Methods and systems for producing a moisture swing sorbent for carbon dioxide capture from air

Abstract

Methods and systems for producing a moisture swing sorbent for carbon dioxide capture from air are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a heterogeneous ion-exchange material; soaking the material in deionized water; washing the material in hydroxide or carbonate solutions; rinsing the material in deionized water; collecting and titrating residuals of the soaking and the washing steps into a residual solution; measuring an amount of chloride in the residual solution; repeating all of the steps if the amount of chloride measured in the residual solution is greater than zero; and drying the material with either dry nitrogen gas or air free of carbon dioxide and water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of regenerating a moisture swing sorbent for carbon dioxide capture from air said method comprising:
 providing a moisture swing sorbent that is substantially dry and loaded with bicarbonate substantially formed with carbon dioxide captured from air;   wetting said moisture swing sorbent until said bicarbonate in said sorbent decomposes to carbonate and a stream including water and carbon dioxide gas, wherein said carbon dioxide gas is substantially released from said sorbent;   collecting said carbon dioxide gas; and   drying said moisture swing sorbent until it is substantially dry.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 compressing said carbon dioxide gas into a liquid form.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a vacuum to collect said carbon dioxide gas.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 redissolving said carbon dioxide gas into a solvent.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said solvent is a sodium carbonate solution. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 condensing said stream to remove water from said stream.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of collecting said carbon dioxide gas includes the step of flowing a sweep gas through said sorbent. 
     
     
         8 . A system for regenerating a moisture swing sorbent for carbon dioxide capture from air, said system comprising:
 a wetting module including a wetting chamber for wetting a moisture swing sorbent that is substantially dry and loaded with bicarbonate substantially formed with carbon dioxide captured from air until said bicarbonate in said sorbent decomposes to carbonate and a stream including water and carbon dioxide gas, wherein said carbon dioxide gas is substantially released from said sorbent;   a carbon dioxide collection module for collecting said carbon dioxide gas released from said moisture swing sorbent and compressing it into a liquid form, said carbon dioxide collection module including a condenser for removing said water from said stream, a pump for creating a vacuum on a side of said moisture swing sorbent to pull said carbon dioxide gas released from said moisture swing sorbent out of said wetting chamber, and a compressor for compressing said carbon dioxide gas it into said liquid form; and   a drying chamber for drying said moisture swing sorbent.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said system is substantially operated at room temperature. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 8 , said wetting module further comprising:
 a supply of water in fluid connection with said wetting chamber; and   at least one of a filling mechanism to fill said wetting chamber with water and a spray mechanism for spraying water droplets on said moisture swing sorbent positioned in said wetting chamber.   
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said condenser and said compressor provide heat to said drying chamber. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said drying chamber is substantially free of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said drying chamber comprises a spin dryer. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said vacuum chamber does not cover all of said moisture swing sorbent.