Systems and Methods for Processing CO2
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- an absorber comprising a bubble column;
an inlet for an industrial gas, wherein the industrial gas comprises CO2, SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash in an amount equal to a time-averaged original composition, operably connected to the absorber;
an inlet for an absorbing solution, wherein the absorbing solution comprises an alkaline solution comprising a salt water, particulate material, or both in an absorbing slurry;
an outlet for an effluent gas, said gas characterized by being depleted in CO2 and at least one of SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash relative to said original composition of said industrial gas, wherein the outlet is operably connected to said absorber;
an outlet for absorbing solution that has contacted the industrial gas operably connected to the absorber; and
a processing station operably connected to the output, wherein the processing station is configured to obtain at least one of the following saleable products;
a building material comprising a CO2 sequestering component, a desalinated water, a potable water, a slurry comprising a CO2 sequestering component, or a solution comprising a CO2 sequestering component,wherein the bubble column is configured to produce bubbles of the industrial gas within the absorbing solution such that at least 10% by weight of the carbon dioxide in the industrial gas is transferred to the absorbing solution.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an absorber comprising a bubble column; an inlet for an industrial gas, wherein the industrial gas comprises CO2, SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash in an amount equal to a time-averaged original composition, operably connected to the absorber; an inlet for an absorbing solution, wherein the absorbing solution comprises an alkaline solution comprising a salt water, particulate material, or both in an absorbing slurry; an outlet for an effluent gas, said gas characterized by being depleted in CO2 and at least one of SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash relative to said original composition of said industrial gas, wherein the outlet is operably connected to said absorber; an outlet for absorbing solution that has contacted the industrial gas operably connected to the absorber; and a processing station operably connected to the output, wherein the processing station is configured to obtain at least one of the following saleable products;
a building material comprising a CO2 sequestering component, a desalinated water, a potable water, a slurry comprising a CO2 sequestering component, or a solution comprising a CO2 sequestering component,wherein the bubble column is configured to produce bubbles of the industrial gas within the absorbing solution such that at least 10% by weight of the carbon dioxide in the industrial gas is transferred to the absorbing solution. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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2. An apparatus comprising:
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an absorber comprising a sparging vessel; an inlet for an industrial gas, wherein the industrial gas comprises CO2, SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash in an amount equal to a time-averaged original composition, operably connected to the absorber; an inlet for an absorbing solution, wherein the absorbing solution comprises an alkaline solution comprising a salt water, particulate material, or both in an absorbing slurry; an outlet for an effluent gas, said gas characterized by being depleted in CO2 and at least one of SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash relative to said original composition of said industrial gas, wherein the outlet is operably connected to said absorber; an outlet for absorbing solution that has contacted the industrial gas operably connected to the absorber; and a processing station operably connected to the output, wherein the processing station is configured to obtain at least one of the following saleable products;
a building material comprising a CO2 sequestering component, a desalinated water, a potable water, a slurry comprising a CO2 sequestering component, or a solution comprising a CO2 sequestering component,wherein the sparging vessel is configured to produce bubbles of the industrial gas within the absorbing solution such that at least 10% by weight of the carbon dioxide in the industrial gas is transferred to the absorbing solution.
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3. An apparatus comprising:
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an absorber comprising a spray tower; an inlet for an industrial gas, wherein the industrial gas comprises CO2, SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash in an amount equal to a time-averaged original composition, operably connected to the absorber; an inlet for an absorbing solution, wherein the absorbing solution comprises an alkaline solution, particulate material, or both in an absorbing slurry; an outlet for an effluent gas, said gas characterized by being depleted in CO2 and at least one of SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash relative to said original composition of said industrial gas, wherein the outlet is operably connected to said absorber; an outlet for absorbing solution that has contacted the industrial gas operably connected to the absorber; and a processing station operably connected to the output, wherein the processing station is configured to obtain at least one of the following saleable products;
a building material comprising a CO2 sequestering component, a desalinated water, a potable water, a slurry comprising a CO2 sequestering component, or a solution comprising a CO2 sequestering component,wherein the spray tower is configured to produce streams, droplets, or a combination thereof of the absorbing solution in the industrial gas such that at least 10% by weight of the carbon dioxide in the industrial gas is transferred to the absorbing solution, further wherein the spray tower is configured to operate at a liquid flow rate to gas flow rate ratio (L/G ratio) of between 50 and 5,000 gallons per minute/1000 actual cubic feet.
