Alkaline cation enrichment and water electrolysis to provide CO2 mineralization and global-scale carbon management

US11413578B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Gaurav Sant · Los Angeles, US
• Erika Callagon La Plante · Los Angeles, US
• Jingbo Wang · Linz, AT
• David Jassby · Los Angeles, US
• Dante Simonetti · Middleton, US
• Abdulaziz Alturki · Los Angeles, US
• Xin Chen · Crystal Lake, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 20, 2021
• Grant date: Aug 16, 2022
• Expiry date: Aug 20, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02C20/40
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of removing carbon dioxide from an aqueous stream or gaseous stream by: contacting the gaseous stream comprising carbon dioxide, when present, with an aqueous solution comprising ions capable of forming an insoluble carbonate salt; contacting the aqueous solution comprising carbon dioxide with an electroactive mesh that induces its alkalinization thereby forcing the precipitation of a carbonate solid from the solution and thereby the removal of dissolved inorganic carbon by electrolysis; and removing the precipitated carbonate solids from the solution, or the surface of the mesh where they may deposit. Also provided herein are flow-through electrolytic reactors comprising an intake device in fluid connection with a rotating cylinder comprising an electroactive mesh, and a scraping device and/or liquid-spray based device for separating a solid from the mesh surface.