# US 2018/0320963 A1 · Process for Gas/Vapor Separation by Cryogenic Froth Flotation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320963 A1 - Document ID: US20180320963A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/587,037 - Filed: 2017-05-04 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-04 - Inventors: Larry Baxter; Stephanie Burt; Christopher Hoeger; David Frankman; Aaron Sayre; Eric Mansfield; Skyler Chamberlain; Kyler Stitt; Nathan Davis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320963A1 ## CPC - B01D 53/002: {by condensation} - B01D 5/0027: {by direct contact between vapours or gases and the cooling medium} - B01D 7/02: Crystallisation directly from the vapour phase (into single crystals C30B23/00) - B01D 21/00: Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation ({separation of ores or the like by sedimentation B03B5/48 - B03B5/60} ; differential sedimentation B03D3/00; {purification of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F, e.g.} devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material from water, waste water or sewage C02F1/40) - B03D 1/02: Froth-flotation processes - B03D 1/16: with impellers; Subaeration machines {(mixing gases or vapours with liquids B01F23/20)} - B01D 53/265: {by refrigeration (condensation)} - B01D 53/78: with gas-liquid contact - B01D 2252/205: Other organic compounds not covered by B01D2252/00 - B01D2252/20494 - B01D 2252/2056: Sulfur compounds, e.g. Sulfolane, thiols - B01D 2252/30: Ionic liquids and zwitter-ions - B01D 2256/24: Hydrocarbons - B01D 2257/302: Sulfur oxides - B01D 2257/304: Hydrogen sulfide - B01D 2257/404: Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide - B01D 2257/408: Cyanides, e.g. hydrogen cyanide (HCH) - B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide - B01D 2257/60: Heavy metals or heavy metal compounds - B01D 2257/602: Mercury or mercury compounds - B01D 2257/702: Hydrocarbons - B01D 2257/80: Water - B01D 2258/0283: Flue gases - Y02P 70/10: Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working - 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) - B03D: FLOTATION; DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION (sedimentation in general B01D21/00; in combination with other separation of solids B03B; sink-float separation B03B5/28; detergents, soaps C11D) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A process for separating a vapor from a gas is disclosed. A cryogenic liquid is provided to an inlet of a froth flotation device. A carrier gas is provided to a gas distributor of the froth flotation device. The carrier gas comprises a product vapor. Bubbles of the carrier gas are produced and passed through the cryogenic liquid in the froth flotation device. A portion of the product vapor desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, or a combination thereof to produce a solid product and a product-depleted carrier gas. Bubbles of the product-depleted carrier gas collect the solid product as a froth concentrate. The froth concentrate is removed by overflowing out of the froth flotation device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for separating a vapor from a gas comprising: providing a cryogenic liquid to an inlet of a froth flotation device; providing a carrier gas to a gas distributor of the froth flotation device, the carrier gas comprising a product vapor; producing bubbles of the carrier gas and passing the bubbles of the carrier gas through the cryogenic liquid in the froth flotation device, wherein: a portion of the product vapor desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, or a combination thereof to produce a solid product and a product-depleted carrier gas, wherein the solid product is cryogenic liquidphobic; and, bubbles of the product-depleted carrier gas collect the solid product as a froth concentrate; and, removing the froth concentrate by overflow out of the froth flotation device, wherein the froth concentrate comprises the solid product, the product-depleted carrier gas, and a first portion of the cryogenic liquid; whereby the product vapor is separated from the carrier gas. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising removing a second portion of the cryogenic liquid from the froth flotation device as a used cryogenic liquid, wherein the second portion of the cryogenic liquid is substantially larger than the first portion of the cryogenic liquid ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, providing the product vapor comprising carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur trioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, water, hydrocarbons, mercury, other heavy metals, condensed organics, salts, water ice, particulates, soot, dust, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, providing the cryogenic liquid comprising any compound or mixture of compounds with a freezing point below the temperature at which the solid melts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, providing the cryogenic liquid comprising mercaptans, ionic liquids, salt solutions, hydrocarbons, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The process of claim 5, providing the hydrocarbons comprising 1,1,3-trimethylcyclopentane, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1-butene, 1-methyl-1-ethylcyclopentane, 1-pentene, 3,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene, 3-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 3-methylpentane, 3-methyl-1,4-pentadiene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methylpentane, 