1. A process to produce hydrogen through the reaction of sodium hydroxide with carbon monoxide and catalysts such as a metal or an oxide.

4. A process to produce magnesium hydride by reacting the hydrogen generated in claims 1-3 with magnesium metal powder.

5. A process to produce magnesium hydride by reacting the hydrogen produced in claims 1-3 with magnesium powder and water.

6. A process to produce sodium borohydride by reacting the hydrogen produced in claims 1-3 with sodium borate, magnesium and water

7. A process to produce lithium borohydride by reacting the hydrogen produced in claims 1-3 with lithium borate, magnesium and water.

8. The processes according to claims 1 and 2, wherein carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are obtained from coal-burning plants.

9. The processes according to claims 1, 2 and 3 using hot air and any other form of energy as may be available from the coal-burning plants, e.g. electric energy in off-peak production.

10. The processes according to claims 4, 5, 6 and 7 using hot hydrogen as produced in processes claimed in 1, 2, and 3.

11. The processes according to claims 4, 5, 6 and 7 using hot air and any other form of energy as may be available from the coal-burning plants, e.g. electric energy in off-peak production.

13. In all previous claims, coal-burning power plant is specified but the invention also provides that energy for the claims 1-7 may also be obtained from nuclear power plants.

14. In all previous claims, coal-burning power plant is specified but the invention also provides that energy for the claims 1-7 may also be obtained from alternate energy sources such as hydroelectricity and wind and solar energy.

2. A process to produce hydrogen by reacting sodium hydroxide with carbon dioxide and carbon to produce sodium carbonate and hydrogen and catalysts such a metal or an oxide.

3. A process to produce hydrogen by reacting sodium hydroxide with carbon and water to produce sodium carbonate and hydrogen.

12. In all previous claims, coal-burning power plant is specified but the invention also provides that natural gas-based power plants can also be subjected to similar treatment.

15. In all previous claims, where sodium compounds are used, sodium may be replaced potassium.