Surfaces and coatings for the removal of carbon dioxide

• US 7,910,220 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alcoa Incorporated (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Askin, Albert L., Espinoza-Nava, Luis H., Xu, Weizong, Skiles, Jean Ann, Barrage, Lori A., Davis, Carroll D., Speer, Robert J., Kolek, Paula L., Bergstrom, Verne
• Primary Examiner(s): Blackwell; Gwendolyn
• Application Number:
  US11/828,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20090026063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 428/432, 428/699, 428/697, 428/701, 428/702, 428/469, 428/470, 428/472
• US Class Current: 428/469
• 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 body comprising:

a substrate;

a photocatalytic film disposed on the substrate; and

a receptor layer in communication with the photocatalytic film, wherein the body is capable of removing at least about 10 ppm/minute CO₂ gas from a gas stream comprising 1 vol. % CO₂ per square meter of photocatalytic film surface area.

2. The body of claim 1, wherein the photocatalytic film comprises:

a matrix;

semiconductor particles within the matrix; and

a charge transfer agent within the matrix.

3. The body of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises aluminum.

4. The body of claim 3, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys and aluminum foams.

5. The body of claim 4, further comprising:

an organic layer between the substrate and the photocatalytic film.

6. The body of claim 5, further comprising:

a barrier layer between the photocatalytic film and the organic layer.

7. A body comprising:

a substrate;

a photocatalytic film disposed on the substrate, wherein the photocatalytic film comprises;

an amorphous matrix comprising titanium dioxide;

titanium dioxide particles dispersed in the amorphous matrix; and

an alkaline material dispersed in the amorphous matrix

a receptor layer between the substrate and the photocatalytic film, wherein the receptor layer comprises a receptor agent;

wherein the body is capable of removing at least about 10 ppm/minute CO₂ gas from a gas stream comprising 1 vol. % CO₂ per square meter of photocatalytic film surface area.

8. The body of claim 7, wherein the alkaline material comprises sodium.

9. The body of claim 8, wherein the receptor agent comprises calcium.

10. The body of claim 9, further comprising:

a pollution attraction agent within the amorphous matrix of the photocatalytic film.

11. The body of claim 10, wherein the substrate comprises aluminum.

12. The body of claim 11, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys and aluminum foams.

13. The body of claim 12, further comprising:

an organic layer between the substrate and the photocatalytic film.

14. The body of claim 13, further comprising:

a barrier layer between the photocatalytic film and the organic layer.

15. The body of claim 7, wherein the substrate is a photovoltaic cell.

16. The body of claim 7, wherein the substrate predominantly comprises a non-metal.