Compositions and methods using substances containing carbon

• US 7,939,336 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arelac, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Calera Corporation
• Inventors: Omelon, Sidney, Constantz, Brent, O'Neil, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh; Yelena G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams; Michelle M
• Application Number:
  US12/571,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20100077922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 436/145
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 11/18 Carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 5/24 Magnesium carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 11/00 Compounds of cadmium
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 13/00 Compounds of mercury
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 21/14 Carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 28/00 Compounds of arsenic
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/86 by NMR- or ESR-data
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/26 Carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/28 of calcium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/204998 Inorganic carbon compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/23 Carbon containing

Abstract

Methods of characterizing and producing compositions with negative δ¹³C values are provided. Aspects of the invention include characterizing source materials and process products. Aspects of the invention also include compositions that contain carbon with negative δ¹³C values. Methods and techniques are provided for confirming that a given composition contains substances sequestered from a particular source e.g., fossil fuels.

Claims

1. A method of verifying the origin of carbon in a synthetic carbonate composition derived from a combustion of a fossil fuel source comprising:

i) evaluating the source of the carbon in the synthetic carbonate composition derived from the combustion of a fossil fuel source by

(a) determining a relative carbon isotope composition δ

¹³C value for the composition;

(b) comparing the value determined in step (a) with a second δ

¹³C value of a known source; and

(c) verifying that the composition comprises carbon derived from a fossil fuel source based on the result of the comparison of step (b) and confirming that the δ

¹³C value for the composition is more like to δ

¹³C values derived from plant-derived sources than δ

¹³C values derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide or non-planted-derived marine sources of carbon;

ii) measuring the carbon content of the composition; and

iii) quantifying an amount of carbon dioxide that is sequestered in the composition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is a building material or a material for underground storage.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is a cementitious composition or an aggregate.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition is a composition for storage of CO₂.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a stability of the composition for release of CO₂.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second δ

¹³C value of step i) (b) is a reference δ

¹³C value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reference δ

¹³C value is −

10%.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second δ

¹³C value of step i) (b) is a value for a possible raw material for the composition.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the second δ

¹³C value is a value for a fossil fuel or a flue gas derived from said fossil fuel.