Patent · US Expired

Method for reducing CO2, CO, NOX, and SOx emissions

US6447437B1 · kind B1 · utility

82Cited by
11References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 2000
Grant dateSep 10, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/841
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Industrial combustion facilities are integrated with greenhouse gas-solidifying fertilizer production reactions so that CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions can be converted prior to emission into carbonate-containing fertilizers, mainly NH4HCO3 and/or (NH2)2CO, plus a small fraction of NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4. The invention enhances sequestration of CO2 into soil and the earth subsurface, reduces N03− contamination of surface and groundwater, and stimulates photosynthetic fixation of CO2 from the atmosphere. The method for converting CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions into fertilizers includes the step of collecting these materials from the emissions of industrial combustion facilities such as fossil fuel-powered energy sources and transporting the emissions to a reactor. In the reactor, the CO2, CO, N2, SOx, and/or NOx are converted into carbonate-containing fertilizers using H2, CH4, or NH3. The carbonate-containing fertilizers are then applied to soil and green plants to (1) sequester inorganic carbon into soil and subsoil earth layers by enhanced carbonation of groundwater and the earth minerals, (2) reduce the environmental problem of NO3−runoff by substituting for ammonium …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.