Aqueous CO2 Carbonation via Electrocoagulation and Neutralization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon capture and storage technologies are energy-intensive and costly, limiting their applicability in reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions, and existing wastewater treatment processes are inefficient in reusing organic-aqueous mixtures, particularly in facilitating CO2 sequestration or conversion.
Innovation Solution
A process involving pre-treatment of an aqueous stream with hydrocarbonaceous components and impurities, followed by neutralization with an air stream containing CO2, to convert carbon constituents into carbonate constituents, using methods like electrocoagulation and microgas separation, achieving high conversion rates of CO2 into carbonate forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional CO2 separation and purification processes are used, then CO2 capture efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the aqueous stream by adjusting pH levels and chemical composition to enable direct carbonation reactions. This allows CO2 capture to proceed through simpler chemical reactions rather than energy-intensive separation and purification processes, thereby maintaining capture efficiency while reducing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential function needed for CO2 capture - the chemical reaction between CO2 and hydroxide ions - and eliminates the intermediate steps of separation and purification. This direct extraction of the core mechanism bypasses energy-intensive processes while achieving the desired CO2 capture effect
2Reliability
If conventional wastewater treatment processes are used, then wastewater is treated, but effective re-use is limited due to cost considerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful CO2 in the aqueous stream into a beneficial carbonate product. By treating CO2-contaminated water as a resource rather than waste, the process generates marketable carbonate products while simultaneously treating the wastewater, thereby reducing treatment costs and enabling effective re-use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the wastewater treatment system to produce valuable carbonate products that can be sold or reused, making the treatment process self-sufficient and even revenue-generating. This eliminates the need for external energy inputs and makes the system economically viable without subsidies
3Quantity of substance
If ambient CO2 capture technologies are used, then cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions are addressed, but energy requirements and lack of safe storage options limit applicability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of CO2 from gaseous form in the atmosphere to dissolved form in aqueous streams, and then to solid carbonate precipitates. This natural phase transition process occurs at ambient conditions without requiring energy-intensive compression or cooling steps, enabling large-scale CO2 capture with minimal energy input
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 process effectively captures and converts CO2 into stable carbonate forms, reducing energy consumption and costs, while enabling the reuse of treated wastewater, thus addressing the inefficiencies of existing technologies in carbon capture and wastewater treatment.
Implementation Method 1
electrocoagulation
Implementation Method 2
microgas separation
Implementation Method 3
neutralization with an air stream containing CO2, to convert carbon constituents into carbonate constituents
Data Source
AI summary
A process for treating a source fluid in a manner that results in converting a carbon constituent into a carbonate constituent. The process includes the steps of providing the source fluid to a first treatment step, the source fluid being aqueous and comprising: at least one ppm to no more than five percent (by volume) of a hydrocarbonaceous component, and an impurity that includes a metal, a hard mineral, and combinations thereof. The process includes reacting the source fluid via the first treatment step to produce a treated aqueous stream comprising at least one percent to no more than thirty percent (by volume) of a hydroxide constituent.