METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM AIR

• US 20110079147A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Lackner, Klaus S., Ginster, Ursula, Wright, Allen B.
• Application Number:
  US12/903,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20110079147A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/92
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/02 Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/18 Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/246 Air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/10 Inorganic absorbents chemical reactants B01D2251/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/204 Amines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/30 Ionic liquids and zwitter-ions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/38 Hydrophobic membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1493 Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 41/05 in the strongly basic form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 47/14 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/50 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 : Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/18 : Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/36 : Means for collection or storage of gas; Gas holders
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/00 : Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se F04B
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 : Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 : Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A method and apparatus for extracting CO₂ from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO₂ to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO₂ to greenhouses where increased levels of CO₂ will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO₂ is fed to an algae culture.

Claims

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A method for the capture of CO₂ from air, said method comprising the steps of exposing an anion exchange material to a flow of air;

and releasing CO₂ captured by said anion exchange material by wetting or a swing in humidity, combined with a change in temperature or a change in pressure.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising continuously cycling said anion exchange material between exposure to air and release of captured CO₂.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said anion exchange material captures CO₂ when exposed to lower humidity and releases CO₂ when exposed to higher humidity.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said anion exchange material is a component of a heterogeneous ion exchange material.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein said anion exchange material comprises a strong base resin.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said resin comprises a Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said ion exchange resin comprises Anion I-200 ion exchange membrane material.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein said released CO₂ is transferred to a sorbent.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said sorbent is selected from the group consisting of:

a liquid amine, an ionic liquid, a solid CO₂ sorbent, a lithium zirconate, a lithium silicate, a magnesium hydroxide, and a calcium hydroxide.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein said sorbent comprises an ion exchange resin.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein said released CO₂ is concentrated to between 3% and 10%.

58. The method of claim 47, wherein said released CO₂ is concentrated close to 100%.

59. The method of claim 47, wherein said released CO₂ is concentrated up to 20%.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein 60% of said captured CO₂ is released during said wetting or swing in humidity.

61. The method of claim 47, where said captured CO₂ is releasable in the absence of a pressure swing.