Extraction and sequestration of carbon dioxide

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for extracting carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from a fluid stream and for delivering that extracted CO 2 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.

1 . A system for removing carbon dioxide from a fluid, comprising passing a stream of the fluid in contact with a sorbent to absorb and concentrate carbon dioxide from the fluid stream; releasing the carbon dioxide from the sorbent; and delivering the carbon dioxide for use in a secondary process. 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide is delivered to the secondary process in a gaseous state, solid state, or liquid state, as described. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary process is selected from a group consisting of: machining coolant and lubricant, grit blasting, for smoothing or paint or rust removal, cryogenic cleaning, quick freeze processes, R744 refrigerant, dry cleaning solvent, perishable shipping container pre-cooling, perishable shipping inert environment maintenance, beverage carbonation, fire suppression, plant fertilization, horticulture, agriculture, silvaculture, aquatic algae production, enhanced oil recovery, water softening, Solvay process, propellant, pressurizing gas, e.g. for aerosol cans, inflation gas, e.g. for life rafts, supercritical CO 2  extraction, semi conductor manufacturing, organic solvent, 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 farm products, neutralization of alkaline waters or slurries or solid materials, and gas shields for welding or electronics manufacturing. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is an ion exchange membrane material. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent by exposing the sorbent to increased humidity, by using water, humid air, or pulses of steam. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent using a weak liquid amine as a secondary sorbent. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is a resin, and wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the 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. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide is released from the sorbent by washing the 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. 
   
   
       9 . A method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas, comprising:
 bringing said gas in contact with a resin contained in a plurality of chambers, wherein a plurality of chambers are connected in series;   wetting said resin with water, wherein the water enters a first chamber and exits through a last chamber;   collecting water vapor and carbon dioxide from said resin;   separating said carbon dioxide from said water vapor; and   delivering the carbon dioxide for use in a secondary process.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary process is selected from a group consisting of: machining coolant and lubricant, grit blasting for smoothing and rust or paint removal, cryogenic cleaning, quick freeze processes, R744 refrigerant, dry cleaning solvent, perishable shipping container pre-cooling, perishable shipping inert environment maintenance, beverage carbonation, fire suppression, plant fertilization, horticulture, agriculture, silvaculture, aquatic algae production, enhanced oil recovery, water softening, Solvay process, propellant, pressurizing gas, e.g. for aerosol cans, inflation gas, e.g. for life rafts, supercritical CO 2  extraction, semi conductor manufacturing, organic solvent, 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, i.e. synthetic fuels, fumigation of farm products, neutralization of alkaline waters or slurries or solid materials, or gas shield for welding, or electronics manufacturing. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of chambers are connected via a plurality of valves that allow any of said plurality of chambers to serve as said first chamber or said last chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The method as of  claim 9 , wherein said first chamber contains resin that was most recently saturated or partially saturated with carbon dioxide from said gas, and each successive chamber contains resin which has been wetted and carbon dioxide collected from for a greater period of time than the previous chamber, and so on, to said last chamber. 
   
   
       13 . A system for utilization of carbon dioxide that is substantially carbon neutral, comprising a carbon dioxide capture device that collects carbon dioxide from a fluid stream produced by a process that utilizes carbon dioxide, wherein the carbon dioxide capture device delivers the captured carbon dioxide for utilization by the process. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the process is selected from a group of processes utilizing carbon dioxide consisting of: CO 2  as a refrigerant, as a dry cleaning agent or other solvent, as a fire suppression material, as an oxidation preventing shield-gas, as an alternative to sand-blasting, synthetic fuel production, plant fertilization, or as a freezing agent in food processing. 
   
   
       15 . A method of creating tradable carbon credits which comprises extracting CO 2  from ambient air at a location adjacent or remote from where the CO 2  is generated, using sorbent, selling, trading or transferring the resulting CO 2  credits to a third party, and using the extracted CO 2  in a secondary process. 
   
   
       16 . A method for luring CO 2  sensitive insects toward a specific location where a moisture sensitive CO 2  sorbent that is partially or fully loaded with CO 2  is exposed to moisture usually in excess of that present in the ambient air at the location. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sorbent is held in place by an open basket that is protected with a roof and a floor against accidental wetting by rain. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sorbent is a strong base ion exchange resin. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein moisture is delivered from a spray nozzle or as a puff of steam. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the resin is woven into a textile material that acts as a wick, can bring up water from a separate reservoir that is filled either automatically or by hand at a desired time. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sorbent is a resin that is embedded into polymer matrix and wherein the polymer can contain a contact active insecticide. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for extracting a gaseous contaminant from a gas stream using a sorbent employing a humidity swing and for distilling a brine, comprising:
 a sorbent for capturing the contaminant;   a capture unit, wherein the sorbent is exposed to the gas stream and becomes substantially saturated with the contaminant;   an evaporation unit, wherein a brine is evaporated forming a concentrated brine and water vapor, and wherein the sorbent is brought in contact with the water vapor causing the sorbent to become substantially depleted of the contaminant according to a humidity swing; and   a condensation unit, wherein the water vapor is separated from the contaminant.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a heat exchanger for conserving the heat retained by the sorbent from the condensation unit and returning that heat to the evaporation unit. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the contaminant is carbon dioxide, and the gas stream is ambient air or an exhaust system. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for stabilizing the level of carbon dioxide in an enclosed environment, comprising:
 a filter unit attached to said enclosed environment, containing a sorbent material for carbon dioxide capture; and   a regenerating system for regenerating the sorbent material at least in part.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the captured carbon dioxide is delivered to the enclosed environment, to the surrounding atmosphere, or to another desired location by the operation of a plurality of louvers. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the sorbent material is an ion exchange resin subject to a humidity swing. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the regenerating system comprises one or more from a group consisting of: DI water, humid air, condensate, and jetted steam. 
   
