System and method for sequestering a gaseous compound

Abstract

A gaseous compound sequestration system is capable of sequestering a gaseous compound as salt. In another aspect, a method of sequestering a gaseous compound generally includes bubbling a gas stream through an aeration device into a reaction solution, and allowing sequestration of at least a portion of the gaseous compound through transformation of the gaseous compound into a salt.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEQUESTERING A GASEOUS COMPOUND

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 571,541 , filed March 29, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] This disclosure describes, in one aspect, a sequestration system. The sequestration system includes a vessel defining an interior surface forming a cavity. The interior surface includes a lower region. The cavity defines a liquid portion extending a fill distance from the lower region to a liquid fill level. The sequestration system includes a reaction solution within the liquid portion. The reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of reacting with a gaseous compound to form a salt, capable of reacting compound derived from the gaseous compound to form a salt, or both. The sequestration system further includes an aeration device positioned an aeration distance that is between the lower region and the liquid fill level, the liquid portion defining a liquid volume.

[0006] In one or more embodiments, the sequestration system further includes an entrance channel configured to deliver a gas stream that includes the gaseous compound at a flow rate to the reaction solution. The entrance channel includes a first inlet in fluid communication with a first environment external to the vessel. The entrance channel further includes a first outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet, the first outlet includes the aeration device.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, the cavity of the sequestration system further includes headspace portion. In one or more embodiments, the sequestration system further includes an exit channel in fluid communication with a second environment external to the vessel.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound includes or is carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or any combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes water and the active reagent includes a hydroxide salt. In one or more embodiments, the hydroxide salt includes or is sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(0H)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), or any combination thereof.

[0009] In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is or includes chlorine, the reaction solution includes water, and the active reagent includes a metal oxide. In one or more embodiments, the metal oxide includes or is an iron oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, zinc oxide, copper oxide, aluminum oxide, or any combination thereof.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is or includes ammonia, the reaction solution includes water, and the active reagent includes or is an acid. In one or more embodiments, the acid is or includes hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, carbonic acid, nitrous acid, or any combination thereof.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the liquid volume of the sequestration system is 10 mb or greater.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the flow rate of the gas stream is 0.0001% or greater than the liquid volume per minute or 1 mL or greater per minute.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the aeration distance is at least 5% of the fill distance.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the aeration device is configured to produce bubbles of an average size of 20 mm or less, the bubbles comprising the gaseous compound.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the sequestration system is capable of capturing (sequestering) 20% or greater of the gaseous compound as a salt from 1 L of the gas stream.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, the gas stream consists of gaseous compound.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the gas stream includes 0.01 wt-% to 0.05 wt-% of the gaseous compound.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the gas stream includes greater than 50 wt-% of the gaseous compound.

[0019] In another aspect, the present disclosure describes a method of using a sequestration system of the present disclosure. The sequestration system further including the reaction solution disposed within the liquid portion. The method includes delivering the gas stream that includes the gaseous compound to the aeration device. The method further includes bubbling at least a portion of the gas stream through the aeration device into the reaction solution. The method further includes allowing the active reagent to react with the gaseous compound to form a salt, allowing the active reagent to react with a compound derived from the gaseous compound to form a salt, or both.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the method further includes harvesting the salt.

[0021] The above summary is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The description that follows more particularly exemplifies illustrative embodiments. In several places throughout the disclosure, guidance is provided through lists of examples, which examples can be used in various combinations. In each instance, the recited list serves only as a representative group and should not be interpreted as an exclusive list.

[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Aspects of the present disclosure may be better understood when described in relation to one or more of the following figures.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sequestration system.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method of sequestering carbon dioxide.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a series of chemical reactions that occur during the chemisorption process of gaseous carbon dioxide and a sodium hydroxide adsorbent.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method of sequestering a gaseous compound.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present disclosure describes a system and method for sequestering a gaseous compound. Example gaseous compounds that can be sequestered include carbon dioxide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, and the like. The sequestration system and / or methods of the present disclosure can be used to transform a gaseous compound into a salt.

[0030] Greenhouse gasses present in the Earth’s atmosphere produce the “greenhouse effect;” that is, the retention of some portion of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is what allows the surface of earth to be at hospitable temperatures. Increases in greenhouse gas emissions may exacerbate the greenhouse effect by preventing heat from leaving the atmosphere thereby increasing the temperature on the surface of earth. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an abundant greenhouse gas that is emitted into the atmosphere in a variety of ways, such as the respiration of oxygen-consuming organisms (e.g., humans), the combustion and decay of organic matter, the burning of fossil fuels, and other industrial applications. Methane (CH4) is another potent greenhouse gas primarily emitted from natural gas leaks and agricultural sources.

[0031] The production of cement for use in concrete compositions contributes considerably to global carbon dioxide emissions. For example, an average of 927 kg (2044 lbs.) of CO2 are emitted for every 1000 kg (2205 lbs.) of portland cement (a hydraulic cement) produced in the U.S. Approximately 50% to 60% of the carbon dioxide emitted from the cement industry is the result of the calcination process of calcium carbonate raw materials (e.g., CaCCh CaO + CO2). Carbon dioxide is also emitted is a result of burning fossil fuels to heat the calcium carbonate raw material for calcination.

[0032] Chlorine (Ch) is a highly reactive compound that can be toxic to many life forms. A method for producing sodium hydroxide, a common reagent used in many applications, results in the production of chlorine. Specifically, sodium hydroxide can be produced by the electrolysis of saltwater (sodium chloride in water) to give sodium hydroxide, hydrogen, and chlorine (e.g., 2NaCl + 2H2O -> 2NaOH + Ch + H2). Chlorine presents a potential environmental concern as it is toxic, and can combine with water to form hydrochloric acid which itself generates additional CO2 when it reacts with carbonate salts directly.

[0033] Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a common byproduct of industrial processes, for example, produced during the combustion of sulfur-containing fuels. Sulfur dioxide is reactive and can react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form small particles that can be detrimental to air quality.

[0034] Nitrogen oxides (NOx), such as nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are major pollutants from combustion engines and industrial processes. NOx compounds contribute to smog formation and acid rain.

[0035] Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a reactive compound commonly produced from petroleum refining, natural gas processing, and wastewater treatment. Hydrogen sulfide is flammable, explosive, and toxic to many life forms.

[0036] Ammonia (NH3) emissions occur for example, from agricultural practices, waste management, and chemical manufacturing. Excess ammonia can damage the environment. For example, excess ammonia can acidify the soil and hinder plant growth. Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas primarily emitted from natural gas leaks and agricultural sources.

[0037] The sequestration system and / or methods of the present disclosure can be used to transform a gaseous compound (e.g., carbon dioxide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane) into a salt. Transforming a gaseous compound into a salt sequesters the gaseous compound from entering the atmosphere or other gas or liquid streams.

