METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM AIR
A method and apparatus for extracting CO 2 from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO 2 to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO 2 to greenhouses where increased levels of CO 2 will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO 2 is fed to an algae culture.
1 - 46 . (canceled)
47 . A method for the capture of CO 2 from air, comprising the steps of exposing an anion exchange material to a flow of air; and releasing CO 2 captured by said anion exchange material by wetting or a swing in humidity, wherein said released CO 2 is released into a sealed enclosure.
48 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising continuously cycling said anion exchange material between exposure to air and release of captured CO 2 .
49 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said anion exchange material captures CO 2 when exposed to lower humidity and releases CO 2 when exposed to higher humidity.
50 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said anion exchange material is a component of a heterogeneous ion exchange material.
51 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said anion exchange material comprises a strong base resin.
52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein said resin comprises a Type 1 or Type 2 functionality ion exchange resin.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein said ion exchange resin comprises Anion I-200 ion exchange membrane material.
54 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said released CO 2 is transferred to a sorbent.
55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein said sorbent is selected from the group consisting of: a liquid amine, an ionic liquid, a solid CO 2 sorbent, a lithium zirconate, a lithium silicate, a magnesium hydroxide, and a calcium hydroxide.
56 . The method of claim 54 , wherein said sorbent comprises an ion exchange resin.
57 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said released CO 2 is concentrated to between 3% and 10%.
58 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said released CO 2 is concentrated close to 100%.
59 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said released CO 2 is concentrated up to 20%.
60 . The method of claim 47 , wherein 60% of said captured CO 2 is released during said wetting or swing in humidity.
61 . The method of claim 47 , where said captured CO 2 is releasable in the absence of a pressure swing.
62 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising the step of bubbling CO 2 released from said anion exchange material into an algae culture.
63 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said sealed enclosure comprises a headspace above an algae culture.