Air CO2 Capture for Alkylene Carbonate Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing alkylene carbonate rely on high-concentration carbon dioxide from flue gas, requiring energy-intensive absorption-stripping processes, and there is a lack of efficient technology to produce alkylene carbonate directly from carbon dioxide in air.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a diamine compound as a carbon dioxide capturing agent, combined with a quaternary ammonium halide catalyst and solvent, to react with alkylene oxide and capture carbon dioxide from air, followed by phase separation to produce and separate alkylene carbonate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If carbon dioxide is separated from flue gas using absorption-stripping process, then high concentration carbon dioxide is obtained, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing carbon dioxide capture directly in the reaction solution before the carbonate synthesis reaction occurs. The amine-based capturing agent pre-captures CO2 from air at low concentration (400-500 ppm), forming carbamate species in situ, which then react with alkylene oxide to produce alkylene carbonate. This eliminates the need for subsequent energy-intensive stripping operations to release and concentrate CO2.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the CO2 capture function and the carbonate synthesis function into a single integrated reaction system. The same amine-based solution serves both as the CO2 capturing agent and as the reaction medium for carbonate formation. This consolidation eliminates separate CO2 concentration and purification steps, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining product yield.
2Reliability
If carbon dioxide capture and carbonate production are performed in separate processes, then each process can be optimized, but overall complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines CO2 capture and carbonate production into a single integrated process where the amine-based solution captures CO2 from air and simultaneously serves as the reaction medium for carbonate synthesis. This merger reduces process complexity by eliminating intermediate CO2 concentration, purification, and transfer steps, while maintaining reliability through the dual functionality of the amine solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The amine-based capturing agent performs multiple functions: it captures CO2 from low-concentration air sources, acts as a reaction medium, facilitates the carbonate synthesis reaction, and enables easy product separation. This multi-functionality reduces overall process complexity while maintaining each function's effectiveness.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional absorption-stripping process is used, then carbon dioxide can be concentrated, but the process requires additional equipment and operational steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs CO2 capture preliminarily in the reaction solution before synthesis, using amine-based agents to capture CO2 directly from air at ambient conditions. This preliminary capture occurs in situ without requiring separate concentration equipment or stripping operations, greatly simplifying the manufacturing process while still achieving the necessary CO2 concentration for reaction.
4Quantity of substance
If high concentration carbon dioxide from flue gas is used, then sufficient CO2 for reaction is available, but the source is limited and energy-intensive to obtain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of CO2 concentration by developing an amine-based capturing system that can effectively capture CO2 from low-concentration air sources (400-500 ppm) rather than requiring high-concentration flue gas (10-15%). This parameter change enables the use of abundant atmospheric CO2 as feedstock, eliminating the need for energy-intensive flue gas processing while ensuring sufficient CO2 availability for reaction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the direct production of alkylene carbonate from atmospheric carbon dioxide without energy-intensive stripping, allowing for efficient capture and separation, and facilitates recycling of the capturing agent and catalyst.
Implementation Method 1
injecting air containing carbon dioxide into a solution containing a carbon dioxide capturing agent to obtain a solution in which carbon dioxide is captured
Implementation Method 2
adding alkylene oxide, a catalyst for producing alkylene carbonate, and a solvent to the solution in which carbon dioxide is captured, and reacting to obtain a solution in which alkylene carbonate is produced
Implementation Method 3
separating alkylene carbonate from the solution in which alkylene carbonate is produced
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing and separating alkylene carbonate using carbon dioxide in air is disclosed herein. The method comprises the steps of: injecting air containing carbon dioxide into an amine solution containing a diamine compound to obtain a solution in which carbon dioxide is captured; adding alkylene oxide, a catalyst, and a solvent to the solution in which carbon dioxide is captured, and reacting to obtain a solution in which alkylene carbonate is produced; and separating alkylene carbonate from the solution in which alkylene carbonate is produced.