Organic Phase CO2 Extraction from Aqueous Solution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing CO2 from ambient air are inefficient due to the need for water desorption, which increases energy consumption and costs, and are not competitive in reducing climate change impacts until 2050 due to technological and economic drawbacks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving contacting an aqueous CO2 solution with an organic phase at elevated temperatures, where the organic phase has higher CO2 solubility than water, allowing CO2 to migrate and be separated without water desorption, using a carbon-based organic solvent with alkyl groups, such as hexadecane, to produce a pure CO2 stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aqueous amine solutions are used to absorb CO2, then CO2 capture efficiency is improved, but water desorption is required which increases energy consumption and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an organic solvent phase as an intermediary medium between the aqueous amine solution and the CO2 gas stream. This organic phase selectively extracts CO2 from the aqueous solution, enabling CO2 separation without requiring thermal desorption of water. The organic solvent acts as a mediator that transfers CO2 from the aqueous phase while leaving water behind, thus resolving the contradiction between capture efficiency and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts CO2 from the aqueous amine solution using an organic solvent in a liquid-liquid extraction process. By taking out CO2 selectively into the organic phase, the method avoids the need to heat and desorb water from the aqueous solution, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining high CO2 capture efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If vacuum swing adsorption is used for low temperature desorption, then energy efficiency is improved, but water is also adsorbed requiring additional desorption energy
Solution Approach 1:
The organic solvent serves as an intermediary that selectively interacts with CO2 rather than water. This mediation allows CO2 to be transferred from the aqueous phase to the organic phase without significant water co-adsorption or co-desorption, thereby improving energy efficiency while minimizing water loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the different solubility characteristics of CO2 and water in the organic solvent phase. By selecting an organic solvent with high CO2 solubility and low water solubility, the method achieves selective CO2 extraction, allowing energy-efficient separation without the penalty of water desorption.
3Reliability
If conventional CO2 separation methods are used, then CO2 recovery is achieved, but water desorption is needed which reduces process efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The organic solvent phase acts as a mediator that enables CO2 recovery without the need for water desorption. By transferring CO2 into the organic phase and then separating the phases, the method achieves reliable CO2 recovery while maintaining high process efficiency by eliminating the energy-intensive water desorption step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal field (heating for water desorption) with a mass transfer field (liquid-liquid extraction). This substitution of the separation mechanism allows CO2 recovery to be achieved through selective solubility differences rather than thermal desorption, thereby improving process efficiency while maintaining reliable CO2 recovery.
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 efficiently captures CO2 from ambient air, reducing water loss and energy consumption, and provides a cost-effective means to produce a high-purity CO2 stream that can be used for further chemical production, such as organic acids and alcohols.
Implementation Method 1
the varying solubility of carbon dioxide at different temperatures in water and an extractant to extract the CO2
Implementation Method 2
contacting the aqueous CO2 solution with an organic phase... allowing CO2 to migrate and be separated
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of extracting carbon dioxide (CO2) gas from an aqueous solution comprising dissolved CO2, the method comprising:(a) contacting the aqueous solution with dissolved CO2 with an organic phase;(b) heating the aqueous solution and the organic phase to a temperature of at least 50° C., whereby the CO2 migrates from the aqueous solution to the organic phase; and(c) separating the CO2 from the organic phase,wherein the aqueous solution comprises at least 50% water by weight at a temperature of 10° C. to and a base; the organic phase has a higher CO2 solubility relative to water solubility; and the aqueous solution and the organic phase are in direct contact with each other and are maintained as two separate phases.