A sorbent structure for capturing acid gases and greenhouse gases comprising
- a sorbent material;
- wherein the sorbent structure for capturing acid gases and greenhouse gases passes a gas stream comprising one or more acid gases and greenhouse gases over a sorbent material;
- wherein the sorbent structure for capturing acid gases and greenhouse gases sorbs the acid gases and greenhouse gases to the sorbent material such that the acid gases and greenhouse gases are sequestered within the sorbent material;
- wherein the sorbent material catalytically breaks down the sequestered acid gases and greenhouse gases;
- wherein the sorbent material comprises a red mud;
- wherein the sorbent structure for capturing acid gases and greenhouse gases removes acid gases and greenhouse gases from the gas stream;
- wherein the acid gases comprise hydrogen sulfide, oxides of sulfur, and nitrous oxide;
- wherein greenhouse gases comprise carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide;
- wherein the gas stream further comprises one or more heavy metals from the gas stream;
- wherein the sorbent material removes the one or more heavy metals from the gas stream;
- wherein the one or more heavy metals are selected from the ground consisting of mercury and arsenic;
- wherein the red mud comprises the compounds Fe2O3, Al2O3, SiO2, CaO, V2O5, Sc2O3, and Na2O;
- wherein the CaO and the SiO2 forms the primary mass matrix of the red mud within which the Fe2O3, the Al2O3, the V2O5, the Sc2O3, and the Na2O are contained and distributed;
- wherein the Fe2O3, the Al2O3, Na2O, and the SiO2 are a base matrix on which the acid gases and greenhouse gases sorb as they pass over the sorbent material;
- wherein the metals contained in the V2O5 and the Sc2O3 catalyze the sorbed acid gases and greenhouse gases into environmentally benign materials;
- wherein the sorbent structure for capturing greenhouse gases generates elemental components (N2, O2, and S) as products of catalyzed reactions with the acid gases and greenhouse gases;
- wherein the sorbent material further comprises one or more natural minerals, and a natural zeolite material;
- wherein the one or more natural minerals are selected from the group consisting of limestone (calcium carbonate (CaCO3)), magnesite (magnesium carbonate (MgCO3)), and dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMgCO3));
- wherein the natural zeolite material is selected from the group consisting of Offretite and Mordenite;
- wherein the reactants provided by the limestone, the magnesite, and the dolomite chemically react with the acid gases and greenhouse gases after sorption onto the sorbents (the Fe2O3, the Al2O3, and the Na2O) contained within the red mud that forms the basis of the sorbent material;
- wherein the natural zeolite material captures the one or more heavy metals in a vapor phase from the gas stream;
- wherein a mixture of the red mud and the one or more natural minerals are sintered within the pore structures of the natural zeolite material.