[0038] Salts produced using the described systems and methods can be isolated and used for a variety of purposes. For example, chloride salts formed by the sequestration of chlorine may be used as a commodity or further processed into a commodity. Additionally, chloride salts can be used as a storage system for chlorine, for example, to prevent chlorine gas from reacting with various chemicals and / or entering the atmosphere or any other gas stream. Carbonate salts formed from the sequestration of chlorine can be used as a storage system for carbon dioxide. Carbonate salts may be isolated and used as a commodity, for example, as a reagent in the production of other materials. Isolated carbonate salts may be used as a commodity in a way that would not result in the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. For example, the use of carbonate salts as a commodity may produce no CO2 or the CO2 produced can be recaptured and not released into the atmosphere. The carbonate salt also may be stored as a solid, reducing or eliminating the amount of gaseous carbon that is present in the atmosphere and / or that enters the atmosphere as a result of industrial and biological processes. In some cases, where the carbonate salt is calcium carbonate, the calcium carbonate can be recycled back into the cement production process. The calcium carbonate can be recycled back into the cement production process in a way that the CO2 generated in such a process is recaptured and does not enter the atmosphere. In one or more embodiments, the system and methods of the present disclosure may be used to sequester gaseous carbon dioxide produced from industrial processes prior to its entrance into the atmosphere. In one or more embodiments, the system and methods of the present disclosure may be used to extract gaseous carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (i.e., carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere).

[0039] In one aspect, this disclosure describes a chemical sequestration system. The chemical sequestration system can be used to sequester a gaseous compound. Examples of gaseous compounds that can be sequestered include carbon dioxide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, and the like. It is contemplated that the systems and methods of the present disclosure may be widely applicable to the sequestration of many gaseous compounds and the specific gaseous compounds given as examples throughout the present disclosure are non-limiting. Sequestration occurs by the transformation of a gaseous compound into a salt having a different chemical identity than the gaseous compound from which it was derived. For example, sequestration can occur through a reaction or a series of reactions of the gaseous compound and / or compounds made from the gaseous compound with one or more other compounds. For example, in one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is carbon dioxide and the carbon dioxide is converted into a carbonate salt. In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is chlorine and the chlorine is converted into a chloride salt. In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is sulfur dioxide and the sulfur dioxide is converted into a sulfate salt. In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is a nitrogen oxide and the nitrogen oxide is converted into a nitrate salt. In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is hydrogen sulfide and the hydrogen sulfide is converted into a sulfide salt. In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is ammonia and the ammonia is converted into an ammonium salt. In one or more embodiments, the gaseous compound is methane and the methane is converted into a carbonate salt. In one or more embodiments, sequestration occurs via chemisorption. Chemisorption is type of absorption characterized by a chemical reaction and the formation of a new chemical bond (ionic or covalent) between the adsorbent and the absorbate.

[0040] The sequestration system of the present disclosure may be understood in the context of FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of an illustrative sequestration system 10. Generally, the sequestration system 10 is configured to deliver a gas, such as a gas stream, that includes a gaseous compound for which sequestration is desired. In one or more embodiments, the sequestration system lOis configured to deliver a gas stream that includes a gaseous compound to be sequestered to a reaction solution in which the transformation of the gaseous compound into a salt can take place. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution can include a compound capable of reacting with the gaseous compound in the reaction solution to form a salt.

[0041] The components of the reaction solution may vary depending on the gaseous compound to be sequestered. Generally, the reaction solution includes an active reagent. The active reagent is capable of reacting with the gaseous compound to form a salt, capable of reacting with a compound derived from the gaseous compound to form a salt, or both. A compound derived from the gaseous compound is the reaction product of the gaseous compound with one or more compounds or the reaction product resulting from a series of two or more reactions where at least one of the reactions includes the gaseous compound as a reactant. For example, a compound derived from carbon dioxide (a gaseous compound) can be carbonic acid, a reaction product of carbon dioxide reacting with water. A compound derived from chlorine (a gaseous compound) can be hydrochloric acid or hypochlorous acid, reaction products of chlorine reacting with water. A compound derived from sulfur dioxide (a gaseous compound) can be sulfurous acid, a reaction product of sulfur dioxide reacting with water. A compound derived from nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide can be nitric acid or nitrous acid, reaction products of nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide reacting with water. A compound derived from methane can be carbon dioxide, a reaction product of methane reacting with oxygen. A compound derived from a gaseous compound can be the final reaction product after a gaseous compound reacts with a first reagent to form a first reaction product and the first reaction product reacts with a second reagent to form the final reaction product. For example, a compound derived from carbon dioxide can be carbonate, the overall reaction product after carbon dioxide reacts with water to from carbonic acid and carbonic acid reacts with an acid to form carbonate. A compound that is a derivative of a gaseous compound can be formed the gaseous compound introduced into the reaction solution.

[0042] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with carbon dioxide, a compound derived from carbon dioxide, or both, to form a salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with carbon dioxide, a compound derived from carbon dioxide, or both, to form a carbonate salt. In one or more embodiments, the active reagent is a hydroxide salt. The chemisorption of carbon dioxide with a hydroxide salt occurs through a series of reactions. FIG. 3 shows the series of reactions that take place to form carbonate and sodium carbonate from sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide (Overall RXN). The hydroxide salt in the reaction solution may be any suitable hydroxide salt such as, for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(0H)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(0H)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and the like. Example carbonate salts that can be formed during the sequestration of carbon dioxide include sodium carbonate (Na2COs), calcium carbonate (CaCO.3), magnesium carbonate (MgCOs), potassium carbonate (K2CO3), and the like. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is sodium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is calcium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is magnesium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is potassium hydroxide.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with chlorine, a compound derived from chlorine, or both, to form a salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with chlorine, a compound derived from chlorine, or both, to form a chloride salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of forming a chloride salt through a reaction with hydrochloric acid (HC1), hypochlorous acid (HC10), water, or any combination thereof. Hydrochloric acid, hypochlorous acid, or both can be created through the reaction of water with chlorine. For example, a gas that includes chlorine can be delivered to an aqueous reaction system where the chlorine can react with water in the reaction solution to form hydrochloric acid and / or hypochlorous acid. The hydrochloric acid and / or hypochlorous acid can react with another compound, such as the active reagent, in the reaction solution to form a chloride salt. In one or more embodiments, the active reagent is a metal oxide. The metal oxide in the reaction solution may be any suitable metal oxide such as, for example, iron oxide such as FeaCh and FeaCh; magnesium oxide (MgO); calcium oxide (CaO); zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), aluminum oxide (AI2O3), and the like.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an iron oxide for the sequestration of chlorine. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes FeaO4, Fe20a, or both. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes FeaCh. FeaCh can react with hypochlorous acid to form Fe Oa and hydrochloric acid (e.g., FeaCh + 4HC10 3Fe20a + 4HC1). FeaCh can react with hydrochloric acid to form iron (II) chloride (FeCh) and / or iron (III) chloride ( one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes FeaOa. Fe20a can react with hypochlorous acid to form FeCla, water, and oxygen (e.g., Fe20a + 6HC10 -> 2FeCla +3H2O + 3O2). Fe20a can react with hydrochloric acid to form FeCh and water (e.g., Fe20a + 6HC10 2FeCh +3H2O).

[0045] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes magnesium oxide (MgO)for the sequestration of chlorine. Magnesium oxide can react with hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride and water (MgO+2HCl MgCh+FhO). In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes calcium oxide (CaO) for the sequestration of chlorine. Calcium oxide can react with hydrochloric acid to form calcium chloride and water (CaO+2HCl CaCl2+H2O).

[0046] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes zinc oxide (ZnO) for the sequestration of chlorine. Zinc oxide can react with hydrochloric acid to from zinc chloride and water (ZnO+2HCl^ZnCl2+H2O).

