# US 11,028,493 B2 · Sustainable, facile separation of the molten carbonate electrolysis cathode product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,493 B2 - Document ID: US11028493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/017,466 - Filed: 2020-09-10 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-29 - Assignees: C2Cnt LLC - Applicants: C2Cnt LLC - Inventors: Stuart Licht; Gad Licht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028493B2 ## CPC - C25B 15/08: Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes - B01D 29/92: for discharging filtrate - B01D 35/02: Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) - B30B 9/06: co-operating with permeable casings or strainers - C01B 32/15: Nano-sized carbon materials - C25B 1/00: Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals - C25B 1/01: Products - C25B 1/135: Carbon - C25B 1/50: Processes - C25B 15/083: {Separating products} - C25B 15/085: {Removing impurities} - B01D 2201/202: Systems for applying pressure to filters - B01D 2201/30: Filter housing constructions - B01D 2239/1216: Pore size - C01B 32/154: Preparation - C01B 32/156: After-treatment - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)} - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} ## Abstract A process for the separation of electrolyte from the carbon in a solid carbon/electrolyte cathode product formed at the cathode during molten carbonate electrolysis. The processes allows for easy separation of the solid carbon product from the electrolyte without any observed detrimental effect on the structure and/or stability of the resulting solid carbon nanomaterial. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for preparing an aerogel by separating electrolyte from a solid carbon/molten electrolyte mixed product removed from the cathode of a carbonate electrolysis, the process comprising: (i) applying a force to compress the solid carbon/molten electrolyte mixed product to remove the electrolyte, in which the force compresses the solid carbon/molten electrolyte mixed product directly on the cathode in an electrolysis chamber; (ii) removing the force; and (iii) isolating the aerogel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are repeated two, three or four times, prior to step (iii). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the compression is conducted at a pressure of between 10 psi and 100,000 psi. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is removed through an interface with pores. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process according to claim 4, wherein the interface with pores comprises a porous carbon felt, a graphite felt, a metal mesh, a porous or sieve ceramic, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The process according to claim 4, wherein the pore size of the interface is between 10 μm and 10 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is conducted at a temperature between 399° C. and 900° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the process further comprises applying a vacuum during the separation process. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process according to claim 8, wherein the process is conducted at a pressure between 0.1 and 0.9 atmospheres. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The process according to claim 8, wherein the process is conducted at a pressure less than 0.1 atmospheres. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is conducted under a gas that is free of oxygen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process according to claim 11, wherein the gas is selected from nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, methane, ammonia, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and any combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the mixed product is cooled after its formation by electrolysis and reheated prior to the compression. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is not a flowing electrolyte. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is not recirculated via a recirculation loop. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the aerogel has an average thickness greater than 1 millimeter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the aerogel comprises greater than about 80% carbon nano-materials. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the aerogel comprises greater than about 95% carbon nano-materials. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the aerogel is formed from raw carbon nano-material that agglomerates during the carbonate electrolysis and the isolating comprises filtering the aerogel with a filter having pores larger than the raw carbon nano-material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the solid carbon/molten electrolyte comprises a paste. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the aerogel can be repeatedly compressed without compromising the structure and/or stability of the resulting aerogel.