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4. An apparatus comprising:
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an absorber comprising a at least one of a spray tower, packing material, a packed bed, trays, shed rows, or a microporous membrane; an inlet for an industrial gas, wherein the industrial gas comprises CO2, SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash in an amount equal to a time-averaged original composition, operably connected to the absorber; an inlet for an absorbing solution, wherein the absorbing solution comprises an alkaline solution, particulate material, or both in an absorbing slurry; an outlet for an effluent gas, said gas characterized by being depleted in CO2 and at least one of SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash relative to said original composition of said industrial gas, wherein the outlet is operably connected to said absorber; an outlet for absorbing solution that has contacted the industrial gas operably connected to the absorber; and a processing station operably connected to the output, wherein the processing station is configured to obtain at least one of the following saleable products;
a building material comprising a CO2 sequestering component, a desalinated water, a potable water, a slurry comprising a CO2 sequestering component, or a solution comprising a CO2 sequestering component,wherein the absorber is configured to produce streams, droplets, or a combination thereof of the absorbing solution in the industrial gas such that at least 10% by weight of the carbon dioxide in the industrial gas is transferred to the absorbing solution, and further wherein the absorber is configured to operate at a liquid flow rate to gas flow rate ratio (L/G ratio) of between 50 and 5,000 gallons per minute/1000 actual cubic feet.
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5. An apparatus comprising:
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an absorber comprising a at least one of a spray tower, packing material, a packed bed, trays, shed rows, or a microporous membrane; an inlet for an industrial gas, wherein the industrial gas comprises CO2, SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash in an amount equal to a time-averaged original composition, operably connected to the absorber; an inlet for an absorbing solution, wherein the absorbing solution comprises an alkaline solution, particulate material, or both in an absorbing slurry, wherein said alkaline solution comprises a salt water, a clear solution, or any combination thereof; an outlet for an effluent gas, said gas characterized by being depleted in CO2 and at least one of SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash relative to said original composition of said industrial gas, wherein the outlet is operably connected to said absorber; an outlet for absorbing solution that has contacted the industrial gas operably connected to the absorber; and a processing station operably connected to the output, wherein the processing station is configured to obtain at least one of the following saleable products;
a building material comprising a CO2 sequestering component, a desalinated water, a potable water, a slurry comprising a CO2 sequestering component, or a solution comprising a CO2 sequestering component,wherein the absorber is configured to produce streams, droplets, or a combination thereof of the absorbing solution in the industrial gas such that at least 10% by weight of the carbon dioxide in the industrial gas is transferred to the absorbing solution.
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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an absorber comprising a at least one of a spray tower, packing material, a packed bed, trays, shed rows, or a microporous membrane; an inlet for an industrial gas, wherein the industrial gas comprises CO2, SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash in an amount equal to a time-averaged original composition, operably connected to the absorber; an inlet for an absorbing solution, wherein the absorbing solution comprises an alkaline solution, particulate material, or both in an absorbing slurry, wherein said alkaline solution comprises a salt water; an outlet for an effluent gas, said gas characterized by being depleted in CO2 and at least one of SOx, NOx, heavy metal, non-CO2 acid gas, and/or fly ash relative to said original composition of said industrial gas, wherein the outlet is operably connected to said absorber; an outlet for absorbing solution that has contacted the industrial gas operably connected to the absorber; and a processing station operably connected to the output, wherein the processing station is configured to obtain a saleable product, wherein the absorber is configured to produce streams, droplets, or a combination thereof of the absorbing solution in the industrial gas such that at least 10% by weight of the carbon dioxide in the industrial gas is transferred to the absorbing solution.
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Specification