[0047] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes copper oxide (CuO) for the sequestration of chlorine. Copper oxide can react with hydrochloric acid to from copper chloride and water (CuO+2HCl— >CUC12+H2O).

[0048] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes aluminum oxide (AhOs) for the sequestration of chlorine. Aluminum oxide can react with hydrochloric acid to from aluminum chloride and water (A12O3+6HC1— >2A1C13+3H2O).

[0049] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with sulfur dioxide, a compound derived from sulfur dioxide, or both, to form a salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of reacting with sulfur dioxide, a compound derived from sulfur dioxide, or both, to form a sulfate salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of forming a sulfate salt through a reaction with sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid (H2SO3), water, or any combination thereof. Sulfurous acid can be created through the reaction of water with sulfur dioxide. For example, a gas that includes sulfur dioxide can be delivered to an aqueous reaction system where the chlorine can react with water in the reaction solution to form sulfurous acid. Sulfurous acid can react with another compound, such as the active reagent, in the reaction solution to form a sulfate salt. In one or more embodiments, the active reagent is a hydroxide salt. The hydroxide salt in the reaction solution may be any suitable hydroxide salt such as, for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and the like. Example sulfate salts that can be formed during the sequestration of sulfur dioxide include sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), calcium sulfate (CaSO4), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), potassium sulfate (KSO4), and the like. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is sodium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is calcium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is magnesium hydroxide. Tn one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is potassium hydroxide.

[0050] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with a nitrogen oxide, a compound derived from a nitrogen oxide, or both, to form a salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with a nitrogen oxide, a compound derived from a nitrogen oxide, or both, to form a nitrate salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of forming a nitrate salt through a reaction with nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric acid (HNO3), nitrous acid (HNO2), water, or any combination thereof. Nitric acid and / or nitrous acid can be created through the reaction of water with nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide. For example, a gas stream that includes nitric acid and / or nitrogen dioxide can be delivered to an aqueous reaction system where the nitric oxide and / or nitrogen dioxide can react with water in the reaction solution to form nitric acid. Nitric acid and / or nitrous acid can react with another compound, such as the active reagent, in the reaction solution to form a nitrate salt. In one or more embodiments, the active reagent is a hydroxide salt. The hydroxide salt in the reaction solution may be any suitable hydroxide salt such as, for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(0H)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and the like. Example nitrate salts that can be formed during the sequestration of nitric oxide and / or nitrogen dioxide include sodium nitrate (NaNOs), calcium nitrate (Ca(NOs)2), magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2), potassium nitrate (KNO3), and the like. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is sodium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is calcium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is magnesium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is potassium hydroxide.

[0051] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with hydrogen sulfide, a compound derived from hydrogen sulfide, or both, to form a salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with hydrogen sulfide, a compound derived from hydrogen sulfide, or both, to form a sulfide salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of forming a sulfide salt through a reaction with hydrogen sulfide, water, or both. In one or more embodiments, the active reagent is a hydroxide salt. The hydroxide salt in the reaction solution may be any suitable hydroxide salt such as, for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(0H)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(0H)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and the like. Example sulfide salts that can be formed during the sequestration of hydrogen sulfide include sodium sulfide (NazS), calcium sulfide (CaS), magnesium sulfide (MgS), potassium sulfide (K2S), and the like. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is sodium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is calcium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is magnesium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is potassium hydroxide.

[0052] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with ammonia, a compound derived from ammonia, or both, to form a salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with ammonia, a compound derived from ammonia, or both, to form an ammonium salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of forming an ammonium salt through a reaction with the active reagent water, or any combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the active reagent is an acid. The acid in the reaction solution may be any suitable acid such as, for example, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, carbonic acid, nitrous acid, sulfurous acid, and the like. Example ammonium salts that can be formed during the sequestration of ammonium include ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium acetate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium nitrite, ammonium sulfite, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the active agent is or includes hydrochloric acid. In one or more embodiments, the active agent is or includes sulfuric acid. In one or more embodiments, the active agent is or includes nitric acid. In one or more embodiments, the active agent is or includes acetic acid. In one or more embodiments, the active agent is or includes carbonic acid. In one or more embodiments, the active agent is or includes nitrous acid. In one or more embodiments, the active agent is or includes sulfurous acid.

[0053] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active agent capable of reacting with methane, a compound derived from methane, or both, to form a salt. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution includes an active reagent capable of forming a carbonate salt through a reaction with carbon dioxide, carbonate, water, or any combination thereof. Carbon dioxide can be created by the oxidation of methane (CH* + 2O2 CO2 + 2H>0). The formation of carbon dioxide can occur within the sequestration system of the present disclosure or external to the sequestration system. Carbon dioxide can react with water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3) Carbonic acid can further react with an acid to from carbonate. Carbonate can react with an active reagent to form a carbonate salt. In one or more embodiments, the active reagent is a hydroxide salt. The hydroxide salt in the reaction solution may be any suitable hydroxide salt such as, for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(0H)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(0H)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and the like. Example carbonate salts that can be formed during the sequestration of methane include sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, potassium carbonate, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is sodium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is calcium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is magnesium hydroxide. In one or more embodiments, the active agent includes or is potassium hydroxide.

[0054] The amount of the active agent in the reaction solution can vary. Reference to the concentration of an active agent refer to the concentration of the active agent prior to exposure to the gas stream. Also, even though a portion of the active agent may be a solid, the concentration of the active agent is the concentration of the active agent calculated as if the total amount of active agent is dissolved in solution. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the active is beyond the saturation point of the active agent; that is, a first portion of the active agent is dissolved in the reaction solution and a second portion of the active agent is a solid within the reaction solution. The portion of the active agent that is a solid may act as an active agent reservoir. For example, a portion, or all, of the active agent reservoir may dissolve into solution over the course of time as the active agent is consumed. In other embodiments, the concentration of the active agent within the reaction solution is below the saturation concentration of the active agent. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the active agent in the reaction solution is 0.1 Molar (M) or greater, 1 M or greater, 2 M or greater, 3 M or greater, or 5 M or greater. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the active agent in the reaction solution is 10 M or less, 5 M or less, 3M or less, or 1 M or less.

[0055] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution volume is 1 L or greater, 5 L or greater, 10 L or greater, 25 L or greater, 50 L or greater, 100 L or greater, 1000 L or greater, 50000 L or greater, 10000 L or greater, or 50000 L or greater. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution volume is 100000 L or less, 50000 L or less, 1000 L or less, 100 L or less, 50 L or less, 25 L or less, 10 L or less, or 5 L or less. Since the reaction solution volume may fluctuate during the sequestration process, the reaction solution volume can be described before the reaction solution is exposed to the gas stream.

[0056] Returning to FIG. 1, the sequestration system 10, includes a vessel 20. Generally, the vessel is configured to contain a reaction solution. The vessel 20 defines an interior surface 22. The vessels 20 may be made of any material that is at least partially resistant to reactions with the components of the gas stream and / or the components of the reaction solution. Examples of vessel materials include glass, metal, plastic, or any combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the vessel is made of material that allows visual inspection of the reaction solution. For example, In one or more embodiments, the vessel includes a window made of a material configured to allow one to see within the reaction vessel. Visual inspection (e g., through a window) of the reaction solution may be used to monitor the progression of the reaction (e.g., the formation of salts). The interior surface 22, may be treated with a coating that is at least partially resistant to reactions with the components of the gas stream and / or the components of the reaction solution.