5-methyl-1-hexene, 5-methyl-1-pentene, 5-methylcyclopentene, 5-methyl-trans-2-pentene, bromochlorodifluoromethane, bromodifluoromethane, bromotrifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, cis 3-hexene, cis-1,3-pentadiene, cis-2-hexene, cis-2-pentene, dichlorodifluoromethane, difluoromethyl ether, trifluoromethyl ether, dimethyl ether, ethyl fluoride, ethyl mercaptan, hexafluoropropylene, isobutane, isobutene, isobutyl mercaptan, isopentane, isoprene, methyl isopropyl ether, methylcyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, methylcyclopropane, n,n-diethylmethylamine, octafluoropropane, pentafluoroethyl trifluorovinyl ether, propane, sec-butyl mercaptan, trans-2-pentene, trifluoromethyl trifluorovinyl ether, vinyl chloride, bromotrifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, dimethyl silane, ketene, methyl silane, perchloryl fluoride, propylene, vinyl fluoride, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, aqueous mixtures thereof, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, providing the carrier gas comprising combustion flue gas, syngas, producer gas, natural gas, steam reforming gas, light gases, hydrocarbons with a freezing point above the temperature of the cryogenic liquid, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising separating the product-depleted carrier gas from the froth concentrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, further comprising passing the product-depleted carrier gas through further froth flotation devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, further comprising separating the solid product from the first portion of the cryogenic liquid and passing the first portion of the cryogenic liquid to combine with the used cryogenic liquid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10, further comprising reconstituting the used cryogenic liquid by heat exchange to produce the cryogenic liquid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising providing a frother, a collector, a modifier, or a combination thereof to the froth flotation device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising providing a controller to receive inputs from instruments and output commands to drives and valves. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, providing the gas distributor further comprising an agitator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, further comprising driving the agitator with a variable frequency drive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, providing the froth flotation device further comprising a skimmer, a level sensor, a turbidity meter, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16, providing the froth flotation device further comprising controlling a flow rate of the carrier gas with a control valve and a flow rate of the cryogenic liquid with a variable frequency drive on a pump. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, providing the gas distributor comprising a cryogenically-stable material. ### Claim 19 A process for separating a vapor from a gas comprising: providing n froth flotation banks in series, a bank B1 being associated with a first bank and a bank Bn being associated with an nth bank, n representing the number of banks, wherein each bank comprises one or more flotation cells; providing a cryogenic liquid to the banks Bn through B1 in reverse series, passing the cryogenic liquid through the one or more flotation cells; providing a carrier gas to the banks B1 through Bn in series, passing the carrier gas through gas distributors in the one or more flotation cells of the banks, producing bubbles of the carrier gas and passing the bubbles of the carrier gas through the cryogenic liquid in the froth flotation device, wherein: the product vapor desublimates, condenses, crystallizes, or a combination thereof to produce a solid product and a product-depleted carrier gas, wherein the solid product is cryogenic liquidphobic; and, bubbles of the product-depleted carrier gas collect the solid product as a froth concentrate; removing the froth concentrate by overflow out of the banks B1 through Bn, wherein the froth concentrate comprises the solid product, the product-depleted carrier gas, and a first portion of the cryogenic liquid; separating froth concentrate into the product-depleted carrier gas, the solid product, and the first portion of the cryogenic liquid, removing the product-depleted carrier gas and the solid product as a final gas product and a final solid product, respectively; removing a second portion of the cryogenic liquid from the bank B1, combining the second portion of the cryogenic liquid with the first portion of the cryogenic liquid to form a used cryogenic liquid, wherein the second portion of the cryogenic liquid is substantially larger than the first portion of the cryogenic liquid; and, reconstituting the used cryogenic liquid by heat exchange to produce the cryogenic liquid; whereby the product vapor is separated from the carrier gas. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, further comprising: providing a controller to receive inputs from instruments and output commands to drives and valves; providing the gas distributors further comprising agitators, the agitators comprising variable frequency drives; and, providing the banks B1 through Bn with skimmers, level sensors, turbidity meters, control valves for controlling flow rates of the carrier gas, and variable frequency drives on pumps for controlling flow rates of the cryogenic liquid.