Process for accelerated capture of carbon dioxide

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the removal of carbon dioxide from a gas stream, particularly a flue gas, hydrogen gas from a reformer, natural gas, or gas from a cement kiln. Immobilized enzymes for use in carbon capture and other systems are also disclosed.

1 . A reaction vessel for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas comprising a bottom portion containing a gas inlet and a liquid outlet, a top portion containing a liquid inlet and a gas outlet, and a middle portion containing a plurality of particles coated with carbonic anhydrase entrapped in the pores of a polymeric immobilization material, the carbonic anhydrase being capable of catalyzing hydration of CO 2  into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions, wherein the polymeric immobilization material stabilizes the carbonic anhydrase and wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 15% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         2 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the carbonic anhydrase comprises a human carbonic anhydrase. 
     
     
         3 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the human carbonic anhydrase comprises human carbonic anhydrase IV. 
     
     
         4 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 30% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         5 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 45% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         6 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 60% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         7 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 75% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         8 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 50% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 10 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         9 . The reaction vessel of  claim 1  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 50% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 15 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         10 . A system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas comprising a reaction vessel of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 10  further comprising a second reaction vessel, the second reaction vessel containing particles coated with carbonic anhydrase entrapped in a polymeric immobilization material wherein the carbonic anhydrase is capable of catalyzing conversion of the hydrogen ions and the bicarbonate ions into concentrated CO 2  and water. 
     
     
         12 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 11  wherein the second reaction vessel contains a carbonic anhydrase entrapped in the polymeric immobilization material, wherein the polymeric immobilization material stabilizes the carbonic anhydrase and the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 15% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         13 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  further comprising a second reaction vessel, the second reaction vessel being the site where hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions are converted into concentrated CO 2  and water. 
     
     
         14 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  wherein the carbonic anhydrase comprises a human carbonic anhydrase. 
     
     
         15 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  wherein the human carbonic anhydrase comprises human carbonic anhydrase IV. 
     
     
         16 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 30% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         17 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 45% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         18 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 60% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         19 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 75% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 5 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         20 . The system for removing CO 2  from a CO 2 -containing gas of  claim 13  wherein the carbonic anhydrase retains at least about 50% of its initial catalytic activity for at least about 10 days when continuously catalyzing a chemical transformation at a temperature from about 30° C. to about 100° C.