[0057] The interior surface 22 defines a cavity 30. The cavity is configured to contain the reaction solution. The cavity 30 and the liquid fill level 42 define a liquid portion 40. The liquid portion 40 is the location of the reaction solution when the reaction solution is disposed within the system.

[0058] The interior surface 22 includes a lower region 24. The liquid portion 40 contacts the lower region 24. The lower region 24 of the interior surface 22 may be described as the region of the interior surface where the reaction solution settles given the exterior environment. For example, in a terrestrial environment such as the Earth, the lower region of the interior surface is the region of the interior surface that is positioned, or located, closest to the ground surface. In other words, the gravity of the Earth may pull, or act on, the reaction solution to settle the reaction solution towards the lower region 24 of the interior surface 22 of the vessel 20. The lower region 24 of the interior surface may be substantially within a plane or a plane may be defined through the lower region 24 of the interior surface 22. In this way, the plane may be used to measure, or determine, a distance from the plane of the lower 24 region of the interior surface 22 to a different location (e.g., a liquid fill line). The liquid portion 40 defines a liquid volume. The liquid volume is the volume of the cavity 30 that is occupied by the reaction solution when the reaction solution is disposed within the cavity. The liquid volume may vary depending on the total volume of the cavity 30 and / or the desired reaction solution volume. The liquid portion extends a fill distance DI from the lower region 24 to a liquid fill level 42. The fill distance DI can be measured from a plane drawn through the lower region 24 of the interior surface 22 to a plane drawn through the liquid fill level 42. The fill distance DI may vary depending on the size, shape, and / or orientation of the vessel. The fill distance DI may vary depending on the liquid volume.

[0059] The sequestration system 10 may further include an aeration device 56. The aeration device 56 is positioned an aeration distanced D2 that is between the lower region 24 of the interior surface 22 and the liquid fill level 42. When the reaction solution is disposed within the liquid portion 40, the aeration device is submerged within the reaction solution. In one or more embodiments, the entirety of the operable portion of the aeration device (i.e., the portion of the aeration device that is configured to release gas) is submerged within the reaction solution. In one or more embodiments, the aeration device is completely surrounded by the reaction solution. The aeration device 56 is configured to introduce the gas stream to the reaction solution. The aeration device may be any device configured to bubble a gas through a liquid phase; that is, produce gas bubbles from a gas stream that are introduced into a liquid phase. An example of an aeration device is a sparger. In one or more embodiments, multiple aeration devices may be submerged in the reaction solution.

[0060] Generally, for a given amount of gas, it is desirable for the aeration device to produce many small gas bubbles rather than fewer larger gas bubbles. Production of many small gas bubbles allows for increased surface contact area of the gas with the liquid phase. The increased surface contact area may increase the rate of the adsorption reaction and / or the extent of the adsorption reaction. For example, a high surface contact area of the gas with the reaction solution may result in higher yield of the adsorption reaction per unit time.

[0061] In one or more embodiments, the aeration device is configured to produce gas bubbles of an average size (i.e., average diameter) that is 20 millimeters (mm) or less, 10 mm or less, 5 mm or less, 1 mm or less, 0.5 mm or less, 0.1 mm or less, or 0.05 mm or less. In one or more embodiments, the average size of the gas bubbles is 1 mm to 10 mm. The average gas bubble size may be measured using laser diffraction. The average gas bubble size is the size of the bubble in the reaction solution.

[0062] The position of the aeration device 56 relative to the liquid fill line 42 and the lower region 24 may vary; that is, the aeration distance D2 may vary. Because the size of the cavity and the liquid volume may vary, the aeration distance D2 is described relative to the fill distance DI. The aeration distance D2 is the distance from the point of the aeration device 56 that is closest to the lower region 24 of the vessel 20. In one or more embodiments the aeration distance D2 is 1% or greater, 5% or greater, 10% or greater, 20% or greater, 30% or greater, 40% or greater, 50% or greater, 60% or greater, 70% or greater, 80% or greater, or 90% or greater of the fill distance DI. In one or more embodiments, the aeration distance D2 is 100% or less, 99% or less, 90% or less, 80% or less, 70% or less, 60% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, 30% or less, 20% or less, 10% or less, or 5% or less of the fill distance DI. For example, when the aerator 56 touches the lower region 24 or the vessel 20, D2 is 100% or DI.

[0063] Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that the smaller the average bubble size for a given volume of gas (i.e., greater bubble surface area for the given volume of gas), the smaller the aeration distance D2 can be compared to the fill distance DI for the system to still be effective. Therefore, it is thought that small average bubble size for a given volume of gas with a given gaseous compound concentration negates the need for large bubble columns. Without the need for large bubble columns, the sequestration devices of the present disclosure may be miniaturized.

[0064] In one or more embodiments, the system 10 includes an entrance channel 50. The entrance channel is configured to deliver the gas stream from a first environment that is external to the vessel to the aeration device 56. The entrance channel 50 provides fluid communication between a first inlet 52 and a first outlet 54. The term “in fluid communication” refers to two components that are connected such that a gas or a liquid can flow between them. The first outlet 54 includes the aeration device 56. The first inlet is in fluid communication with the first environment that is external to the vessel 20. When the system is in operation, the gas enters the system 10 through the first inlet 52, flows through the entrance channel 50 to the first outlet 54, and enters the reaction solution through the aeration device 56.

[0065] In one or more embodiments, the first inlet 52 is in fluid communication with a source of the gas stream. The source of the gas stream may be an industrial process that produces a gas that includes a gaseous compound for which sequestration is desired. The source of the gas may be a cement production calcination kiln. For example, in one or more embodiments, the first inlet 52 is in fluid communication with a calcination kiln such that at least a portion of the gas produced during the calcination process is delivered to the system 10. The source of the gas stream may be a sodium hydroxide production system. For example, in one or more embodiments, the first inlet 52 is in fluid communication with a sodium hydroxide production system such that at least a portion of the gas produced during the sodium hydroxide production process is delivered to the system 10.

[0066] The entrance channel 50 is configured to deliver the gas to the reaction solution at a flow rate. The flow rate may vary. In one or more embodiments, the flow rate may be described as the amount of gas (from a gas stream) delivered to the system per minute relative to the liquid volume. In one or more embodiments, the gas is delivered to the reaction solution at a flow rate that is 0.0001% or greater, 0.001% or greater, 0.01% or greater, 0.05 % or greater, 1% or greater, 5% or greater, 10% or greater, 20% or greater, 30% or greater, 40% or greater, 50% or greater, 60% or greater, 70% or greater, 80% or greater, 90% or greater, or 100% or greater than the volume of the reaction solution per minute. In one or more embodiments, the gas is delivered to the reaction solution at a flow rate of 150% or less, 100% or less, 90% or less, 80% or less, 70% or less, 60% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, 30% or less, 20% or less, 10% or less, 5% or less, 1% or less, 0.05% or less, 0.01% or less, or 0.001% or less than the volume of the reaction solution per minute.

