High capacity immobilized amine sorbents

• US 7,288,136 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Original Assignee: American Energy Corp. (Exelon Corporation)
• Inventors: Soong, Yee, Champagne, Kenneth J., Filburn, Thomas, Gray, McMahan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US11/034,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 961/08, 961/53, 95/90, 951/39, 951/48, 423/220, 423/228, 423/230, 502/55, 502/417, 502/439
• US Class Current: 95/139
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1493 Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/261 obtained by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds per se C08F
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/267 Cross-linked polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28061 being in the range 100-500 m2/g
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28064 being in the range 500-1000 m2/g
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28069 Pore volume, e.g. total pore volume, mesopore volume, micropore volume
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28097 being coated, filled or plugged with specific compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3208 Polymeric carriers, supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/321 consisting of a polymer obtained by reactions involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3248 the functional group or the linking, spacer or anchoring group as a whole comprising at least one type of heteroatom selected from a nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, these atoms not being part of the carrier as such
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3425 of sorbents or filter aids comprising organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3466 with steam
• 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

Abstract

A method is provided for making low-cost CO₂ sorbents that can be used in large-scale gas-solid processes. The improved method entails treating an amine to increase the number of secondary amine groups and impregnating the amine in a porous solid support. The method increases the CO₂ capture capacity and decreases the cost of utilizing an amine-enriched solid sorbent in CO₂ capture systems.

Claims

1. A method for producing a CO2-capturing sorbent complex, the method comprising:

a) identifying an amine which reacts with CO2 to form carbonate at temperatures ranging from 25°

C. to 65°

C.;

b) increasing the number of secondary amine groups on the amine, thereby modifying the amine;

c) treating a solid porous substrate with the modified amine so as to cause the modified amine to adhere to the substrate; and

d) regenerating the modified amine in situ in the presence of water vapor.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the amine contains amine groups selected from the group consisting of primary amine groups, secondary amine groups, tertiary amine groups, aromatic amine groups and combinations thereof.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary amine groups are increased by contacting the amine with a reactant selected from the group consisting of phenol, formaldehyde and phenol, acrylonitrile, and combinations thereof.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the modified amine adhere to the substrate through impregnation of the amine into the pores of the substrate.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the volume of modified amine present comprises between about 75% and 85% of the available pore volume of the substrate.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the substrate has a pore volume of between 0.05 ml/gram and 1.2 ml/gram.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the substrate has a surface area between approximately 200 m2/gram and 1000 m2/gram.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the sorbent complex is produced at a temperature selected between 10°

C. and 90°

C.