Captured CO2 from atmospheric, industrial and vehicle combustion waste

• US 7,914,758 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katherine A. Murray, Kenneth D. Murray
• Original Assignee: Katherine A. Murray, Kenneth D. Murray
• Inventors: Murray, Katherine A., Murray, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanoy; Timothy C
• Application Number:
  US12/668,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 423/220, 423/225, 423/230, 422/129, 422/168, 106/704, 106/705, 106/710
• US Class Current: 423/220
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/2022 Potassium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/2027 Sodium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/2045 Calcium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/92 of engine exhaust gases exhaust or silencing apparatus for internal combustion engines, machines or engines in general, having means for purifying, rendering innocuous or otherwise treating exhaust gases F01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/041 Oxides or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/49 Materials comprising an indicator, e.g. colour indicator, pH-indicator
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/02 the means being an exhaust gas sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0807 by using absorbents or adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0857 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A CO₂ control device and method for capturing CO₂ from fluid flow, including: a flow-through apparatus and an CO₂ absorbing filter treated with an alkaline material which is housed within the flow-through apparatus. The flow-through apparatus receives fluid flow and the CO₂ from the fluid flow is absorbed by the CO₂ absorbing filter. The absorbed CO₂ is converted into CaCO₃ which is combined with volcanic ash to form a useful cement material.

Claims

1. A CO₂ control system for capturing CO₂, comprising:

a gaseous flow having CO₂ therein, said gaseous flow resulting only from being an exhaust from an internal combustion engine or flue gas from a device that burns wood, oil, coal or gas;

a flow-through apparatus through which said gaseous flow is directed; and

a CO₂ absorbing filter unit having a fixed structure which is treated with one of an alkaline earth and an alkaline earth metal material and housed as a unitary element within the flow-through apparatus;

wherein the CO₂ absorbing filter unit is replaceably mounted in said flow-through apparatus where the CO₂ absorbing filter unit is exposed to the gaseous flow;

wherein said gaseous flow resulting from being an exhaust or flue gas freely passes through the CO₂ absorbing filter unit with minimal interruptions;

wherein CO₂ from said gaseous flow is absorbed by the CO₂ absorbing filter unit as said gaseous flow freely passes thereby; and

wherein the CO₂ absorbing filter unit is subsequently removed for recycling or sequestration of the absorbed CO₂.

2. The CO₂ control device of claim 1, wherein the CO₂ absorbing filter unit comprises silicon or a ceramic woolen matrix.

3. The CO₂ control device of claim 1, in which the CO₂ absorbing filter unit is a plurality of filter units in series.

4. The CO₂ control device of claim 1, wherein the alkaline material comprises KOH or NaOH.

5. The CO₂ control device of claim 1, and further comprising a pH indicator to test the pH level of the CO₂ absorbing filter unit.

6. The CO₂ control device of claim 1, and further comprising an internal combustion engine connected to said flow-through apparatus to thereby provide said gaseous flow in the form of the exhaust of said engine.

7. A method of capturing CO₂ from gaseous flow, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a CO₂ control system, the CO₂ control system comprising;

a gaseous flow having CO2 therein, said gaseous flow resulting only from being an exhaust from an internal combustion engine or flue gas from a device that burns wood, oil, coal or gas;

a flow-through apparatus through which said gaseous flow is directed; and

an CO₂ absorbing filter unit having a fixed structure which is treated with one of an alkaline earth and an alkaline earth metal material and housed as a unitary element within the flow-through apparatus;

replaceably mounting the CO₂ absorbing filter unit in the flow-through apparatus;

receiving said gaseous flow into the CO₂ control system so that the CO₂ absorbing filter unit is exposed to the gaseous flow and so that the gaseous flow resulting from being an exhaust or flue gas freely passes through the CO₂ absorbing filter unit with minimal interruptions;

absorbing the CO₂ from said gaseous flow with the CO₂ absorbing filter unit as said gaseous flow freely passes thereby;

measuring the pH level of the CO₂ absorbing filter unit to quantify the amount of CO₂ in the CO₂ absorbing filter unit; and

subsequently removing the CO₂ absorbing filter unit for recycling or sequestration of the absorbed CO₂.

8. The method of capturing CO₂ of claim 7, and further comprising the step of replacing the CO₂ absorbing filter unit after the CO₂ absorbing filter unit is substantially saturated with CO₂.

9. A method of sequestering captured CO₂ from fluid flow, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a CO₂ control device comprising;

a flow-through apparatus, and

a CO₂ absorbing filter treated with KOH or NaOH and housed within the flow-through apparatus;

b) receiving said fluid flow with the CO₂ control device;

c) absorbing the CO₂ from said fluid flow with the CO₂ absorbing filter;

d) converting the absorbed CO₂ in the CO₂ absorbing filter into CaCO₃; and

e) combining the converted CaCO₃ with volcanic ash to form a cement material; and

wherein said fluid flow is from (a) ambient atmospheric air, (b) exhaust from an internal engine, (c) flue gas from an industrial plant or heating device that burns wood, oil, coal or gas, (d) atmospheric air moved by natural wind or water waves, or (e) atmospheric air moved by convention.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said volcanic ash comprises siliceous or aluminous material.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said volcanic ash is pozzolana.