IP Library Granted Patent US 8,394,350
Granted Patent B2
US 8,394,350 · App. 12/783,394 · Granted Mar 12, 2013

Catalyst functionalized buffer sorbent pebbles for rapid separation of carbon dioxide from gas mixtures

Inventor: Roger D. Aines (Livermore, CA)
Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,394,350
App. No.
12/783,394
Granted
Mar 12, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for separating CO 2 from gas mixtures uses a slurried media impregnated with buffer compounds and coating the solid media with a catalyst or enzyme that promotes the transformation of CO 2 to carbonic acid. Buffer sorbent pebbles with a catalyst or enzyme coating are provided for rapid separation of CO 2 from gas mixtures.

Claims (19)

1. A method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, comprising the steps of:

processing the gas mixture in a water wash producing water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water,

providing sorbent pebbles, each of said sorbent pebbles including a sorbent pebble body made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide,

providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an attached catalyst or enzyme that promotes the transformation of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid,

adding said sorbent pebbles made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide with a surface layer having an attached catalyst or enzyme that promotes the transformation of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid to said water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water forming a slurry, and

heating said slurry to the boiling point of water and releasing the carbon dioxide from said slurry for harvesting the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture.

2. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 1 further comprising the step of injecting the carbon dioxide into a geological formation for long term storage.

3. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 1 wherein in said step of providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an attached catalyst or enzyme is an attached naturally occurring carbonic anhydrase catalyst.

4. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 1 wherein said step of heating said slurry to the boiling point of water produces steam and further comprising the step of cooling said steam to produce condensed water.

5. A method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, comprising the steps of:

processing the gas mixture in a water wash producing water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water,

providing sorbent pebbles with each of said sorbent pebbles including a sorbent pebble body made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide,

providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme,

adding said sorbent pebbles made of a material that absorbs the carbon dioxide with a surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme to said water with the gas mixture dissolve in said water forming a slurry, and

heating said slurry to the boiling point of water and releasing the carbon dioxide from said slurry for harvesting the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture.

6. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 wherein in said step of providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme, comprises providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer made of a material that promotes the transformation of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid.

7. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 further comprising the step of injecting the carbon dioxide into a geological formation for long term storage.

8. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 wherein said step of heating said slurry to the boiling point of water produces steam and further comprising the step of cooling said steam to produce condensed water.

9. The method of harvesting carbon dioxide from a gas mixture of claim 5 wherein in said step of providing a surface layer on said sorbent pebble body with said surface layer having an embedded catalyst or enzyme is a synthetic catalyst.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Mar 30, 2015
From: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 035283/0662 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2010
From: AINES, ROGER D.
To: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
Reel/Frame 024410/0943 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61182005 · May 28, 2009
Related Publication 20100303694A1 · Dec 2, 2010