Alkali enrichment mediated CO
Methods of sequestering CO 2 from a gaseous source of CO 2 are provided. Aspects of the methods include employing an alkali enrichment protocol, such as a membrane mediated alkali enrichment protocol, in a CO 2 sequestration protocol. Also provided are systems for practicing the methods.
1. A method for sequestering CO 2 from a gaseous source of CO 2 , the method comprising:
a) subjecting an initial liquid to a membrane mediated alkali enrichment protocol to produce an enhanced alkalinity liquid; and
b) employing the enhanced alkalinity liquid in a CO 2 sequestration protocol to sequester CO 2 that comprises producing a carbonate from a LCP that comprises dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) obtained from the gaseous source of CO 2 ;
wherein the method further comprises recovering CO 2 gas.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane mediated alkali enrichment protocol comprises contacting first and second liquids to opposite sides of a membrane.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises contacting the enhanced alkalinity liquid with the gaseous source of CO 2 under conditions sufficient to produce an LCP containing liquid.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises producing the initial liquid by contacting a source liquid with the gaseous source of CO 2 .
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gaseous source of CO 2 is a multi-component gaseous stream.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the gaseous source of CO 2 is a flue gas.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gaseous source of CO 2 is contacted with a liquid under conditions such that CO 2 is selectively absorbed by the CO 2 absorbing aqueous medium.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gaseous source of CO 2 is contacted with the liquid using a hollow fiber membrane contactor.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the carbonate is produced by introducing a cation source into an LCP containing liquid under conditions sufficient to produce the carbonate.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the cation source is introduced into a flowing LCP containing liquid under conditions sufficient such that a non-slurry solid phase CO 2 sequestering carbonate material is produced in the flowing LCP containing liquid.
11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the cation source is introduced into an LCP containing liquid under conditions sufficient such that a slurry CO 2 sequestering carbonate material is produced from the LCP containing liquid.
12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the cation source is a source of divalent cations.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the divalent cations comprise alkaline earth metal cations.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the divalent alkaline earth metal cations are selected from the group consisting of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , and combinations thereof.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises producing a fresh water.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is a continuous process.
17. A method for purifying CO 2 from a CO 2 containing multi-component gaseous stream, the method comprising:
a) subjecting an initial liquid to a membrane mediated alkali enrichment protocol to produce an enhanced alkalinity liquid; and
b) employing the enhanced alkalinity liquid in a carbonate production protocol that produces a carbonate and pure CO 2 gas to purify CO 2 from the CO 2 containing multi-component gaseous stream.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the membrane mediated alkali enrichment protocol comprises contacting first and second liquids to opposite sides of a membrane.
19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the gaseous source of CO 2 is a flue gas.