Process for integrating conversion of hydrocarbonaceous assets and photobiofuels production using an absorption tower
First Claim
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1. An integrated process comprising the steps of:
- a) converting at least one hydrocarbonaceous asset to produce a CO2-containing gas;
b) absorbing at least a portion of the CO2 of the CO2-containing gas into an absorption liquid in an absorption tower, wherein the absorption liquid flows downward, and wherein the CO2-containing gas flows upward;
c) collecting at least a portion of the CO2-containing absorption liquid obtained in step (b) and, in a photobiofuels process, providing said collected CO2-containing absorption liquid to support photosynthesis;
d) forming an algal and/or diatomaceous biomass in the collected CO2-containing absorption liquid;
e) removing the formed biomass from the absorption liquid, thereby forming a regenerated absorption liquid;
f) recycling at least a portion of the regenerated absorption liquid to the absorption tower;
g) producing O2 in the photobiofuels process; and
h) providing at least a portion of said O2 as (i) a gaseous oxidant for producing synthesis gas, (ii) an oxidant of synthesis gas for producing power therefrom, or (iii) combinations thereof;
wherein the photobiofuels process is a closed photobiofuels process.
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to processes that integrate CO2-producing conversions of hydrocarbonaceous assets with biofuels processes that utilize CO2 photosynthesis. In some embodiments such processes involve the absorption of CO2 in an absorption liquid. In some such embodiments such absorption is carried out in an absorption tower. In some other such embodiments, there is a subsequent desorption of the CO2. Generally, at least some of the CO2 captured by the absorption liquid is used to grow microbes or diatom species.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An integrated process comprising the steps of:
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a) converting at least one hydrocarbonaceous asset to produce a CO2-containing gas; b) absorbing at least a portion of the CO2 of the CO2-containing gas into an absorption liquid in an absorption tower, wherein the absorption liquid flows downward, and wherein the CO2-containing gas flows upward; c) collecting at least a portion of the CO2-containing absorption liquid obtained in step (b) and, in a photobiofuels process, providing said collected CO2-containing absorption liquid to support photosynthesis; d) forming an algal and/or diatomaceous biomass in the collected CO2-containing absorption liquid; e) removing the formed biomass from the absorption liquid, thereby forming a regenerated absorption liquid; f) recycling at least a portion of the regenerated absorption liquid to the absorption tower; g) producing O2 in the photobiofuels process; and h) providing at least a portion of said O2 as (i) a gaseous oxidant for producing synthesis gas, (ii) an oxidant of synthesis gas for producing power therefrom, or (iii) combinations thereof; wherein the photobiofuels process is a closed photobiofuels process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification