Swellable Ionic Liquid Particles for Acidic Gas Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acidic gas capture technologies, such as liquid and solid-based sorbents, face challenges including low capture efficiency, high energy requirements, corrosion, thermal degradation, and leaching issues, limiting their scalability and performance in industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of amine-functionalized ionic liquids absorbed within swellable support particles, particularly hydrogel particles, which maintain flowability and absorb acidic gases like CO2, H2S, or SO2, with enhanced uptake kinetics and efficiency by forming microdroplets within the swellable support, allowing for improved absorption and desorption capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid-based amine sorbents are used for CO2 capture, then chemical reaction with acidic gas is improved, but gas-liquid contact area is limited and capture efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid amine sorbent is segmented into discrete solid support particles with high surface area, creating numerous independent reaction sites that increase gas-solid contact area and capture efficiency while maintaining chemical reactivity
Solution Approach 2:
Solid support particles with porous structures are used to provide high surface area for gas contact, enabling improved capture efficiency while the amine functional groups maintain chemical reaction capability
2Reliability
If liquid amine solutions are used for CO2 absorption, then CO2 capture is achieved, but intensive energy requirements are needed for desorption
Solution Approach 1:
The physical state of the amine sorbent is changed from liquid to solid supported form, which modifies the thermodynamics of the system to enable lower temperature desorption and reduce energy requirements while maintaining CO2 capture capability
3Reliability
If liquid amine solutions are used for CO2 absorption, then CO2 capture is achieved, but corrosivity to steel pipes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
An inert solid support material serves as an intermediary carrier for the amine functional groups, isolating the corrosive amine solution from contact with steel pipes while maintaining the chemical reaction capability for CO2 capture
4Reliability
If liquid amine solutions are used for CO2 absorption, then CO2 capture is achieved, but thermal or chemical degradation of amine groups occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The solid support acts as a stable intermediary platform that protects the amine functional groups from thermal and chemical degradation while maintaining their CO2 capture functionality
Solution Approach 2:
A composite material system combining solid support with amine functional groups is created, where the stable solid support protects the amine groups from degradation while maintaining CO2 capture capability
5Reliability
If liquid amine solutions are used for CO2 absorption, then CO2 capture is achieved, but loss of volatile amines into gaseous streams occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The solid support serves as a non-volatile intermediary that anchors the amine functional groups, preventing their evaporation into the gas stream while allowing CO2 to be captured through the amine groups
Solution Approach 2:
The solid supported amine system eliminates the need to replace volatile amine losses, as the amine groups are fixed on the solid support and can be regenerated through desorption and reabsorption cycles
6Productivity
If high surface area solid-based sorbents are used to address uptake rate limitations, then uptake rate is improved, but cost of synthesis becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
Common porous solid supports with established synthesis methods are used, providing high surface area for improved uptake rate while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the use of readily available materials
Solution Approach 2:
The surface area and porosity parameters of the solid support are optimized to achieve high uptake rates without requiring expensive synthesis procedures, balancing performance with manufacturability
7Productivity
If porous support materials are used for CO2 capture, then gas absorption surface area is increased, but stability over time decreases due to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical composition and structural parameters of the solid support are selected to be chemically stable and resistant to degradation from contaminants and moisture, ensuring long-term stability while maintaining high gas absorption surface area
8Quantity of substance
If liquid ionic liquids are used for CO2 absorption, then absorption capacity is improved, but viscosity increases which limits uptake kinetics
Solution Approach 1:
The viscous liquid ionic liquid is segmented into discrete solid support particles, which reduces the effective viscosity experienced by CO2 molecules during diffusion and improves uptake kinetics while maintaining high absorption capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Porous solid supports provide pathways for CO2 diffusion through the ionic liquid, reducing the impact of high viscosity on uptake kinetics while maintaining the high absorption capacity of the ionic liquid
9Reliability
If rigid non-swellable porous supports are used for CO2 capture, then leaching is reduced, but gas diffusion pathways are limited
Solution Approach 1:
Swellable porous supports are used instead of rigid non-swellable supports, allowing the pore structure to dynamically adjust and expand to facilitate gas diffusion while maintaining resistance to leaching through the swellable matrix structure
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
The acidic gas absorbent particulates demonstrate increased absorption capacity, improved recyclability, reduced amine-solvent volatility, and robustness in humid environments, offering a scalable and efficient solution for industrial gas capture.
Implementation Method 1
The acidic gas absorbent particulates can be used for removing one or more acidic gases from a gaseous stream or atmosphere by absorbing the acidic gas
Implementation Method 2
liquid-based sorbents that are employed typically comprise groups that chemically react with the acidic gas which can capture CO2 from gaseous streams
Implementation Method 3
an acidic gas absorbent particulate comprising swellable support particles and an amine-functionalised ionic liquid absorbed within the swellable support particles
Implementation Method 4
the acidic gas diffusion distance being significantly reduced allowing for enhanced sorbent uptake kinetics/efficiency
Implementation Method 5
The absorbed acidic gas can then be harvested (e.g. desorbed) from the absorbent, which is regenerated and can be reused
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to an acidic gas absorbent particulate for capture of an acidic gas from a gaseous stream or atmosphere, the acidic gas absorbent particulate comprising swellable support particles, wherein the swellable support particles contain absorbed amine-functionalised ionic liquid for absorbing the acidic gas, and to apparatuses, processes, methods and uses comprising the same.