[0067] In one or more embodiments, the flow rate may be described as the amount of gas delivered to the reaction solution (i.e., not described in relationship to the liquid volume). In one or more embodiments, the flow rate may be 0.0001 milliliters (mL) or greater per minute (min), 0.001 mL or greater per minute, 0.01 mL or greater per min, 0.1 mL or greater per min, 1 mL per minute or greater, 5 mL per minute or greater, 10 mL or greater per minute, 25 mL or greater per minute, 50 mL or greater per min, 100 mL or greater per min, 500 mL or greater per minute, 1 liter (L) or greater per min, 5 L or greater per min, 10 L or greater per min, or 50 L or greater per min. In one or more embodiments, the flow rate may be 100 L or less per minute, 50 L or less per minute, 10 L or less per minute, 5 L or less per minute, 1 L or less per minute, 500 mL or less per minute, 100 mL or less per min, 50 mL or less per minute, 25 mL or less per minute, 10 mL or less per minute, 5 mL or less per minute, 1 mL or less per minute, 0.1 mL or less per minute, 0.01 mL or less per minute, or 0.001 mL or less per minute.

[0068] In one or more embodiments, the flow rate is the rate per minute at which atmospheric air is delivered to the reaction solution without the aid of a pump or other device.

[0069] Generally, with higher flow rates, the aeration distance D2 is increased relative to the fill distance DI to maintain system efficiency, when considering a fixed bubble surface area.

[0070] In addition to the gaseous compound for which sequestration is desired, the gas stream introduced into the sequestration system may include other gaseous compounds such as, for example, nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, perfluorinated compounds, or any combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the gas stream consists of gaseous compound to be sequestered. In one or more embodiments, the gas stream includes 0.001 wt-% or greater, 0.01 wt-% or greater, 0.05 wt-% or greater, 1 wt-% or greater, 5 wt-% or greater, 10 wt-% or greater, 20 wt-% or greater, 30 wt-% or greater, 40 wt-% or greater, 50 wt-% or greater, 60 wt-% or greater, 70 wt-% or greater, 80 wt-% or greater, or 90 wt-% or greater of the gaseous compound for which sequestration is desired. In one or more embodiments, the gas includes 99 wt-% or less, 90 wt-% or less, 90 wt-% or less, 80 wt-% or less, 70 wt-% or less, 60 wt-% or less, 50 wt-% or less, 40 wt-% or less, 30 wt-% or less, 20 wt-% or less, 10 wt-% or less, 5 wt-% or less, 1 wt-% or less, 0.05 wt-% or less, or 0.001 wt-% or less of the gaseous compound for which sequestration is desired.

[0071] In one or more embodiments, the gas introduced into the sequestration system may be atmospheric air. In some such embodiments, the gas introduced into the sequestration system may be 0.001 wt-% to 1 wt-% or 0.01 wt-% to 0.05 wt-% of the gaseous compound for which sequestration is desired. In some such embodiments, one or more sequestration systems may be used to remove a gaseous compound from atmospheric air.

[0072] In one or more embodiments, the system is capable of adsorbing 20% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 99% or more up to 100% of gaseous compound present in 1 L of the gas stream delivered to the system.

[0073] In one or more embodiments, the amount of gas delivered to the system is 1 L or greater, 5 L or greater, 10 L or greater, 50 L or greater, 100 L or greater, 250 L or greater, 500 L or greater, 1000 L or greater, 1500 L or greater, 2000 L or greater, 5000 L or greater, 10000 L or greater, 50000 L or greater, or 100000 L or greater. Tn one or more embodiments, the amount of gas delivered to the system is 1 million L or less, 100000 L or less, 50000 L or less, 10000 L or less, 5000 L or less, 2000 L or less, 1500 L or less, 1000 L or less, 500 L or less, 250 L or less, 100 L or less, 50 L or less, or 10 L or less.

[0074] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution volume is 1 L or greater, 5 L or greater, 10 L or greater, 25 L or greater, 50 L or greater, 100 L or greater, 1000 L or greater, 50000 L or greater, 10000 L or greater, or 50000 L or greater. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution volume is 100000 L or less, 50000 L or less, 1000 L or less, 100 L or less, 50 L or less, 25 L or less, 10 L or less, or 5 L or less. In one or more embodiments, the cavity 30 includes a headspace portion 60. The headspace portion 60 is the volume of the cavity not occupied by the liquid portion 40 or any other component within the cavity 30.

[0075] In one or more embodiments, the system includes an exit channel 70. The exit channel is in fluid communication with the cavity and an environment external to the vessel. The exit channel is configured to allow gas to escape or be removed from the system. The gas escaping from the system may include one or more components from, in the same or different concentrations, as the gas entering the system. For example, the gas exiting the system may include gaseous compounds that were not sequestered. As such, in one or more embodiments, the exiting gas may include a lower concentration of the gaseous than the gas stream entering the system.

[0076] In one or more embodiments, the second external environment includes a second system of the present disclosure. For example, the second outlet may be in fluid communication with the entrance channel of a second system. As such, in one or more embodiments, two or more systems of the present disclosure may be arranged in series. In one or more embodiments, the second external environment includes a capture device configured to capture an exiting gas.

[0077] In one or more embodiments, the exit channel 70 includes a second inlet 72 in fluid communication with a second outlet 74. The second inlet 72 is disposed within the headspace portion 60 of the cavity 30. The second outlet 74 is in fluid communication with a second environment external to the system.

[0078] The system may include additional components or features. For example, in one or more embodiments, the system may include a reaction solution feed channel. The reaction solution feed channel may be configured to continuously or intermittently deliver one or more components of the reaction solution to the liquid portion and / or the reaction solution disposed within the liquid portion. In one or more embodiments, the system may include a reaction solution exit channel. The reaction solution exit channel may be configured to continuously or intermittently remove one or more components of the reaction solution from the reaction solution disposed within the liquid portion. In one or more embodiments, the system may include a reaction solution feed channel and a reaction solution exit channel such that the system may function as a continuous system.

[0079] The system may include one or more features that allow for monitoring of the reaction. For example, the system may include a pH detection feature. The pH detection feature may be used to monitor the pH of the reaction solution. For example, in one or more embodiments where the sequestration system is used to sequester carbon dioxide, the pH of the reaction solution prior to exposure to any gas that includes an acidic component (e g., CO2) will be alkaline. As the hydroxide ions (from a hydroxide salt) in the reaction solution are consumed in the chemisorption reaction, the pH of the reaction solution will become less alkaline. When the pH drops to within a particular range, more hydroxide ions can be added.

[0080] The system may include one or more features that increase the conversion of the gaseous compound to a salt. For example, the system may include one or more features that increase the conversion of carbon dioxide to a carbonate salt or chlorine to a chloride salt. The system may include one or more features that increase the reaction rate and / or reaction yield of a reaction that occurs during the process of transforming the gaseous compound into a salt. For example, in one or more embodiments, the liquid portion or the reaction solution may include a catalyst. The catalyst may be any catalyst capable of facilitating the transformation of the gaseous compound into a salt.

[0081] In one or more embodiments, the system may include a sonicator or an ultrasonicator that is at least partially positioned between the lower region 24 of the interior surface 22 and the liquid fdl line 42 such that at least a portion of the sonicator or ultrasonicator would be submerged when the reaction solution is disposed within the liquid portion. The action of the sonicator may function to decrease the average bubble size. The action of the sonicator may function to increase the gas surface area contact with the reaction solution.

