SURFACES AND COATINGS FOR THE REMOVAL OF CARBON DIOXIDE

• US 20110176982A1
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alcoa Incorporated (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Skiles, Jean Ann, Askin, Albert L., Espinoza-Nava, Luis H., Xu, Weizong, Barrage, Lori A., Davis, Carroll D., Speer, Robert J., Kolek, Paula L., Bergstrom, Verne
• Granted Patent: US 8,435,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/230
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/20707 Titanium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/802 Photocatalytic
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/864 Removing carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/88 Handling or mounting catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/22 of metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 1/00 Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, based on inorganic substances
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/61 inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/67 Particle size smaller than 100 nm
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/68 Particle size between 100-1000 nm
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2

Abstract

Apparatus suited for removing carbon dioxide from gases are disclosed. The apparatus may employ bodies having a photocatalytic film. Associated methods and compositions are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

contacting a body comprising a photocatalytic film with a carbon dioxide-containing gas, wherein the photocatalytic film comprises;

a matrix;

semiconductor particles within the matrix; and

a charge transfer agent within the matrix; and

converting, via the body, at least 10 ppm/minute carbon dioxide to non-carbon dioxide products per square meter of photocatalytic film surface area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting step comprises:

reacting, in the presence of light, carbon dioxide gas with at least one of the semiconductor material and the charge transfer agent to produce a non-carbon dioxide product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting step occurs at about ambient conditions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the converting step comprises:

producing a carbonate-containing end product via a receptor agent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge transfer agent comprises a first alkaline material and wherein the receptor agent comprises a second alkaline material, different than the first alkaline material.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first alkaline material comprises sodium and the second alkaline material comprises calcium.

7. A method comprising:

flowing an incoming gas stream comprising carbon dioxide through a gas scrubbing apparatus comprising a photocatalytic film, wherein the photocatalytic film comprises;

a matrix;

semiconductor particles within the matrix; and

a charge transfer agent within the matrix; and

removing, via the photocatalytic film, at least 10 ppm/minute carbon dioxide from the incoming gas stream.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein carbon dioxide is removed from the incoming gas stream at a rate of at least about 0.5 vol. % per hour.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the flowing and producing steps occur at about ambient conditions.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

discharging an effluent gas stream from the gas scrubbing apparatus, wherein the concentration of carbon dioxide in the effluent gas stream is at least about 1% less than the concentration of carbon dioxide in the incoming gas stream.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the concentration of carbon dioxide in the effluent gas stream is at least about 5% less than the concentration of carbon dioxide in the incoming gas stream.

12. A gas scrubbing apparatus comprising:

a gas entrance;

a gas exit; and

a plurality of bodies located between the gas entrance and the gas exit, wherein at least some of the bodies comprise a photocatalytic film and a receptor agent, and wherein the substrate is capable of removing at least about 10 ppm/minute carbon dioxide from a gas comprising 1 vol. % carbon dioxide.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least some of the bodies have a surface area of at least about 1 m²/gram.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gas scrubbing apparatus is a packed bed.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gas scrubbing apparatus is a fluidized bed.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gas scrubbing apparatus is a rebreather.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gas scrubbing apparatus is a filter.