# US 11,298,682 B2 · Activated metal low temperature reaction processes and products

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- Number: US 11,298,682 B2
- Document ID: US11298682B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/311,079
- Filed: 2015-05-07
- Published: 2017-03-23
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-12
- Assignees: North Carolina State University
- Applicants: North Carolina State University
- Inventors: Jerome J. Cuomo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298682B2

## CPC

- B01J 23/14: of germanium, tin or lead
- C01B 3/08: by reaction of inorganic compounds with metals
- C01B 17/04: from gaseous sulfur compounds including gaseous sulfides
- C01B 21/02: Preparation of nitrogen (by decomposition of ammonia C01B3/047)
- C01B 32/05: Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
- C01F 7/42: Preparation of aluminium oxide or hydroxide from metallic aluminium, e.g. by oxidation
- C01F 11/18: Carbonates
- C07C 7/12: by adsorption, i.e. purification or separation of hydrocarbons with the aid of solids, e.g. with ion-exchangers
- H01M 12/06: with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
- C10L 3/103: {Sulfur containing contaminants}
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C01F: COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM, CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THE RARE-EARTH METALS (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; sulfides or polysulfides of magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium C01B17/42; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia or cyanogen containing nitrogen and non-metals and optionally metals C01B21/082; amides or imides of silicon C01B21/087}; metal {imides or} amides C01B21/092, {C01B21/0923}; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanic acid C01C3/14; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20; {double sulfates of magnesium with sodium or potassium C01D5/12; with other alkali metals C01D15/00, C01D17/00})
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

In a method for capturing carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen from a target source, a matrix including activated metal dispersed in a metal activating agent is provided. The target source may be or include a carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen target compound. The target source is contacted with the matrix, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, and/or one or more compounds transformed from the target compound(s). The matrix may be produced by contacting a metal with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent. The reaction may also produce a metal compound. The activated metal may also be utilized in alkylation and other synthesis processes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for capturing a target element from a target source, the method comprising:
providing a matrix comprising an activated metal consisting essentially of aluminum dispersed in a metal activating agent, by contacting a solid metal to be activated with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the solid metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent, wherein the metal activating agent is selected from the group consisting of gallium, indium, tin, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing; and
contacting the target source with the matrix, wherein:
the target element is selected from the group consisting of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing;
the target source comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a target carbon compound, a target sulfur compound, a target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing; and
the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce a product selected from the group consisting of elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, a transformed carbon compound transformed from the target carbon compound, a transformed sulfur compound transformed from the target sulfur compound, a transformed nitrogen compound transformed from the target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce at least one of the transformed carbon compound, the transformed sulfur compound, and the transformed nitrogen compound, and further comprising:
producing at least one of elemental carbon from the transformed carbon compound, elemental sulfur from the transformed sulfur compound, and elemental nitrogen from the transformed nitrogen compound.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein producing at least one of elemental carbon from the transformed carbon compound, elemental sulfur from the transformed sulfur compound, and elemental nitrogen from the transformed nitrogen compound comprises reacting the activated metal with at least one of the transformed carbon compound, the transformed sulfur compound, and the transformed nitrogen compound.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the activated metal consists essentially of an aluminum alloy.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce a metal compound, and further comprising recovering metal from the produced metal compound and producing additional activated metal from the recovered metal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target source comprises a carbon compound, and contacting the target source with the matrix is done in the presence of a hydrogen source, and further comprising producing an organic compound.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solid metal has a form selected from the group consisting of a rod, a plate, a container, a pellet, a powder, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining contact causes metal atoms to diffuse into the metal activating agent, or the metal activating agent to diffuse into the solid metal, or both of the foregoing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the solid metal with the metal activating agent comprises placing the solid metal and the metal activating agent in a container.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the container is composed of the same metal as the activated metal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the metal with the metal activating agent comprises coating the metal with the metal activating agent or coating the metal activating agent with the metal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising forming the solid metal as a coating on a substrate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising replenishing the matrix with activated metal by bringing additional solid metal into contact with the metal activating agent.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, comprising contacting an additional amount of the target source with the replenished matrix.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing the matrix comprises applying the matrix as a coating on a substrate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the metal activating agent is substantially inert to the activated metal, the target compound, and products of the reaction between the activated metal and the target compound.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the target source with the matrix is done in the presence of a hydrogen source, and while the activated metal reacts with the target source, further comprising generating hydrogen gas, generating a hydrogen compound, or generating both hydrogen gas and a hydrogen compound.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the hydrogen source is water, alcohol, or both water and alcohol.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce at least one of a metal compound and an alkylated compound.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce a metal compound selected from the group consisting of metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbide, metal sulfide, and metal nitride.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the metal activating agent is in a liquid state, a flowable state, or a solid state.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the target source with the matrix is done while the concentration of activated metal in the matrix is in a range from about 0.01% to about 50% by weight.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the target source with the matrix is done at a process temperature in a range from 7° C. to 400° C.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the target source with the matrix is done at about room temperature, at about atmospheric pressure, or at both of the foregoing.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising replenishing the matrix with unreacted metal.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, comprising contacting an additional amount of the target source with the replenished matrix.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the target source with the matrix comprises flowing the target source into contact with the matrix.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target source is a liquid, a gas, a supercritical fluid, a solid, or a solid dispersion phase.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target compound is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, thiofuran, thiophenes, mercaptans, ammonia, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target source comprises a thiophene, or a mixture of a thiophene and one or more of a hydrocarbon and an alcohol.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target source comprises a hydrocarbon, or a mixture of a hydrocarbon and one or more of water, a hydrated compound, an alcohol, and a compound including a hydroxyl functional group (—OH).

### Claim 32 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target source comprises a mixture selected from the group consisting of air, products of combustion, products of fermentation, products of biodegradation, products of ammonia synthesis, products of natural gas extraction, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.

### Claim 33 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the matrix is provided in a container.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein the container is composed of the same metal as the activated metal.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the target source with the matrix is done under a condition selected from the group consisting of: while the container is open to ambient; and while the container is closed.

### Claim 36

A method for capturing a target element from a target source, the method comprising:
providing a matrix comprising an activated metal consisting essentially of magnesium dispersed in a metal activating agent, by contacting a solid metal to be activated with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the solid metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent, wherein the metal activating agent is selected from the group consisting of gallium, indium, tin, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing; and
contacting the target source with the matrix, wherein:
the target element is selected from the group consisting of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing;
the target source comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a target carbon compound, a target sulfur compound, a target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing; and
the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce a product selected from the group consisting of elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, a transformed carbon compound transformed from the target carbon compound, a transformed sulfur compound transformed from the target sulfur compound, a transformed nitrogen compound transformed from the target nitrogen compound, and a combination of two or more of the foregoing.