[0082] In one or more embodiments, the system includes a pressurization device configured to hold the system under pressure. In one or more embodiments, the system is configured and / or includes an agitation device configured to agitate at least a portion of the reaction solution. For example, the system may be configured to be shaken and / or stirred. Agitation of the reaction solution may decrease the average bubble size. Agitation of the reaction solution may increase the gas surface area contact with the reaction solution.

[0083] In one or more embodiments, the system includes a temperature regulation device configured to heat / cool at least the liquid portion of the system. In one or more embodiments, the system includes a heating device configured to heat at least a portion of the system. Heating at least a portion of the system may increase the reaction efficiency. In one or more embodiments, the system includes a cooling device configured to cool at least a portion of the system. Cooling at least a portion of the system may increase the reaction efficiency. For example, cooling at least apportion of a system being used to sequester carbon dioxide may increase the reaction efficiency because carbon dioxide is more readily soluble in colder temperatures.

[0084] The inner surface may include one or more surface modifications to increase the efficiency of sequestration. In one or more embodiments, the inner surface includes one or more surface modifications configured to increase the reaction rate or reaction yield of a reaction that occurs during the process of transforming the gaseous compound into a salt. An inner surface modification may function to increase the gas surface area contact with the reaction solution.

[0085] They system may be operably coupled to a power supply such as a battery, electrical grid, a solar power grid, a wind power grid, or the like. The power supply may be configured to power one or more pump apparatuses. The one or more pump apparatuses may be configured to deliver the gas at a flow rate and / or power the aeration device.

[0086] FIG. 5 outlines method 500. Method 500 may be a sequestration method for sequestering a gaseous compound. The method may be accomplished, for example, by using a sequestration device of the present disclosure. The components of method 500 may be any component described herein.

[0087] The method 500 includes bubbling at least a portion of a gas stream through an aeration device into a reaction solution (step 520). The reaction solution can be a reaction solution described herein. The gas stream includes a gaseous compound for which sequestration is desired. For example, the gas stream can include carbon dioxide, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, and the like. Bubbling of at least a portion of the gas stream through the aeration device can allow for the formation of micro bubbles that flow into the reaction solution. In one or more embodiments, the step of bubbling includes operating an operably coupled power supply and / or pump apparatus configured to allow the aeration device to function.

[0088] In one or more embodiments, the method includes delivering the gas stream to the aeration device (step 510). According to a sequestration device of the present disclosure, the gas stream may be delivered to the aeration device 56 through the entrance channel 50. In one or more embodiments, delivering the gas stream to the aeration device includes operating an operably coupled power supply and / or pump apparatus configured to deliver the gas stream at a specific flow rate to the aeration device.

[0089] The method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with the gaseous compound, a compound derived from the gaseous compound, or both, to form a salt (step 530). In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with carbon dioxide, a compound derived from carbon dioxide, or both, to form a salt, such as a carbonate salt. In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with chlorine, a compound derived from chlorine, or both, to form a salt, such as a chloride salt. In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with sulfur dioxide, a compound derived from sulfur dioxide, or both, to form a salt, such as a sulfate salt. In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with nitric oxide and / or nitrogen dioxide, a compound derived from nitric oxide and / or nitrogen dioxide, or both, to form a salt, such as a nitrate salt. In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with hydrogen sulfide, a compound derived from hydrogen sulfide, or both, to form a salt, such as a nitrate salt. In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with ammonia, a compound derived from ammonia, or both, to form a salt, such as an ammonium salt. In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes allowing the active agent to react with methane, a compound derived from methane, or both, to form a salt, such as a carbonate salt.

[0090] In one or more embodiments, the method can further include harvesting the salt (step 240). In one or more embodiments, harvesting the salt includes removing the salt from the reaction solution. In one or more embodiments, removing the salt from the reaction solution includes removing at least a portion of the reaction solution from the system. In one or more embodiments, harvesting the salt includes, for example, dewatering the salt, or otherwise emptying of a salt collection chamber that may be gravity fed. Collected salt can be stored indefinitely under the correct conditions that do not allow for degradation.

[0091] In one or more embodiments, the sequestration system can be used to sequester carbon dioxide. As such, the disclosure describes a carbon dioxide sequestration system. Sequestration occurs via chemisorption of the carbon dioxide. Chemisorption is type of absorption characterized by a chemical reaction and the formation of a new chemical bond (ionic or covalent) between the adsorbent and the absorbate (e.g., carbon dioxide). The adsorbent can be or include a hydroxide salt. The carbon dioxide, or species derived from carbon dioxide (a compound derived from carbon dioxide), can react with the hydroxide salt to produce a carbonate salt.

[0092] The chemisorption of carbon dioxide with a hydroxide salt occurs through a series of reactions. FIG. 3 shows the series of reactions that take place to form carbonate and sodium carbonate from sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide (Overall RXN). Although shown in FIG. 3 in the context of an exemplary embodiment in which the hydroxide salt is sodium hydroxide, the devices and methods described herein can involve the use of any hydroxide salt including, but not limited to, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(0H)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(0H)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and the like. In one or more embodiments, the hydroxide salt is preferably sodium hydroxide. Sodium is the sixth most abundant element on earth. As such, using sodium as the hydroxide counterion is unlikely to deplete the global sodium supply. Prior to the first reaction (RXN1) the gaseous carbon dioxide is dissolved into an aqueous reaction solution that includes the hydroxide salt. The first reaction includes the formation of liquid phase carbonic acid (H2CO3) from the reaction of water with the dissolved carbon dioxide. The second reaction includes the conversion of carbonic acid to carbonate (CO32). In a separate reaction (RXN 3), the adsorbent (sodium hydroxide) dissociates into its component ions (OH‘ and Na+). The metal ions, hydroxide ions, and carbonate ions may remain in solution until the metal ion (Na+) reacts with carbonate ion to from a carbonate salt (e.g., sodium carbonate; Na2C0i; RXN 4). All of the described reactions are reversible and in equilibrium with each other.

[0093] In one or more embodiments, to allow for the chemisorption of carbon dioxide, the sequestration system of the present disclosure is configured to contain a reaction solution that includes an aqueous solution of a hydroxide salt. The hydroxide salt may be any suitable hydroxide salt such as, for example, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(0H)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(0H)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and the like. In one or more embodiments, to allow for the chemisorption of carbon dioxide, the sequestration system is also configured to deliver a gas that includes carbon dioxide to the reaction solution. At least a portion of the carbon dioxide of the delivered gas is adsorbed within the sequestration system through the formation of carbonate ions and / or carbonate salts.

[0094] In addition to carbon dioxide, the gas introduced into the sequestration system may include other gaseous compounds such as, for example, nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, perfluorinated compounds, or any combination thereof. In one or more embodiments, the gas consists of carbon dioxide. In one or more embodiments, the gas includes 0.001 wt-% or greater, 0.01 wt-% or greater, 0.05 wt-% or greater, 1 wt-% or greater, 5 wt-% or greater, 10 wt-% or greater, 20 wt-% or greater, 30 wt-% or greater, 40 wt-% or greater, 50 wt-% or greater, 60 wt-% or greater, 70 wt-% or greater, 80 wt-% or greater, or 90 wt-% or greater carbon dioxide. In one or more embodiments, the gas includes 99 wt-% or less, 90 wt-% or less, 90 wt-% or less, 80 wt-% or less, 70 wt-% or less, 60 wt-% or less, 50 wt-% or less, 40 wt-% or less, 30 wt-% or less, 20 wt-% or less, 10 wt-% or less, 5 wt-% or less, 1 wt-% or less, 0.05 wt-% or less, or 0.001 wt-% or less carbon dioxide.

