CO2 SORBENT COMPOSITION WITH O2 CO-GENERATION

1 . A sorbent composition suitable for removal of CO 2 and co-generation of O 2 , comprising Fe(IV), Fe(VI), Fe(V), or a mixture thereof (“the ferrate compound”), wherein upon exposure to CO 2 and H 2 O, the sorbent composition is capable of absorbing CO 2 and co-generating O 2 .

2 . The sorbent composition of claim 1 , wherein the sorbent composition is in the form of granule, extrudate, sphere, disk, briquette, pellet, prill, solid solution, microsphere, encapsulate, or a mixture thereof.

3 . The sorbent composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more hygroscopic materials.

4 . The sorbent composition of claim 1 , further comprising H 2 O.

5 . The sorbent composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more cooling agents.

6 . A sorbent material suitable for removal of CO 2 and co-generation of O 2 , comprising:

one or more sorbent compositions of claims 1 to 5 .

7 . The sorbent material of claim 6 , wherein the sorbent compositions are embedded in one or more fibers.

8 . The sorbent material of claim 6 ,

wherein one or more sorbent compositions join with one or more substrates to form a sorbent layer.

9 . The sorbent material of claim 8 , wherein the sorbent compositions are coated on one or more substrates.

10 . The sorbent material of claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises one or more mats, beads, screens, porous material (paper, fabric or plastic), perforated plastic, perforated and corrugated plastic, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, or mixtures thereof.

11 . The sorbent material of claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises one or more hygroscopic materials.

12 . The sorbent material of claim 8 ,

wherein the substrate comprises a top layer and a bottom layer,

wherein one or more sorbent compositions form a sorbent layer; and

wherein the top layer covers one surface of the sorbent bed and the bottom layer covers the other surface of the sorbent bed.

13 . The sorbent material of claim 12 ,

wherein the top layer has an upper covering, one or more air spacers and a lower covering in contact with an upper surface of the sorbent bed, wherein the air spacers separate the upper covering from the lower covering, forming channels inside the top layer; and

wherein the bottom layer has an upper covering in contact with a lower surface of the sorbent bed, a lower covering, and one or more air spacers separating the upper covering from the lower covering, forming channels inside the top layer.

14 . The sorbent material of claim 13 , wherein the upper coverings, the air spacers, and the lower coverings of the top layer and the bottom layer comprise one or more porous materials.

15 . The sorbent material of claim 14 , wherein the porous material comprises matt, screen, porous paper, woven/nonwoven fabric, perforated plastic, or a mixture thereof.

16 . The sorbent materials of claims 6 to 15 , wherein the sorbent compositions disinfect the incoming air and/or the revitalized air.

17 . A breathing system for use in a hostile environment to absorb CO 2 and co-generate O 2 , comprising

(a) one or more breathing components to receive one or more exhaled moist air streams from one or more users, wherein the exhaled moist air stream comprises CO 2 and moisture; and

(b) one or more sorption components for absorbing CO 2 and H 2 O, and to co-generate O 2 , resulting in solid products and a revitalized air suitable for rebreathing, wherein the sorption component comprises one or more sorbent materials of claims 6 to 16 .

18 . The breathing system of claim 17 , further comprising one or more cooling agents and/or cooling components.

19 . The breathing system of claim 17 , further comprising at least one component comprising H 2 O.

20 . The breathing system of claim 17 , further comprising at least one agitation component to shake loose the solid products from the sorbent material.

21 . The breathing system of claim 17 , further comprising at least one pump to drive the incoming air stream through the sorbent layer, wherein the pump comprises an air pump, a vacuum pump, or a similar device.

22 . The breathing system of claim 17 , further comprising at least one suitable exit gas filtration component so as to prevent any fines or dust from exiting with the revitalized air.

23 . The breathing system of claim 17 , wherein the system can be used as a rebreather underwater, as emergency first responders, in mining, and in other emergency situations.

24 . The breathing system of claim 17 , wherein the system is portable.

25 . A method for absorbing CO 2 and co-generating O 2 , comprising the steps of:

(a) providing one or more breathing systems of claims 17 to 24 ;

(b) introducing one or more streams of moist air containing CO 2 and H 2 O into the breathing system; and

(c) contacting the sorbent material with H 2 O to form a liquid water layer, wherein a part or all of the ferrate compounds dissolve in the liquid water layer to absorb CO 2 and to co-generate O 2 , resulting in solid products and a revitalized air suitable for rebreathing.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein pH is in a range of about 6 to about 10, preferably in a range of about 6.5 to about 9, and most preferably in a range of about 7 to about 8.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the temperature is controlled to enable or assist in the formation of a liquid water layer on the sorbent material.

28 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising a step of providing an additional H 2 O.

29 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising a step of shaking loose some or all of the solid products from the sorbent material.

30 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising steps of discharging the revitalized air and/or recirculating the discharged revitalized air.