Catalyst functionalized buffer sorbent pebbles for rapid separation of carbon dioxide from gas mixtures

• US 8,394,350 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Aines, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCracken, Daniel C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNS, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/783,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20100303694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 502400-403, 502/439, 423/220, 423/226, 423/230, 435/174, 435/176, 435/177
• US Class Current: 423/226
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/00 Catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/86 Catalytic processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/864 Removing carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/003 containing enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/00 Catalysts, in general, characterised by their form or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/30 characterised by their physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated

Abstract

A method for separating CO₂ from gas mixtures uses a slurried media impregnated with buffer compounds and coating the solid media with a catalyst or enzyme that promotes the transformation of CO₂ to carbonic acid. Buffer sorbent pebbles with a catalyst or enzyme coating are provided for rapid separation of CO₂ from gas mixtures.

Claims

1. A method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, comprising the steps of:

processing the gas mixture in a water wash producing water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water,

providing sorbent pebbles, each of said sorbent pebbles including a sorbent pebble body made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide,

providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an attached catalyst or enzyme that promotes the transformation of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid,

adding said sorbent pebbles made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide with a surface layer having an attached catalyst or enzyme that promotes the transformation of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid to said water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water forming a slurry, and

heating said slurry to the boiling point of water and releasing the carbon dioxide from said slurry for harvesting the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture.

2. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 1 further comprising the step of injecting the carbon dioxide into a geological formation for long term storage.

3. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 1 wherein in said step of providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an attached catalyst or enzyme is an attached naturally occurring carbonic anhydrase catalyst.

4. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 1 wherein said step of heating said slurry to the boiling point of water produces steam and further comprising the step of cooling said steam to produce condensed water.

5. A method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, comprising the steps of:

processing the gas mixture in a water wash producing water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water,

providing sorbent pebbles with each of said sorbent pebbles including a sorbent pebble body made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide,

providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme,

adding said sorbent pebbles made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide with a surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme to said water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water forming a slurry, and

heating said slurry to the boiling point of water and releasing the carbon dioxide from said slurry for harvesting the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture.

6. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 wherein in said step of providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme, comprises providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer made of a material that promotes the transformation of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid.

7. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 further comprising the step of injecting the carbon dioxide into a geological formation for long term storage.

8. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 wherein said step of heating said slurry to the boiling point of water produces steam and further comprising the step of cooling said steam to produce condensed water.

9. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 wherein in said step of providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme is a synthetic catalyst.