ELECTROCHEMICAL PRODUCTION OF AN ALKALINE SOLUTION USING CO2

• US 20100084280A1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arelac, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Calera Corporation
• Inventors: Knott, Nigel Antony, Kostowskyj, Michael, Decker, Valentin, Gilliam, Ryan J., Boggs, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,993,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/555
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/60 Preparation of carbonates or bicarbonates in general of percarbonates C01B15/10; of specific carbonates or bicarbonates according to the cation C01B-C01G
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/14 Alkali metal compounds

Abstract

An electrochemical system comprising a cathode electrolyte comprising added carbon dioxide and contacting a cathode; and a first cation exchange membrane separating the cathode electrolyte from an anode electrolyte contacting an anode; and an electrochemical method comprising adding carbon dioxide into a cathode electrolyte separated from an anode electrolyte by a first cation exchange membrane; and producing an alkaline solution in the cathode electrolyte and an acid.

Claims

1. An electrochemical system comprising:

a cathode electrolyte comprising added carbon dioxide, and in contact with a cathode; and

a first cation exchange membrane separating the cathode electrolyte from an anode electrolyte contacting an anode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the anode comprises a second cation exchange membrane contacting the anode electrolyte.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide is contained in a waste gas.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the waste gas comprises emissions from and industrial operation.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the industrial operation comprises an electrical power generating plant, a cement plant, an ore processing facility or a fermentation system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein atmospheric carbon dioxide is excluded from the cathode electrolyte.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the cathode electrolyte is operatively connected to the industrial facility.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the cathode electrolyte comprises hydroxide ions and/or bicarbonate ions and/or carbonate ions.

18. The system of claim 14, comprising hydrogen gas at the anode.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the cathode is configured to produce hydrogen gas.

24. The system of claim 20, configured to produce hydrogen ions at the anode and hydroxide ions at the cathode, with less than 1V across the anode and cathode, without producing a gas at the anode.

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35. An electrochemical method comprising:

adding carbon dioxide into a cathode electrolyte separated from an anode electrolyte by a first cation exchange membrane; and

producing an alkaline solution in the cathode electrolyte without producing a gas at the anode in contact with the anode electrolyte.

36. The method of claim 35, comprising applying a voltage across a cathode in contact with the cathode electrolyte and the anode, wherein the voltage is less than 1V.

40. The method of claim 36, comprising producing hydroxide ions and/or bicarbonate ions and/or carbonate ions in the cathode electrolyte.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the carbon dioxide is contained in a waste gas emitted from an industrial plant, wherein the industrial plant comprises a fossil fuelled electrical power generating plant, a cement production plant or an ore processing facility.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein carbon dioxide in ambient air is excluded from the cathode electrolyte.

47. The method of claim 44, comprising maintaining a pH of between 8 and 11 in the cathode electrolyte.

50. The method of claim 47, comprising oxidizing hydrogen gas to hydrogen ions at the anode.

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57. A method comprising:

producing an acid in an electrochemical system comprising added carbon dioxide in the cathode electrolyte; and

contacting a mineral with the acid.

78. The method of claim 57, comprising disposing of the acid in an underground storage.

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