# US 11,439,950 B2 · Electrochemical cell, method and apparatus for capturing carbon dioxide from flue gas and decomposing nitrosamine compounds

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- Number: US 11,439,950 B2
- Document ID: US11439950B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/458,611
- Filed: 2019-07-01
- Published: 2020-01-02
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-02
- Assignees: Universiity of Kentucky Research Foundation
- Applicants: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
- Inventors: Jesse G. Thompson; James Landon; Xin Gao; Kunlei Liu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439950B2

## CPC

- B01D 53/326: {in electrochemical cells}
- B01D 19/0015: {in contact columns containing plates, grids or other filling elements}
- B01D 53/1425: {Regeneration of liquid absorbents}
- B01D 53/1475: {Removing carbon dioxide}
- B01D 53/18: Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32)
- B01D 53/72: Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D53/48 - B01D53/70, e.g. hydrocarbons
- C02F 1/461: by electrolysis
- C02F 1/46109: {Electrodes}
- C02F 1/4672: {by electrooxydation}
- B01D 3/14: Fractional distillation {or use of a fractionation or rectification column}
- B01D 53/263: {by absorption}
- B01D 2252/103: Water
- B01D 2252/204: Amines
- B01D 2256/22: Carbon dioxide
- B01D 2257/40: Nitrogen compounds
- B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide
- B01D 2257/80: Water
- B01D 2258/0283: Flue gases
- C02F 2001/46133: {characterised by the material}
- C02F 2001/46161: {Porous electrodes}
- C02F 2101/38: containing nitrogen
- C02F 2103/18: from the purification of gaseous effluents
- C02F 2201/46115: Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
- 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)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

An apparatus for capturing CO2 from flue gas includes (a) an absorber, (b) a stripper, (c) a heat exchanger, (d) an amine absorbent circulating through the absorber, the stripper and the heat exchanger, (e) a water washing unit downstream from the flue gas outlet of the absorber, and (f) an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell is connected to the water washing unit and is adapted to adsorb and decompose nitrosamine compounds present in liquid separated by the water washing unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for capturing CO2 from flue gas, comprising:
an absorber including a flue gas inlet, a flue gas outlet, a CO2-lean amine absorbent inlet and a CO2-rich amine absorbent outlet;
a stripper including a CO2-rich amine absorbent inlet, a CO2-lean amine absorbent outlet and a captured CO2 outlet;
a heat exchanger adapted to receive (a) CO2-lean amine absorbent from said stripper being delivered to said CO2-lean absorbent inlet and (b) CO2-rich amine absorbent from said absorber being delivered to said CO2-rich amine absorbent inlet;
an amine absorbent circulating through said absorber, said stripper and said heat exchanger;
a water washing unit downstream from said flue gas outlet; and
an electrochemical cell connected to said water washing unit and adapted to adsorb and decompose nitrosamine compounds present in liquid separated by said water washing unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical cell includes:
an anode including a first carbon xerogel electrode and a first current collector;
a cathode including a second carbon xerogel electrode and a second current collector;
a separator made from an insulating material; and
a current source applying an electrical current to said anode and said cathode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, including a first endplate including a solution inlet and a second endplate including a solution outlet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first current collector and said second current collector are made of titanium.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said anode is adjacent said first endplate, said cathode is adjacent said second endplate and said separator is porous.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said cathode is adjacent said first endplate, said anode is adjacent said second endplate and said separator is porous.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, including a first endplate having a first solution inlet and a first solution outlet and a second endplate having a second solution inlet and a second solution outlet wherein said first endplate is adjacent said anode, said second endplate is adjacent said cathode and said separator is nonporous.