   
       29 . A method for stabilizing the level of carbon dioxide in an enclosed environment using the apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the level of carbon dioxide is maintained within predetermined parameters. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further controlling the humidity in the enclosed environment. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the level of carbon dioxide is optimized for the storage of produce. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the level of carbon dioxide is optimized for the storage of bananas. 
   
   
       33 . A method for extracting carbon dioxide from a gas comprising bringing a stream of the gas in contact with a sorbent, releasing the carbon dioxide from the sorbent to create a carbon dioxide-enriched gas mixture, and bringing the enriched gas mixture in contact with an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution absorbs carbon dioxide from the gas mixture. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the gas is brought in contact with the aqueous solution by bubbling the enriched gas mixture through the aqueous solution, or by flowing the gas over the aqueous solution. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the aqueous solution is an alkaline brine, and wherein at least part of the carbon dioxide is sequestered in the alkaline brine by forming carbonate ions, thereby neutralizing the aqueous solution, and further comprising the step of returning the aqueous solution to its origin. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the enriched gas mixture is brought in contact with the aqueous solution using a semi-permeable membrane that allows the transfer of carbon dioxide from the gas mixture to the aqueous solution; wherein the membrane is hydrophobic and contains gas-filled pores; and wherein the membrane allows the transmission of water vapor from aqueous solution to the enriched gas mixture. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein water vapor is produced from the aqueous solution to drive or partially drive the carbon dioxide from the sorbent via a humidity swing, and wherein aqueous solution and the sorbent are placed in close proximity so that heat consumed in producing the water vapor is at least in part provided by condensation of the water vapor in contact with the sorbent. 
   
   
       38 . An apparatus, constructed to perform the method of  claim 37 , wherein the sorbent is contained inside a tube whose walls have a minimal heat resistance and that is open on both ends, and where the outside of the tube is wetted by the aqueous solution so as to maximize heat transfer between the inside and outside of the tube. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the aqueous solution is contained in a sponge or foam. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33 , including the step of utilizing the extracted carbon dioxide to neutralizing waste alkaline brines. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , including the step of utilizing the extracted carbon dioxide for neutralizing alkaline brines that are produced in the production of alkaline batteries, or that are produced by injecting water into basaltic or other ultramafic or other basic rock formations, or that are formed as mining waste materials. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , including the step of utilizing the extracted carbon dioxide for neutralizing asbestos tailings. 
   
   
       43 . A method for adding calcium bicarbonate to seawater without changing the alkalinity of the water, comprising using a sorbent that employs a humidity swing to extract carbon dioxide from the air resulting in a gas mixture, precipitating carbonic acid from the gas mixture to dissolve an amount of limestone, forming calcium bicarbonate, and depositing the calcium bicarbonate in the seawater with any remaining carbonic acid. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the several steps are performed upstream of a coral reef in order to increase the calcium and carbonate ion product to enhance a growth rate of the coral reef. 
   
   
       45 . A method of stabilizing sorbent CO 2  levels in storage containers of fresh produce, comprising recovering excess CO 2  from the storage containers using a sorbent for CO 2 . 
   
   
       46 . A method for removing a gaseous contaminant from a gas stream, comprising
 placing said gas stream in contact with a sorbent, wherein the contaminant from said gas stream becomes loaded on said sorbent;   releasing the gas from said substrate by use of a humidity swing; wherein the humidity swing is performed by evaporating a brine to form concentrated brine and water vapor, and bringing the water vapor in contact with the loaded sorbent;   and condensing the water vapor to separate the water vapor from the contaminant.   
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the contaminant is carbon dioxide, and the gas stream is an exhaust stream or is ambient air. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the sorbent is a solid ion exchange material. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein a heat exchanger is used to conserve the heat of condensation and returns the heat to be used in the evaporation of the brine. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the evaporation of the brine occurs in an evacuated space. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein at least part of the condensed water is captured and recycled. 
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the sorbent is a solid ion exchange material. 
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the condensation unit is cooled with water or seawater. 
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the evaporation unit is a vacuum chamber. 
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the evaporation unit and the condensation unit are part of the same chamber.