REMOVAL OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM AIR

• US 20100095842A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Ping, Lackner, Klaus S.
• Application Number:
  US12/515,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20100095842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/107
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1418 Recovery of products
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 41/04 Processes using organic exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 41/05 in the strongly basic form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 41/07 in the weakly basic form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 49/40 Thermal regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

A process for removing CO₂ from the air, comprising the steps of (a) passing the air in contact with a first ion exchange resin to absorb CO₂ from the air; (b) passing a CO₂ sorbent in contact with the first ion exchange resin to transport CO₂ to the sorbent; passing the sorbent from step (b) in contact with a weak base anion exchange resin to absorb CO₂ from the sorbent; separating the CO₂ from the ion exchange resin by heating the ion exchange resin from step (c) whereby to drive off the CO₂ from the resin. Alternatively, the ion exchange resin may be washed with water prior to heating.

Claims

1. :

A process for removing CO₂ from the air, comprising the steps of;

(a) passing the air in contact with a first ion exchange resin to absorb CO₂ from the air;

(b) passing a CO₂ sorbent in contact with the first ion exchange resin to transport CO₂ to the sorbent;

(c) passing the sorbent from step (b) in contact with a weak base anion exchange resin to absorb CO₂ from the sorbent; and

(d) separating the CO₂ from the ion exchange resin by heating the ion exchange resin from step (c) to drive off the CO₂ from the resin.

2. :

The process of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a solid anion exchange material.

3. :

The process of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin is coated on a substrate or embedded or otherwise integrated into a carrier material.

4. :

The process of claim 1, including the step of washing the ion exchange resin with water, and separating the resin from the water prior to heating the resin.

5. :

The process of claim 4, wherein the water comprises deionized water.

6. :

The process of claim 4, wherein the water comprises a basic (pH>

7) water solution.

7. :

The process of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin is heated to above about 40°

C.

8. :

The process of claim 7, wherein the ion exchange resin is heated to a temperature in the range of 50°

to 95°

C.

20. :

The process of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a weak base ion exchange resin or a weakly basic ion exchange resin.

21. :

The process of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin is in the form of beads.

22. :

The process of claim 21, wherein the ion exchange resin beads are crushed before use.

9. :

A process for regenerating an ion exchange resin used to remove CO₂ from a sorbent solution comprising a carbonate/bicarbonate mixture, comprising the steps of;

(a) passing the sorbent solution in contact with an ion exchange resin to transfer CO₂ from the sodium bicarbonate solution to the resin;

(b) washing the ion exchange resin from step (a) and water; and

(c) separating the CO₂ from the ion exchange resin by heating the ion exchange resin from step (b) to drive off CO₂ from the resin.

10. :

The process of claim 9, wherein the ion exchange resin comprises a solid anion exchange material.

11. :

The process of claim 9, wherein the ion exchange resin is coated on a substrate or embedded or otherwise integrated into a carrier material, e.g. a polymeric membrane.

12. :

The process of claim 9, including the step of separating the resin from the water prior to heating the resin.

13. :

The process of claim 12, wherein the water comprises deionized water.

14. :

The process of claim 12, wherein the water comprises a basic (pH>

7) water solution.

15. :

The process of claim 9, wherein the ion exchange resin is heated to above about 40°

C.

16. :

The process of claim 15, wherein the ion exchange resin is heated to a temperature in the range of 50°

to 95°

C.

17. :

A process for separating carbon dioxide held on or within an ion exchange resin, which comprises heating the ion exchange resin to drive off the carbon dioxide.

18. :

The process of claim 17, wherein the ion exchange resin is heated to a temperature in excess of about 40°

C.

19. :

The process of claim 18, wherein the ion exchange resin is heated to a temperature in the range of 50°

to 95°

C.

23. :

A process for removing a selected trace gas from the air, comprising the steps of;

(a) passing the air in contact with a first resin bed to absorb the selected trace gas from the air;

(b) transporting the absorbed selected trace gas to a second resin bed to absorb the selected trace gas on the second resin bed; and

(c) separating the selected trace gas from the second resin bed by heating the second resin bed to drive off the selected trace gas from the resin.

24. :

The process of claim 23, wherein the first resin bed and the second resin bed both comprise solid anion exchange materials.

25. :

The process of claim 23, wherein the first and or second resins are coated on a substrate or embedded or otherwise integrated into a carrier material.

26. :

The process of claim 23, including the step of washing the first resin bed with water, or steam.

27. :

The process of claim 26, wherein the water comprises deionized water.

28. :

The process of claim 26, wherein the water comprises a basic (pH>

7) water solution.

29. :

The process of claim 23, wherein the second resin bed is heated to above about 40°

C.

30. :

The process of claim 29, wherein the second resin bed is heated to a temperature in the range of 50°

to 95°

C.

31. :

The process of claim 24, wherein the first resin bed and the second resin bed are formed of the same exchange materials.

32. :

The process of claim 23, wherein the first and second resin beds comprise weak base ion exchange resins or weakly basic ion exchange resins.

33. :

The process of claim 23, wherein the first and second resins are in the form of beads.

34. :

The process of claim 33, wherein the resin beads are crushed before use.

35. :

The process of claim 23, wherein the trace gas is CO_2.

36. :

The process of claim 23, wherein the second resin bed includes a sorbent for the selected trace gas.

37. :

The process of claim 36, wherein the sorbent is regenerated electrochemically.