Low Energy 4-Cell Electrochemical System with Carbon Dioxide Gas

• US 20100116683A1
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arelac, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Calera Corporation
• Inventors: Gilliam, Ryan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,875,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/439
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/16 Specific vents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/26 Specific gas distributors or gas intakes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/326 in electrochemical cells
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/422 Electrodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/44 Ion-selective electrodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 7/01 Chlorine; Hydrogen chloride
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 1/40 by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 7/07 Preparation from the hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/20 Hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2

Abstract

A low-voltage, low-energy electrochemical system and method of producing hydroxide ions and/or bicarbonate ions and/or carbonate ions utilizing significantly less than the typical 3V used across the conventional anode and cathode to produce the ions; consequently, carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the present system and method are significantly reduced.

Claims

1-76. -76. (canceled)

77. An integrated system comprising:

an electrochemical system comprising an anode, a cathode and four chambers containing electrolytes separated by three ion exchange membranes; and

configured to produce a base in an electrolyte in contact with the cathode on application of voltage across the anode and cathode, wherein

the electrochemical system is operably connected to a system for absorbing a gas into the electrolyte comprising the base.

78. The integrated system of claim 77, wherein the gas comprises waste gases of a cement production plant or a power generating plant.

79. The integrated system of claim 78, wherein the waste gas comprises carbon dioxide.

80. The integrated system of claim 79, wherein the voltage is less than 2.8 V.

81. The integrated system of claim 80, wherein the system for absorbing a gas is configured to produce a carbonate and/or a bicarbonate from a mixture of the electrolyte comprising the base, the waste gas and a divalent cation solution.

82. The integrated system of claim 81, wherein the hydroxide and/or a bicarbonate and/or carbonate comprise calcium and/or magnesium.

83. The integrated system of claim 82, wherein the cathode is configured to produced hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas, and the anode is configured to absorb hydrogen gas and produce protons without producing a gas.

84. The integrated system of claim 83, wherein the cathode is configured to produced hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas, and the anode electrolyte is configured to produce a gas.

85. The integrated system of claim 83, comprising an acid in an electrolyte in contact with the anode.

86. The integrated system of claim 85 operably connected to a mineral dissolution system wherein the acid is utilized to dissolve a mineral.

87. An integrated system comprising:

a cathode electrolyte contacting a cathode and separated from a first electrolyte by a first cation exchange membrane;

an anode electrolyte contacting an anode and separated from a second electrolyte by a second cation exchange membrane, wherein the first and second electrolytes are separated by an anion exchange membrane, and wherein the system is configured to produce a base in the cathode electrolyte on application of a voltage across the anode and cathode; and

wherein

the cathode electrolyte is operably connected to a gas absorption system configured to absorb a waste gas into the cathode electrolyte.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the waste gas comprises waster gases from a cement production plant or a power generating plant.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the voltage is less than 2.8 V.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein the cathode electrolyte comprises a hydroxide and/or a bicarbonate and/or a carbonate.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein the hydroxide and/or a bicarbonate and/or carbonate comprise calcium and/or magnesium.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the cathode is configured to produce hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas and the anode is configured to absorb hydrogen gas and produce protons without producing a gas.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the cathode is configured to produce hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas, and the anode electrolyte is configured to produce a gas.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the second electrolyte comprises an acid.

95. The system of claim 94 operably connected to a precipitator wherein the waste gas and the cathode electrolyte are mixed with a divalent cation solution to precipitate carbonates and/or bicarbonates.

96. The system of claim 95, operably connected to a mineral dissolution system wherein the acid is utilized to dissolve a mineral.

97. A method comprising:

producing a base in a cathode electrolyte by applying a voltage across a cathode contacting a cathode electrolyte and an anode contacting an anode electrolyte, wherein the cathode electrolyte is separated from a first electrolyte by a first cation exchange membrane, the anode electrolyte is separated from a second electrolyte by a second cation exchange membrane, and the first and second electrolytes are separated by an anion exchange membrane; and

absorbing a waste gas into the cathode electrolyte.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the waste gas comprises waste gases from a cement production plant or a power generating plant.

99. The method of claim 98, comprising precipitating a hydroxide and/or a bicarbonate and/or a carbonate with the base.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the hydroxide and/or a bicarbonate and/or a carbonate comprises calcium and/or magnesium.

101. The method of claim 100, comprising applying a voltage of less than 2.8 V across the anode and cathode.

102. The method of claim 101, comprising producing hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas at the cathode, and absorbing hydrogen gas and producing protons at the anode without producing a gas at the anode.

103. The method of claim 102, comprising producing hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas at the cathode and a gas at the anode.

104. The method of claim 103, comprising producing partially desalinated water in the first electrolyte and an acid in the second electrolyte.

105. The method of claim 104, comprising dissolving a mineral or a waste material using the acid.