Method and apparatus for extracting carbon dioxide from air

• US 8,273,160 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Allen B., Lackner, Klaus S., Ginster, Ursula
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US12/903,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20110081712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 95/51, 95/68, 95/96, 95/97, 951/39, 951/41, 961/11, 264/39, 435/297.2, 553/852
• US Class Current: 96/4
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/02 Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/18 Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/246 Air-conditioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/10 Inorganic absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/204 Amines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/30 Ionic liquids and zwitter-ions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/38 Hydrophobic membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/047 Pressure swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1493 Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/22 by diffusion manufacturing semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00; form, structure or properties of semi-permeable membranes B01D69/00; material for semi-permeable membranes B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 41/05 in the strongly basic form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 47/14 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/50 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 : Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/18 : Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/36 : Means for collection or storage of gas; Gas holders
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/00 : Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se F04B
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 : Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A method and apparatus for extracting CO₂ from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO₂ to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO₂ to greenhouses where increased levels of CO₂ will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO₂ is fed to an algae culture.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the capture of CO₂ from ambient air comprising:

(a) an anion exchange material that captures CO₂ from a flow of ambient air;

(b) a store-of liquid water;

(c) a liquid water dispenser that delivers liquid water from said store of liquid water to said anion exchange material;

(d) an outlet exposed to ambient air and downstream of said anion exchange material, through which air depleted of CO₂ exits the apparatus; and

(e) a controlled environment in which said captured CO₂ is collected, wherein said controlled environment is (i) enclosed, (ii) comprises CO₂-enriched air, (iii) is located downstream of said anion exchange material, and (iv) is located downstream of said store of liquid water, wherein said anion exchange material comprises a material that extracts CO₂ from air when dry and releases the extracted CO₂ captured by the anion exchange material at a CO₂ concentration higher than a starting concentration of CO₂ in said ambient air when exposed to said liquid water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pump that delivers CO₂ released from said anion exchange material into an algae culture.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for cycling said anion exchange material between exposure to air and release of captured CO₂.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for cycling comprises a mechanism for moving said anion exchange material into and out of a moist environment.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means for cycling comprises a mechanism for delivering moisture to the anion exchange material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anion exchange material is a component of a heterogeneous material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anion exchange material comprises a strong base resin.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said resin comprises a Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said ion exchange resin comprises Anion I-200 ion exchange membrane material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sorbent to which collected CO₂ is transferred.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said sorbent is selected from the group consisting of:

liquid amines, ionic liquids, solid CO₂ sorbents, lithium zirconate, lithium silicate, magnesium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said sorbent comprises an ion exchange resin.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anion exchange material comprises a material from which 60% of said captured CO₂ is releasable by wetting or swing in humidity.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controlled environment comprises a headspace above an algae culture.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus does not comprise a heat source in thermal contact with said anion exchange material for raising the temperature of said anion exchange material.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anion exchange material comprises a material that extracts CO₂ from air when dry and releases the extracted CO₂ captured by the anion exchange material when exposed to water or air of higher relative humidity in the absence of a thermal swing.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controlled environment has a pressure that is below ambient pressure.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anion exchange material comprises a material prepared by wetting and drying said anion exchange material.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said store of liquid water comprises warm humid air that is warmed by solar radiation.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus does not comprise a fuel combustion unit.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controlled environment is connected by fluid communication with said store of liquid water.