Method for regenerating a used sorbent having a gas adsorbate adsorbed thereto
The invention relates to methods for regenerating a used sorbent having a gas adsorbate adsorbed thereto. In particular, the used sorbent comprises liquid marbles. The liquid in the liquid marbles is comprised of a material or mixture of materials that selectively removes unwanted gaseous component in the gas to be purified.
1. A method for regenerating a used sorbent having a gas adsorbate adsorbed thereto, comprising exposing the used sorbent to dielectric heating, wherein the used sorbent comprises a liquid marble, wherein the liquid marble is comprised of a plurality of particles and/or mixture of a plurality of particles encapsulating at least one type of liquid therein.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein exposing the used sorbent to dielectric heating comprises exposing the used sorbent to microwave radiation.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the used sorbent is exposed to microwave radiation in a microwave synthesizer.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the microwave synthesizer is configured to operate at 100 to 1,200 Watts.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the microwave synthesizer is configured to operate at 500 to 1,200 Watts.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the used sorbent is exposed to microwave radiation for 3 hours or less.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the used sorbent is exposed to microwave radiation for 1 hour or less.
8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the used sorbent is exposed to microwave radiation for an interval of 10-30 seconds.
9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the used sorbent is exposed to microwave radiation at 90-150° C.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the used sorbent is exposed to microwave radiation at 90-120° C.
11. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the used sorbent is exposed to microwave radiation in the absence of an inert purge gas.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gas adsorbate comprises natural gas, flue gas, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water vapour, a sulfur-containing gas, a malodorous gas, a toxic gas, or a mixture thereof.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one type of liquid is selected from the group consisting of ionic liquid, alkanolamine, molecule containing amine functionality, desiccant, glycol, a solution thereof, amine-containing oligomers or polymers and a mixture thereof.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the alkanolamine comprises ethanolamine, preferably monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), or 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP).
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the alkanolamine comprises neat MEA or an aqueous solution of MEA.
16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one type of liquid comprises a mixture of at least one alkanolamine and at least one further amine.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one alkanolamine comprises MEA, DEA, or AMP and the at least one further amine comprises piperazine.
18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the alkanolamine comprises neat DEA or an aqueous solution of DEA.
19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles comprises or consists of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide, an organic compound, a polymer, a composite, and a mixture thereof.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the plurality of particles is comprised of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), or cerium oxide (CeO 2 ).