Method and apparatus for CO
Processes, methods, and apparatus for carbon sequestration utilizing catalysis schemes configured to provide high concentrations of hydrated CO 2 in proximity with a sequestration agent are provided. Reactants are combined with catalyst such that at least two regions of controlled catalytic activity form encompassing at least the interface between a sequestration agent and an aqueous solution containing dissolved CO 2 . Suitable reactants include various sequestration agents, catalyst, and carbon dioxide dissolved in an aqueous solution (seawater, for example). Possible products include bicarbonate and metal cations.
1. An apparatus for sequestering carbon dioxide, comprising:
at least one reactor vessel defining an enclosed volume;
at least one source of a catalyst, a sequestration agent, a CO 2 gas, and an aqueous solution;
at least one input in fluid communication between the at least one source and the enclosed volume of the at least one reactor vessel; and
at least one output in fluid communication with the enclosed volume of the at least one reactor vessel;
wherein the at least one input is arranged such that the CO 2 gas and aqueous solution combine to produce an aqueous carbon dioxide solution having a concentration of CO 2 gas dissolved therein, and wherein the aqueous carbon dioxide solution and catalyst are delivered as a mixture within the enclosed volume of the at least one reactor within a catalytic region encompassing an interfacial catalytic region disposed about the sequestration agent and being located within a laminar flow boundary at an interface between the mixture and the sequestration agent.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sequestration agent and catalyst is physically confined within the catalytic region.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sequestration agent is calcium carbonate and the catalyst is a carbonic anhydrase or a carbonic anhydrase analog.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sequestration agent is a non-carbonate sequestration agent.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution is one of either a brine solution or freshwater.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one enzyme separation filter configured to filter at least catalyst passing therethrough, the separation filter being in fluid communication with at least one output of the at least one reactor vessel.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one particle filtration system configured to filter at least sequestration agent passing therethrough, the particle filtration system being in fluid communication with at least one output of the at least one reactor vessel.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the particle filtration system comprises a settling chamber in fluid communication with the at least one reactor vessel.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sequestration agent is formed into grains of 100 micrometers or less.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least first and second reactor vessels, and wherein an input of the second reactor vessel is in fluid communication with the at least one output of the first reactor vessel, the second reactor vessel being arranged such that an effluent from the first reactor vessel is delivered within the enclosed volume of the second reactor vessel to a second vessel catalytic region wherein a second catalyst is disposed encompassing a second vessel interfacial catalytic region located within a laminar flow boundary at an interface between the effluent and a second carbonate sequestration agent.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the temperature, pressure and pH of the two reactor vessels are independently variable.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second reactor vessel has a lower temperature than the first reactor vessel.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the inlet of the at least one reaction vessel and wherein the CO 2 gas and aqueous solution inputs are mixed prior to introduction into the at least one reaction vessel.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an effluent comprising at least unreacted CO 2 from the at least one output is reintroduced into one of the at least one inputs of the reaction vessel.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an effluent from the at least one output has a concentration of CO 2 lower than the concentration of CO 2 introduced into the at least one input.