Low Cost Immobilized Amine Regenerable Solid Sorbents

Abstract

A method of modifying a chemical interaction between a functional group of an immobilized amine in a solid sorbent composition and a compound that chemically interacts with the functional group to reduce the heat required to desorb the compound from the solid sorbent. A method of inhibiting degradation of an immobilized amine in an immobilized amine solid sorbent. Compositions and methods of use of a low-cost regenerable immobilized amine solid sorbent resistant to degradation.

1 . A method of modifying a chemical interaction between i) an amine functional group of an immobilized amine in a solid sorbent composition, and, ii) a gaseous compound that chemically interacts with the amine functional group, by causing the adsorption of the gaseous compound on the immobilized amines in the presence of an alcohol species. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immobilized amine is prepared from an aliphatic or aromatic amine and an epoxy on a solid support, said solid support comprising an oxide, a metal, a carbon material, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chemically adsorbed compound is an acidic gas, said acidic gas comprising, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, CS2, thiopene, dibenzothiophene, tetrahydrothiophene, dimethyl sulfide, mercaptan, tertbutylmercaptant, 2-methyl-2propanethiol, 1-propanethiol, isobutanethiol, 2-butanethiol, I-butanethiol, 1-pentanethiol, I-hexanethiol, and I-heptanethiol, nitric oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the alcohol species is a glycol. 
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 a. inhibiting degradation of amine functional groups of an immobilized amine in a solid sorbent composition   b. by including an inorganic base in the solid sorbent composition.   
     
     
         6 . A regenerable immobilized amine solid sorbent composition comprising:
 a. a solid support particle,   b. an immobilized amine,
 i. wherein the immobilized amine comprises an adhesive and an amine susceptible to adsorbing a compound, 
   c. an alcohol species capable of lowering the threshold temperature for dissociation of a bond between the compound and the immobilized amine, and;   d. an inorganic base.   
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the solid support particle is SiO 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the amine is an aliphatic or aromatic amine. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the adhesive is an epoxy. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the alcohol species is a polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the inorganic base is Na 2 CO 3 . 
     
     
         12 . A method of removing a compound from a gas stream comprising:
 a. employing a regenerable solid sorbent in the gas stream, wherein the regenerable solid sorbent comprises,
 i. an immobilized amine susceptible to chemosorbing the compound, 
 ii. an alcohol species capable of lowering the threshold temperature for dissociation of the bond between the compound and the amine, and 
 iii. an inorganic base, 
   b. allowing the regenerable solid sorbent to adsorb the compound from the gas stream, and;   c. heating the solid sorbent to a temperature above the threshold temperature for dissociation of the bond between the adsorbed compound and the immobilized amine, but below the threshold temperature for dissociation of the immobilized amine.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the gas stream is flue gas, the compound is CO 2 , the solid support is SiO 2 , the amine is an aliphatic amine, the adhesive is an epoxy, the alcohol species is a polyethylene glycol and the inorganic base is Na 2 CO 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the gas stream is flue gas and the compound is SO 2 , the solid support is SiO 2 , the amine is an aromatic amine, the adhesive is an epoxy, the alcohol species is a polyethylene glycol and the inorganic base is Na 2 CO 3 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of preparing a dual immobilized amine regenerable solid sorbent for adsorbing a first compound and a second compound, comprising:
 a. impregnating into pores of a solid support a first composition comprising,
 i. a first amine susceptible to chemosorbing the first compound, 
 ii. an adhesive, 
 iii. an alcohol species capable of lowering the threshold temperature for dissociation of the bond between the first compound and the first amine, and 
 iv. an inorganic base, 
   b. optionally partially filling the pores with a solvent after impregnating the pores with the first composition,   c. treating the resultant solid support with a second composition comprising,
 i. a second amine susceptible to chemosorbing the second compound, 
 ii. an adhesive, 
 iii. an alcohol species capable of lowering the threshold temperature for dissociation of the bond between the second compound and the second amine, and, 
 iv. an inorganic base, and; 
   d. optionally, removing the solvent from the pores.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first compound is CO 2  and the first composition comprises an aliphatic amine, a polyethylene glycol, an epoxy and Na 2 CO 3 , and the second compound is SO 2  and the second composition comprises an aromatic amine, a polyethylene glycol, an epoxy and Na 2 CO 3 . 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the solvent is water. 
     
     
         18 . A dual immobilized amine regenerable solid sorbent composition, comprising:
 a. solid support particles having pores, pore mouths and a non-porous surface area,   b. wherein the pores contain a composition of a first amine susceptible to chemosorbing a first compound, an alcohol species capable of lowering the threshold temperature for dissociation of a bond between the first compound and the first amine, an adhesive, and an inorganic base, and;   c. wherein the pore mouths and non-porous surface area contain a composition of a second amine susceptible to chemosorbing a second compound, an alcohol species capable of lowering the threshold temperature for dissociation of a bond between the second compound and the second amine, an adhesive, and an inorganic base.   
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the solid support particles are SiO 2  particles, the first compound is CO 2 , the amine susceptible to chemosorbing a first compound is an aliphatic amine, the alcohol species is a polyethylene glycol, the adhesive is an epoxy and the inorganic base is Na 2 CO 3 . 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the solid support particles are SiO 2  particles, the second compound is SO 2 , the amine susceptible to chemosorbing a second compound is an aromatic amine, the alcohol species is a polyethylene glycol, the adhesive is an epoxy and the inorganic base is Na 2 CO 3 .