System, method, and device for continuous CO2 capture using a CO2 pump membrane

A continuous CO2 capture system, comprising:

• a continuous CO2 capture device, the device having a CO2 pump membrane comprising a moisture-swing material that absorbs CO2 when dry and releases CO2 when wet, and a cavity comprising a first fluid, the cavity bound and defined by, at least in part, the CO2 pump membrane, the CO2 pump membrane separating the first fluid from a second fluid, the first fluid having a first water concentration, the second fluid having a second water concentration that is less than the first water concentration, the difference between the first water concentration and the second water concentration resulting in the transport of water through the CO2 pump membrane from the first fluid to the second fluid and the formation of a water concentration gradient across the CO2 pump membrane;
• and
• a water input and a product output each in fluidic communication with the cavity of the continuous CO2 capture device;
• wherein the water concentration gradient within the moisture-swing material of the CO2 pump membrane creates a carbon concentration gradient across the CO2 pump membrane that decreases from a second carbon concentration to a first carbon concentration moving from outside the cavity to inside the cavity;
• wherein as water is continuously transported from the first fluid to the second fluid through the CO2 pump membrane because of the water concentration gradient, carbon dioxide is continuously captured from the second fluid by the moisture-swing material of the CO2 pump membrane and continuously pumped along the carbon concentration gradient across the CO2 pump membrane and into the first fluid within the cavity;
• wherein the water concentration gradient is maintained by adding replacement fluid comprising water to the cavity via the water input as the first fluid comprising captured CO2 is extracted from the cavity through the product output as an extracted fluid, forming a product stream.

A method for continuous CO2 capture, comprising:

• forming a water concentration gradient across a CO2 pump membrane by introducing a first fluid having a first water concentration to a cavity, the cavity bound and defined by, at least in part, the CO2 pump membrane, the CO2 pump membrane separating the first fluid from a second fluid outside the cavity and having a second water concentration that is less than the first water concentration, the difference between the first water concentration and the second water concentration resulting in the transport of water through the CO2 pump membrane from the first fluid to the second fluid and the formation of the water concentration gradient, wherein the CO2 pump membrane comprises a moisture-swing material;
• continuously capturing CO2 from the second fluid by maintaining the water concentration gradient within the CO2 pump membrane, the water concentration gradient within the moisture-swing material of the CO2 pump membrane creating a carbon concentration gradient across the CO2 pump membrane that decreases from a second carbon concentration to a first carbon concentration moving from outside the cavity to inside the cavity, such that as water is continuously transported from the first fluid to the second fluid through the CO2 pump membrane because of the water concentration gradient, carbon dioxide is continuously captured from the second fluid by the moisture-swing material of the CO2 pump membrane and continuously pumped along the carbon concentration gradient across the CO2 pump membrane and into the first fluid within the cavity.