Tethered catalysts for the hydration of carbon dioxide

• US 8,877,069 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Valdez, Carlos A., Satcher, Joe H. Jr., Aines, Roger D., Wong, Sergio E., Baker, Sarah E., Lightstone, Felice C., Stolaroff, Joshuah K.
• Primary Examiner(s): STELLING, LUCAS A
• Application Number:
  US13/369,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20120199535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 210/632, 210/749, 210/750, 210/242.1, 210/500.1, 210/501, 210/502.1, 502/343
• US Class Current: 210/750
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0005 with one or more auxiliary substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8671 Removing components of defined structure not provided for in B01D53/8603 - B01D53/8668
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/0258 Flexible ligands, e.g. mainly sp3-carbon framework as exemplified by the "tedicyp" ligand, i.e. cis-cis-cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/16 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/26 Zinc
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/845 Cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/847 Nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/182 comprising aliphatic or saturated rings
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/66 by neutralisation; pH adjustment for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/007 Contaminated open waterways, rivers, lakes or ponds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2

Abstract

A system is provided that substantially increases the efficiency of CO₂ capture and removal by positioning a catalyst within an optimal distance from the air-liquid interface. The catalyst is positioned within the layer determined to be the highest concentration of carbon dioxide. A hydrophobic tether is attached to the catalyst and the hydrophobic tether modulates the position of the catalyst within the liquid layer containing the highest concentration of carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a liquid, comprising:

a catalyst portion for removing the carbon dioxide from a liquid, and

a float portion attached to said catalyst portion wherein said float portion attached to said catalyst portion is a hydrophobic tether and wherein said hydrophobic tether attached to said catalyst portion is a linear aliphatic chain, ranging in length from C₁₀ to C₁₈ and wherein said float portion positions said catalyst portion in a target containing the highest concentration of carbon dioxide.

2. An apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a fluid of, comprising:

a catalyst portion for removing the carbon dioxide from a fluid wherein said catalyst portion is an aza-macrocyclic complex, and

a float portion attached to said catalyst portion wherein said float portion positions said catalyst portion in a target liquid layer containing the highest concentration of carbon dioxide.

3. The apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a fluid of claim 2 wherein said aza-macrocyclic complex is selected from the group consisting of cyclen, cyclam, cyclen-cyclam hybrid, C-methylamino cyclen and 1,4,7-Triaza cyclododecane.

4. A method of removing carbon dioxide from a fluid, comprising the steps of:

determining the layer containing the highest concentration of carbon dioxide,

selecting a carbon dioxide removing catalyst for a catalyst portion, and

attaching a hydrophobic tether to said catalyst portion wherein said hydrophobic tether positions said catalyst portion in a said layer containing the highest concentration of carbon dioxide wherein said hydrophobic tether is a linear aliphatic chain, ranging in length from C₁₀ to C₁₈.

5. A method of removing carbon dioxide from a fluid, comprising the steps of:

determining the layer containing the highest concentration of carbon dioxide,

selecting a carbon dioxide removing catalyst for a catalyst portion wherein said catalyst portion is an aza-macrocyclic complex, and

attaching a hydrophobic tether to said catalyst portion wherein said hydrophobic tether positions said catalyst portion in a said layer containing the highest concentration of carbon dioxide.

6. The method of removing carbon dioxide from a fluid of claim 5 wherein said aza-macrocyclic complex is selected from the group consisting of cyclen, cyclam, cyclen-cyclam hybrid, C-methylamino cyclen and 1,4,7-Triaza cyclododecane.