Integrated Sorbent-Catalyst for Direct Air Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current direct air capture technologies require significant energy for regeneration and compression, making them economically unfeasible for large-scale deployment, and there is a lack of commercially relevant technologies that can convert CO2 captured from air into value-added products.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional material integrating a solid inorganic sorbent and a metal catalyst component is used for integrated direct air capture and catalytic conversion of CO2 to (C1-C10)hydrocarbyl products, bypassing energy-intensive regeneration and compression steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If separate capture and conversion technologies are used, then CO2 can be captured and converted, but energy consumption increases and economic feasibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines CO2 capture and conversion functions into a single integrated system. The solid inorganic sorbent captures CO2 from air, and the metal catalyst component simultaneously converts the captured CO2 to hydrocarbons in situ, eliminating the need for separate capture and conversion units, regeneration systems, and compression equipment. This merging of functions directly reduces energy consumption and improves economic feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The multifunctional material performs multiple operations simultaneously: CO2 capture from ambient air, CO2 concentration, and catalytic conversion to hydrocarbons. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated equipment for each step, reducing overall system energy requirements and improving economic viability.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional DAC processes with regeneration and compression are used, then CO2 capture is achieved, but energy consumption becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The solid inorganic sorbent performs preliminary CO2 capture and concentration from ambient air before the conversion step. By pre-concentrating CO2 on the sorbent surface, the system eliminates the need for energy-intensive post-capture compression steps, as the CO2 is already concentrated in situ on the multifunctional material.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid inorganic sorbent acts as an intermediary that captures CO2 from air and delivers it directly to the metal catalyst component for conversion. This intermediary function eliminates the need for separate compression and transport steps, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective CO2 capture.
3Reliability
If CO2 is stored underground instead of converted, then storage is achieved, but value-added product production is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply storing CO2 as a waste product, the system converts the captured CO2 into valuable hydrocarbon products through catalytic conversion. The metal catalyst component transforms CO2 into C1-C10 hydrocarbyl products including olefins and paraffins, turning a harmful greenhouse gas into economically valuable chemicals and fuels.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal catalyst component changes the chemical parameters of captured CO2 by facilitating hydrogenation reactions that convert CO2 into hydrocarbons with different molecular structures and properties. This parameter change transforms CO2 from a storage-only candidate into a feedstock for value-added product production.
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 approach enables efficient and cost-effective capture and conversion of CO2, achieving high selectivity and conversion rates for valuable hydrocarbyl products, such as olefins and paraffins, while reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a multifunctional material including a solid inorganic sorbent and a metal catalyst component with air to capture CO2
Implementation Method 2
hydrogenating the captured CO2 to produce (C1-C10)hydrocarbyls
Implementation Method 3
hydrogenating the captured CO2 to produce (C1-C10)hydrocarbyls
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunctional material may include a solid inorganic sorbent. The multifunctional material may include a metal catalyst component, wherein the solid inorganic sorbent and metal catalyst component are integrated into a single material.