Multi-Chamber Dialysis Cell for Gas Conversion and Ion Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide capture and geological sequestration, face challenges including the risk of underground storage and water contamination due to ionic species formation, while providing a reliable water source is becoming increasingly important, especially in industrial processes that produce contaminated wastewater.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber unitary dialysis cell with ion exchange barriers is used to reduce ion concentration and convert gases into salt, comprising a gas chamber, product chamber, and acid chamber, where anions and cations migrate across exchange barriers to form acid and salt, respectively, thereby reducing ion concentration and converting gases into salt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If carbon dioxide is captured and sequestered underground in geological formations, then carbon emissions are reduced, but storage safety risks increase due to potential leakage and environmental uncertainty
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts carbon dioxide from the gas stream and converts it into solid carbonate minerals through chemical reactions with metal oxides in the solid support material, removing the harmful gas from the system rather than storing it underground where leakage risks exist
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful carbon dioxide gas into beneficial solid carbonate minerals that can be used as chemical feedstocks or sold as products, transforming the waste stream into a valuable resource while eliminating the need for risky underground storage
2Object-generated harmful factors
If greenhouse gases are absorbed in water for sequestration, then carbon emissions are reduced, but water quality deteriorates due to formation of ionic species and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts carbon dioxide from the gas stream and converts it to solid carbonate minerals, preventing the formation of dissolved ionic species in water that would contaminate the water and require additional treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a solid support material with metal oxides as an intermediary substance to facilitate the conversion of carbon dioxide into solid carbonates, avoiding direct contact between the gas and water that would lead to ionic dissolution and water contamination
3Object-affected harmful factors
If industrial processes treat wastewater to remove ionic contaminants, then water quality improves, but treatment complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention prevents water contamination at the source by converting carbon dioxide to solid carbonates before any water contact occurs, eliminating the need for complex downstream water treatment processes that would be required to remove dissolved ionic species
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful carbon dioxide into valuable solid carbonate products that can be used as chemical feedstocks, eliminating the need for expensive and complex wastewater treatment while creating additional revenue streams
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 effectively reduces ion concentration in solutions, converts greenhouse gases into salt, and produces acid, addressing the challenges of water contamination and providing a reliable water source by eliminating harmful halogen gases like chlorine.
Implementation Method 1
A first anion exchange barrier is positioned between the product chamber and the acid chamber and a first cation exchange barrier is positioned between the product chamber and the gas chamber. Anions in the solution being treated migrate across the first anion exchange barrier to associate with cations in the acid chamber to form an acid solution in the acid chamber, and cations in the solution being treated migrate across the first cation exchange barrier to associate with anions from the fluid comprising gas to form salt
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for reducing ion concentration of a solution and converting gas. The system comprising a multi-chamber unitary dialysis cell comprising a gas chamber, a product chamber, and an acid chamber. Ion exchange barriers separate the chambers of the dialysis cell. A first anion exchange barrier is positioned between the product chamber and the acid chamber and a first cation exchange barrier is positioned between the product chamber and the gas chamber. Anions from the solution being treated associate with cations from the acid chamber to form an acid solution in the acid chamber, and cations from the solution being treated associate with anions from the fluid comprising gas to form salt, thereby reducing the ion concentration of the solution being treated and converting at least a portion of the gas into salt.