Air collector with functionalized ion exchange membrane for capturing ambient CO

• US 9,205,372 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Allen B., Peters, Eddy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Application Number:
  US13/550,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 961/08, 961/43, 961/54, 951/39, 951/48
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/10 Inorganic adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/202 Polymeric adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/25 Coated, impregnated or composite adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/302 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/306 Surface area, e.g. BET-specific surface
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/34 Specific shapes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/3425 Honeycomb shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/06 Polluted air
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40083 Regeneration of adsorbents in processes other than pressure or temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4508 for cleaning air in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• 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 41/04 Processes using organic exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 47/00 Ion-exchange processes in general; Apparatus therefor ion-exchange chromatography processes or apparatus B01D15/08
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/12 from carbon dioxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 9/04 Methane production by treatment of sewage C02F11/04; natural gas, synthetic natural gas C10L3/06
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/34 : Simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine, e.g. by chlor-alkali electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 : Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/20 : of methane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2

Abstract

An apparatus for capture of CO₂ from the atmosphere comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capture of CO₂ from ambient air comprising a solid capture material comprising an amine exposed to the ambient air from which said solid capture material captures CO₂;

a release mechanism for releasing captured CO₂ from said solid capture material comprising an amine, wherein said release mechanism comprises a liquid;

a concentrator that concentrates CO₂ released from said solid capture material; and

either (i) a converter that converts the concentrated CO₂ to a useful product or (ii) an injector that injects said concentrated CO₂ into a deep well or into deep ocean storage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is formed as a plurality of polygons.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is formed as a plurality of squares, rectangles, triangles, trapezoids, pentagons, or hexagons.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is shaped as a spiral wound disc.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is shaped as a plurality of concentric layers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is shaped as a truncated cone.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is shaped as a plurality of louvers.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is formed of an amine-functionalized polystyrene or cellulose based anion exchange resin.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is formed as a mesh.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, installed in a cooling tower.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid capture material is formed as a honeycomb.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solid capture material is an anion exchange material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said anion exchange material is coated on an inert substrate material.