[0095] In one or more embodiments, the gas introduced into the sequestration system may be atmospheric air. In some such embodiments, the gas introduced into the sequestration system may be 0.001 wt-% to 1 wt-% or 0.01 wt-% to 0.05 wt-% carbon dioxide. In some such embodiments, one or more sequestration systems may be used to remove carbon dioxide from atmospheric air.

[0096] The concentration of the hydroxide salt within the reaction solution may vary. As used herein, references to the concentration of the hydroxide salt refer to the concentration of the hydroxide salt prior to exposure to the gas. Also as used herein, even though a portion of the hydroxide salt may be a solid, the concentration of the hydroxide salt is the concentration of the hydroxide salt calculated as if the total amount of hydroxide salt is dissolved in solution. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the hydroxide salt is beyond the saturation point of the hydroxide salt; that is, a first portion of the hydroxide salt is dissolved in the reaction solution and a second portion of the hydroxide salt is a solid within the reaction solution. The portion of the salt that is a solid may act as a hydroxide salt reservoir. For example, a portion, or all, of the hydroxide salt reservoir may dissolve into solution over the course of time as the metal ions of the dissolved hydroxide salt are consumed in the chemisorption reaction. In other embodiments, the concentration of the hydroxide salt within the reaction solution is below the saturation concentration of the hydroxide salt. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the hydroxide salt in the reaction solution is 0.1 Molar (M) or greater, 1 M or greater, 2 M or greater, 3 M or greater, or 5 M or greater. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the hydroxide salt in the reaction solution is 10 M or less, 5 M or less, 3M or less, or 1 M or less.

[0097] The system may be used to adsorb at least a portion of the carbon dioxide from an amount of gas delivered to the system. One or more of the amount of gas delivered, the concentration of carbon dioxide within the gas, the volume of the reaction solution, the concentration of the hydroxide salt within the reaction solution, and the flow rate may affect the amount of carbon dioxide adsorbed. The following describes the amount of carbon dioxide that the system may adsorb and a variety of conditions under which the adsorption may take place. Any combination of the following conditions and adsorption amount is contemplated.

[0098] In one or more embodiments, the system is capable of adsorbing 20% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 99% or more up to 100% of the carbon dioxide delivered to the system in the gas stream.

[0099] In one or more embodiments, the system is capable of adsorbing 20% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 99% or more up to 100% of the carbon dioxide present in 1 L of the gas stream delivered to the system.

[0100] In one or more embodiments the gas includes 1 wt-% or greater, 10 wt-% or greater, 20 wt-% or greater, 30 wt-% or greater, 40 wt-% or greater, 50 wt-% or greater, 60 wt-% or greater, 70 wt-% or greater, 80 wt-% or greater, 90 wt-% or greater, or 100 wt-% carbon dioxide. In one or more embodiments, the amount of gas includes 99 wt-% or less, 90 wt-% or less, 80 wt-% or less, 70 wt-% or less, 60 wt-% or less, 50 wt-% or less, 40 wt-% or less, 30 wt-% or less, 20 wt- % or less, or 10 wt-% or less carbon dioxide.

[0101] In one or more embodiments, the amount of gas delivered to the system is 1 L or greater, 5 L or greater, 10 L or greater, 50 L or greater, 100 L or greater, 250 L or greater, 500 L or greater, 1000 L or greater, 1500 L or greater, 2000 L or greater, 5000 L or greater, 10000 L or greater, 50000 L or greater, or 100000 L or greater. Tn one or more embodiments, the amount of gas delivered to the system is 1 million L or less, 100000 L or less, 50000 L or less, 10000 L or less, 5000 L or less, 2000 L or less, 1500 L or less, 1000 L or less, 500 L or less, 250 L or less, 100 L or less, 50 L or less, or 10 L or less.

[0102] In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution volume is 1 L or greater, 5 L or greater, 10 L or greater, 25 L or greater, 50 L or greater, 100 L or greater, 1000 L or greater, 50000 L or greater, 10000 L or greater, or 50000 L or greater. In one or more embodiments, the reaction solution volume is 100000 L or less, 50000 L or less, 1000 L or less, 100 L or less, 50 L or less, 25 L or less, 10 L or less, or 5 L or less.

[0103] In one or more embodiments, the gas is delivered to the reaction solution at a flow rate that 0.0001% or greater, 0.001% or greater, 0.01% or greater, 0.05 % or greater, 1% or greater, 5% or greater, 10% or greater, 20% or greater, 30% or greater, 40% or greater, 50% or greater, 60% or greater, 70% or greater, 80% or greater, 90% or greater, or 100% or greater than the volume of the reaction solution per minute. In one or more embodiments, the gas is delivered to the reaction solution at a flow rate of 150% or less, 100% or less, 90% or less, 80% or less, 70% or less, 60% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, 30% or less, 20% or less, 10% or less, 5% or less, 1% or less, 0.05% or less, 0.01% or less, or 0.001% or less than the volume of the reaction solution per minute.

[0104] In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the hydroxide salt in the reaction solution is 0.1 M or greater, 1 M or greater, 2 M or greater, 3 M or greater, or 5 M or greater. In one or more embodiments, the concentration of the hydroxide salt in the reaction solution is 10 M or less, 5 M or less, 3M or less, or 1 M or less.

[0105] For example, a series of experiments revealed that an exemplary sequestration device of the present disclosure was able to adsorb 100% of the carbon dioxide introduced into the system. In this experiment, a sequestration system was used that is similar in shape and configuration to the system shown in FIG. 1. The first inlet 52 was fluidically coupled to a pure carbon dioxide source. The second outlet 74 was fluidically coupled to a tube that had an opening located directly underneath an inverted water filled 1 L measuring cylinder, placed in a water trough. For the control experiment, the liquid portion was filled with 10 L of deionized water. For the adsorption experiment, the liquid portion was filled with 10 L of an approximately 2 M sodium hydroxide containing reaction solution. The fill distance DI was 16.5 cm and the aeration distance D2 was 100% (i.e., the aeration device was contacting the lower region 24). One liter of carbon dioxide was delivered to the reaction solution or water solution at a rate of approximately 250 mL per minute (a rate of 0.025% of the reaction solution volume). For the three control experiments conducted, no adsorption of the carbon dioxide was observed as the gas exited the second outlet port and fdled the inverted measuring cylinder in approximately four minutes. Two test experiments were conducted. In both test experiments, no carbon dioxide was able to escape the reaction vessel for collection in the inverted measuring cylinder indicating 100% adsorption of the introduced carbon dioxide. Table 1 below indicates control and test data. The results indicate that the system of the present disclosure is able to completely sequester carbon dioxide.

[0106] Table 1.

[0107] In another aspect, this disclosure describes a method for sequestering carbon dioxide using the sequestration device of the present disclosure. The method includes the use of a sequestration device that has a reaction solution disposed within the liquid portion 40 of the vessel cavity 30. The aeration device 56 is completely submerged within the reaction solution.

