Electrochemical methods of sequestering co2

Abstract

Methods of sequestering carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) are provided. Aspects of the methods include precipitating a storage stable carbon dioxide sequestering product from an alkaline-earth-metal-containing water and then disposing of the product, e.g., by placing the product in a disposal location or using the product as a component of a manufactured composition. Also provided are systems for practicing methods of the invention.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a) a reactor configured to produce a CO 2 -charged solution from
 1) a gaseous waste stream comprising carbon dioxide and 
 2) a solution of sodium hydroxide; 
   b) an electrochemical system configured to produce the solution of sodium hydroxide and provide it to the reactor; and   c) a gas conveyer configured to convey the gaseous waste stream to the reactor from a source of the gaseous waste stream.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the source of the gaseous waste stream is an industrial plant. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the industrial plant is selected from the group consisting of power plants, chemical processing plants, mechanical processing plants, refineries, cement plants, steel plants, or other industrial plants that produce CO 2  as a byproduct of fuel combustion or some other process. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the industrial plant is a power plant or cement plant. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the gaseous waste stream comprises a CO 2  concentration of 10% or higher. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the gaseous waste stream further comprises SOx, NOx, mercury, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the reactor is further configured to produce the CO 2 -charged solution from freshwater, brackish water, seawater, or brine. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the brine is selected from a surface brine, deep brine, geothermal plant wastewater, desalination waste water, or an alkaline lake. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the electrochemical system is configured with an anode and a cathode. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the electrochemical system is further configured for a chloralkali process. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the electrochemical system is further configured to produce hydroxide when a voltage of less than 2.8 V is applied across the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the electrochemical system is further configured to produce hydroxide when a voltage of less than 2.0 V is applied across the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the electrochemical system is further configured to produce hydroxide when a voltage of less than 1.5 V is applied across the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the electrochemical system is further configured to produce hydroxide when a voltage of less than 1.0 V is applied across the anode and the cathode. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the electrochemical system produces no chlorine at the anode. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the electrochemical system produces no oxygen at the anode. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the electrochemical system is further configured to form hydrogen gas at the cathode and direct hydrogen gas to the anode. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the gas conveyer is further configured to convey at least a portion of the gaseous waste stream provided by an industrial plant. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the gas conveyer is further configured to convey a waste gas stream treated or partially treated to remove SOx, NOx, fly ash, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the gas conveyer is further configured to convey a waste gas stream comprising SOx, NOx, fly ash, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the gas conveyer is further configured to convey a waste gas stream having a temperature between 0° C. and 1800° C. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the gas conveyer is configured to convey a waste gas stream having a temperature between 60° C. and 700° C. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the gas conveyer is configured to take the waste gas stream from a boiler, gas turbine, or a kiln. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the gas conveyer is stainless steel. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the gas conveyer is fluorocarbon lined. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the system further comprises backpressure control to reduce or eliminate backpressure resulting from conveying the gaseous waste stream from the industrial plant. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the backpressure control comprises a blower, a fan, a compressor, a gas storage facility, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the reactor is capable of absorbing 50% or more of the CO 2  in the gaseous waste stream. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the reactor is capable of absorbing 65% or more of the CO 2  in the gaseous waste stream. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the reactor is capable of absorbing 80% or more of the CO 2  in the gaseous waste stream. 
     
     
         51 . A system comprising:
 a) a reactor configured to produce a CO 2 -charged solution from a gaseous source of CO 2 , wherein the reactor is capable of absorbing 50% or more CO 2  from the gaseous source of carbon dioxide, and   b) an electrochemical system comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein the electrochemical system is configured to produce hydroxide at the cathode and no chlorine at the anode, and   wherein the electrochemical system is configured to provide the hydroxide to the reactor.   
     
     
         52 . A system comprising: 
       a) a reactor for producing a CO 2 -charged solution from an industrial source of CO 2  and
 b) an electrochemical system comprising an anode and a cathode, 
 wherein the electrochemical system is configured to produce hydroxide at the cathode without producing gas at the anode, and further 
 wherein the electrochemical system is configured to provide the hydroxide to the reactor. 
 
     
     
         53 . A system comprising:
 a) a reactor for producing a CO 2 -charged solution from an industrial source of CO 2  and   b) an electrochemical system comprising an anode and a cathode,   wherein the electrochemical system is configured to produce hydroxide at the cathode when the voltage across the anode and the cathode is less than 2.0 V, and further   wherein the electrochemical system is configured to provide the hydroxide to the reactor.