Methods and systems for carrying out a pH-influenced chemical and/or biological reaction
The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for carrying out a pH-influenced chemical and/or biological reaction. In some embodiments, the pH-influenced reaction involves the conversion of CO 2 to a dissolved species.
1. A system for carrying out a pH-influenced chemical and/or biological reaction, comprising:
a pH-adjustment zone comprising a solution and a porous electrode, wherein the solution contains a complexation agent capable of associating and/or disassociating an acid and/or base to and/or from the solution upon exposure to an electrical potential, and wherein at least a portion of the complexation agent intercalates into and/or de-intercalates from the electrode during operation of the system; and
a reaction zone in fluid connection with the pH-adjustment zone, wherein the reaction zone comprises components and reagents for carrying out a pH-influenced chemical and/or biological reaction.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pH-influenced reaction involving the conversion of CO 2 to a dissolved species.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the complexation agent comprises copper and the solution further comprises a primary amine.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the solution further comprises at least one additive.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the additive is a salt comprising the structure [M] p+ [X] − or n[M] m+ m[X] n− , wherein [M]p + and [M] m+ are cations, [X] p− and [X] n− are anions, each p is 1, 2, 3, or 4, and m and n are different and are 1, 2, 3,or 4.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the additive comprises sodium bromide or ammonium bromide.
7. A method, comprising:
providing a system comprising a pH-adjustment zone and a reaction zone in fluid connection with the pH-adjustment zone, wherein the pH-adjustment comprises a complexation agent and wherein the reaction zone comprises components and reagents for carrying out a pH-influenced chemical and/or biological reaction, and wherein the system comprises at least one porous electrode;
exposing the complexation agent in the pH-adjustment zone to an electrical potential, wherein the complexation agent associates and/or disassociates an acid and/or base to and/or from the solution upon exposure to the electrical potential and causes the pH of the solution to increase or decrease, thereby forming a pH-selected solution having a selected pH, and wherein at least a portion of the complexation agent intercalates into and/or de-intercalates from the porous electrode during the exposing step; and
flowing the pH-selected solution to the reaction zone, wherein the chemical and/or biological reaction is influenced by the pH of the pH-selected solution, and wherein the chemical and/or biological reaction causes the pH of the pH-selected solution to decrease or increase.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pH-influenced reaction involving the conversion of CO 2 to a dissolved species.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the complexation agent comprises copper and the solution further comprises a primary amine.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the solution further comprises at least one additive.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the additive is a salt comprising the structure [M] p+ [X] − or n[M] m+ m[X] n− , wherein [M]p + and [M] m+ are cations, [X] p− and [X] n− are anions, each p is 1, 2, 3, or 4, and m and n are different and are 1, 2, 3, or 4.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the additive comprises sodium bromide or ammonium bromide.