[0108] In one or more embodiments, method 500 may be method 100 (outlined in FIG. 2) The method 100 may be a carbon dioxide sequestration method. The method 100 may be accomplished using a sequestration system of the present disclosure. The components of method 100 may be any component described herein. The method 100 includes bubbling at least a portion of the gas stream through an aeration device into a reaction solution (step 120). The gas stream includes carbon dioxide. The reaction solution includes water and a hydroxide salt. Bubbling of at least a portion of the gas stream through the aeration device 56 allows for the formation of micro bubbles that flow into the reaction solution. In one or more embodiments, the step of bubbling includes operating an operably coupled power supply and / or pump apparatus configured to allow the aeration device to function.

[0109] In one or more embodiments, the method includes delivering a stream of gas to the aeration device (step 110). The stream of gas includes carbon dioxide. The stream of gas is delivered to the aeration device 56 through the entrance channel 50. In one or more embodiments, delivering the stream of gas to the aeration device includes operating an operably coupled power supply and / or pump apparatus configured to deliver the gas stream at a specific flow rate to the aeration device.

[0110] The method 100 includes allowing chemisorption of the at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the gas to occur to form carbonate ions, carbonate salts, or both (step 130). Allowing the chemisorption reaction to occur includes allowing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the gas stream to be converted to carbonate ions and / or carbonate salts through a series of reactions as described elsewhere herein.

[0111] In one or more embodiments, the method can further include harvesting the carbonate salt (step 140). In one or more embodiments, harvesting the carbonate salt includes removing the carbonate salt from the reaction solution. In one or more embodiments, removing the carbonate salt from the reaction solution includes removing at least a portion of the reaction solution from the system. In one or more embodiments, harvesting the carbonate salt includes, for example dewatering the carbonate salt, or otherwise emptying of a salt collection chamber that may be gravity fed. Collected carbonate can be stored indefinitely under the correct conditions that do now allow for the regeneration of carbon containing gasses.

[0112] In the present disclosure, the term “and / or” means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements; the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” and variations thereof are to be construed as open ended — i.e., additional elements or steps are optional and may or may not be present; unless otherwise specified, “a,” “an,” “the,” and “at least one” are used interchangeably and mean one or more than one; and the recitations of numerical ranges by endpoints include all numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

[0113] As used herein, “have,” “has,” “having,” “include,” “includes,” “including,” “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising” or the like are used in their open-ended inclusive sense, and generally mean “include, but not limited to,” “includes, but not limited to,” or “including, but not limited to.” Further, wherever embodiments are described herein with the language “have,” “has,” “having,” “include,” “includes,” “including,” “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising” and the like, otherwise analogous embodiments described in terms of “consisting of’ and / or “consisting essentially of’ are also provided. The term “consisting of’ means including, and limited to, that which follows the phrase “consisting of.” That is, “consisting of’ indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. The term “consisting essentially of’ indicates that any elements listed after the phrase are included, and that other elements than those listed may be included provided that those elements do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements.

[0114] In the present disclosure, a component is said to be present in amounts “no more than” a reference amount or concentration when the component is not absent but is present in an amount up to the reference amount or concentration.

[0115] In the present disclosure, the numerical value of a parameter (e.g., a concentration, amount, percentage, distance, and the like) can be characterized by a range having endpoints defined by any a minimum value identified for the parameter and any maximum value identified for the parameter that is greater than the selected minimum value. In certain embodiments, the value of the parameter can be equal to any minimum value or any maximum value listed.

[0116] In the present disclosure, particular embodiments may be described in isolation for clarity. Reference throughout this specification to “one or more embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” or “some embodiments,” etc., means that a particular feature, configuration, composition, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, configurations, compositions, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, features described in the context of one embodiment may be combined with features described in the context of a different embodiment except where the features are necessarily mutually exclusive. In the present disclosure, the word “exemplary” means to serve as an illustrative example and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0117] In the present disclosure, the words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.

[0118] For any method disclosed herein that includes discrete steps, the steps may be performed in any feasible order. And, as appropriate, any combination of two or more steps may be performed simultaneously.

[0119] The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described, for variations obvious to one skilled in the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims.

[0120] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, molecular weights, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0121] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. All numerical values, however, inherently contain a range necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0122] All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unless so specified.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A sequestration system comprising: a vessel defining an interior surface forming a cavity, the interior surface comprising a lower region, the cavity defining a liquid portion extending a fill distance from the lower region to a liquid fill level; a reaction solution within the liquid portion, the reaction solution comprising an active reagent capable of reacting with a gaseous compound to form a salt, capable of reacting compound derived from the gaseous compound to form a salt, or both; and an aeration device positioned an aeration distance that is between the lower region and the liquid fill level, the liquid portion defining a liquid volume.

2. The sequestration system of claim 1, further comprising an entrance channel configured to deliver a gas stream comprising the gaseous compound at a flow rate to the reaction solution, the entrance channel comprising: a first inlet in fluid communication with a first environment external to the vessel; and a first outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet, the first outlet comprising the aeration device.

3. The sequestration system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cavity further comprises a headspace portion and the system further comprises an exit channel in fluid communication with a second environment external to the vessel.

4. The sequestration system of any preceding claim, wherein the gaseous compound comprises carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or any combination thereof, the reaction solution comprises water, and the active reagent comprises a hydroxide salt.

5. The sequestration system of claim 4, wherein the hydroxide salt comprises sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), or any combination thereof.

6. The sequestration system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gaseous compound comprises chlorine, and the reaction solution comprises water, and the active reagent comprises a metal oxide.

7. The sequestration system of claim 6, wherein the metal oxide comprises iron oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, zinc oxide, copper oxide, aluminum oxide, or any combination thereof.

8. The sequestration system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gaseous compound comprises ammonia, the reaction solution comprises water, and the active reagent comprises an acid.

9. The sequestration system of claim 8, wherein the acid comprises hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, carbonic acid, nitrous acid, or any combination thereof.

10. The sequestration system of any preceding claim, wherein the liquid volume is 10 mL or greater.

11. The sequestration system of any one of claims 2 through 10, wherein the flow rate of the gas stream is 0.0001% or greater than the liquid volume per minute or 1 mL or greater per minute.

12. The sequestration system of any preceding claim, wherein the aeration distance is at least 5% of the fill distance.

13. The sequestration system of any preceding claim, wherein the aeration device is configured to produce bubbles of an average size of 20 mm or less, the bubbles comprising the gaseous compound.

14. The sequestration system of any preceding claim, wherein the system is capable of adsorbing 20% or greater of the gaseous compound from 1 L of the gas stream.

15. The sequestration system of any of claims 2 to 14, wherein the gas stream consists of gaseous compound.

16. The sequestration system of any of claims 2 to 14, wherein the gas stream comprises 50 wt- % or less gaseous compound.

17. The sequestration system of claim 16, wherein the gas stream comprises 0.01 wt-% to 0.05 wt-% of the gaseous compound.

18. The sequestration system of any one of claims 2 through 15, wherein the gas stream comprises greater than 50 wt-% of the gaseous compound.

19. A method of using the sequestration system of any one of claims 2 through 18, the system further comprising the reaction solution disposed within the liquid portion; the method comprising: delivering the gas stream comprising the gaseous compound to the aeration device; bubbling at least a portion of the gas stream through the aeration device into the reaction solution; and allowing the active reagent to react with the gaseous compound to form a salt, allowing the active reagent to react with a compound derived from the gaseous compound form a salt, or both.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising harvesting the salt.

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