Removal of carbon dioxide from air

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods for removing CO 2 from air, which comprises exposing sorbent covered surfaces to the air. The invention also provides for an apparatus for exposing air to a CO 2 sorbent. In another aspect, the invention provides a method and apparatus for separating carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) bound in a sorbent.

1 - 115 . (canceled) 
     
     
         116 . A method for the capture of CO 2  from ambient air, the method comprising: exposing an anion exchange material to a flow of ambient air; capturing CO 2  from said ambient air; and releasing said captured CO 2  from said anion exchange material by exposure to a secondary sorbent. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said secondary sorbent comprises an amine solution or a carbonate solution. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 116 , further comprising collecting said released CO 2 . 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 118 , further comprising storing said collected CO 2 . 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 116 , whereby amount of CO 2  in said ambient air is reduced. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material comprises an amine. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein said amine has a permanent positive charge. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein said amine is covalently bound to four carbon groups. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material has a carbonate or bicarbonate binding energy of 20 kJ/mole to 60 kJ/mole. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material is regenerated in a process having a low energy penalty. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material comprises a plurality of membranes. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 126 , wherein said plurality of membranes are arranged in series. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 126 , wherein said plurality of membranes are spaced apart from one another with spacing from 1 mm to 25 mm. 
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material has a thickness from 0.1 to 10 mm. 
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 126 , wherein said plurality of membranes are stacked in layers forming pie shaped sections that are assembled into a wheel. 
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material comprises tubes. 
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material comprises a foam structure. 
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said anion exchange material comprises a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         134 . The method of  claim 133 , wherein said anion exchange material comprising a honeycomb structure comprises spacing from 1 mm to 25 mm. 
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 133 , wherein said honeycomb structure has a thickness from 0.1 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 116 , further comprising disposing of said released CO 2  by deep well injection.