Method for Producing Fuel from Captured Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

The invention provides a method for producing combustible fuels from a gaseous mixture containing carbon dioxide, which comprises: (i) capturing CO2 from said gaseous mixture by means of K2CO3, thus forming KHCO3; (ii) releasing the CO2 from said KHCO3; and (iii) subsequently producing fuel from the released CO2 by reaction with hydrogen.

1 . A method for producing combustible fuels from a gaseous mixture containing carbon dioxide, which comprises: 
 (i) capturing CO 2  from said gaseous mixture by means of K 2 CO 3 , thus forming KHCO 3 ;    (ii) releasing the CO 2  from said KHCO 3 ; and    (iii) subsequently producing fuel from the released CO 2  by reaction with hydrogen.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaseous mixture is air.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the capture of CO 2  is performed by bubbling air in water through an aqueous solution of K 2 CO 3 .  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the capture of CO 2  is performed by spraying droplets of K 2 CO 3  aqueous solution into a stream of air.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  in step (ii) is released from the KHCO 3  by heating the KHCO 3  to a temperature sufficient to liberate the CO 2 , thus recycling the K 2 CO 3 .  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CO 2  in step (ii) is released from the KHCO 3  by an electrochemical process.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction of CO 2  with hydrogen in step (iii) is a catalytic thermal reaction.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction of CO 2  with hydrogen in step (iii) is an electrochemical reaction.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said electrochemical reaction corresponds to a reverse operation of a fuel cell and the hydrogen is produced in situ.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said electrochemical reaction corresponds to a reverse operation of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and the fuel produced is methanol.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said electrochemical reaction corresponds to a reverse operation of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and the fuel produced is a hydrocarbon such as methane.