Extraction and sequestration of carbon dioxide

• US 9,527,747 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carbon Sink, Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Allen B., Lackner, Klaus S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US14/561,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20150274536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/033 Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/023 Attracting insects by the simulation of a living being, i.e. emission of carbon dioxide, heat, sound waves or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/04 Carbon disulfide; Carbon monoxide; Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/00 Absorbents, i.e. solvents and liquid materials for gas absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/103 Water
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2252/204 Amines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/206 Ion exchange resins
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/302 Sulfur oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/402 Dinitrogen oxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/404 Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40086 by using a purge gas B01D2259/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4009 using hot gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4145 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0462 Temperature swing adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• 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: B01D 53/96 : Regeneration, reactivation or recycling of reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/445 : with bipolar membranes; Water splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/745 : blowing or injecting heating, cooling or other conditioning fluid inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/50 : Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 : Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/10 : of nitrous oxide (N2O)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for extracting carbon dioxide (CO₂) from a fluid stream and for delivering that extracted CO₂ to controlled environments for utilization by a secondary process. Various extraction and delivery methods are disclosed specific to certain secondary uses, included the attraction of CO₂ sensitive insects, the ripening and preservation of produce, and the neutralization of brine.

Claims

1. A method for removing carbon dioxide from ambient air, comprising bringing the ambient air in contact with a solid sorbent comprising an ion exchange membrane material, thereby absorbing CO₂ from the ambient air, and returning a CO₂-depleted air flow to said ambient air;

releasing the carbon dioxide from the solid sorbent in a concentrated form; and

delivering the carbon dioxide for use in a secondary process, wherein the secondary process is selected from a group consisting of;

use as a machining coolant and lubricant, use in grit blasting for smoothing or paint or rest removal, cryogenic cleaning, quick freeze processes, production and use of R744 refrigerant, use in CO₂ based dry-cleaning solvents, perishable shipping container pre-cooling, perishable shipping inert environment maintenance, beverage carbonation, fire suppression, plant fertilization, horticulture, agriculture, silvaculture, use in greenhouses, aquatic algae production, enhanced oil recovery, water softening, Solvay processes, use as a propellant, use as a pressurizing gas for aerosol cans, use as an inflation gas for life rafts, supercritical CO₂ extraction, semiconductor manufacturing, organic solvents, perfume aromatics, decaffeinating coffee or tea, supramics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical production of urea, methanol, inorganic carbonates, organic carbonates, polyurethanes, paint pigments, foaming agents, carbon based fuels, synthetic fuels, fumigation of grain elevators, neutralization of alkaline waters or slurries or solid materials, and gas shields for welding or electronics manufacturing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide is delivered to the secondary process in a gaseous state, solid state, or liquid state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the solid sorbent by exposing the sorbent to increased humidity, by using water, humid air, or pulses of steam.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the solid sorbent using a weak liquid amine as a secondary sorbent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid sorbent is a resin, and wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the solid sorbent utilizing a humidity swing, and wherein the resin is contained in a chamber that also contains activated carbon, further comprising the step of drying out the activated carbon to capture the carbon dioxide in a concentrated form prior to delivering the carbon dioxide for use in a secondary process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the solid sorbent by washing the solid sorbent with a wash fluid to create an effluent, placing the effluent on the acid side of an electrodialysis cell, driving the pH of the acid side of the electrodialysis cell to a neutral pH to release carbon dioxide, prior to delivering the carbon dioxide for use in a secondary process.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the released carbon dioxide is delivered to an enclosed environment and maintained at a level that is within predetermined parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising controlling the humidity in the enclosed environment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said absorbing and/or said releasing steps are performed below about 15°

C.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said absorbing takes place in a plurality of chambers in sequence, each chamber comprising a CO₂ sorbent that is a solid sorbent, wherein said plurality of chambers comprises three chambers, N−

1, N, and N+1, wherein chamber N is full of air and chambers N−

1 and N+1 contain water; and

further wherein said releasing step comprises wetting or an increase in humidity in a process that moves water and air such that;

(a) water from chamber N−

1 moves into chamber N;

(b) air leaves chamber N;

(c) water leaves chamber N+1; and

,

(d) chamber N+1 fills with air.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said water comprises carbonate.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein water from chamber N+1 moves into a fourth chamber.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said fourth chamber is nominally evacuated prior to the movement of water from chamber N+1.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said fourth chamber contains water prior to the movement of water from chamber N+1.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid sorbent comprises an anion exchange material.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid sorbent comprises a material from which captured CO₂ is releasable by wetting or a swing in humidity in the absence of a thermal swing.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid sorbent captures CO₂ when exposed to lower humidity and releases CO₂ when exposed to higher humidity.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid sorbent comprises a strong base resin.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said solid sorbent comprises a coating comprising a membrane that is hydrophobic and gas-permeable;

and further wherein said releasing step comprises exposing said coated solid sorbent to an aqueous solution, wherein said solid sorbent is separated from said aqueous solution by said coating.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said aqueous solution is an alkaline brine.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said aqueous solution absorbs CO₂ released from said solid sorbent.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting and concentrating CO₂ released from said solid sorbent prior to delivering said CO₂ to said secondary process.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said carbon dioxide is used in a secondary process on site.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said CO₂-depleted flow has the same oxygen content as said stream of ambient air.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary process comprises luring insects to a desired location.