Back to results
US 2024/0300833 A1Published application
Electrochemical conversion to carbonate-containing compounds and related methods
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsTrevor Alan Hatton, Kripa K. Varanasi, John Lake, Seoni Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrochemical conversion of a species into a carbonate-containing compound, or other compounds, from seawater or other aqueous environments is generally described.
Claims15
A system, comprising:
- a fluid container;
- an electrode pair configured to convert at least one species in a fluid, when present in the container, to a solid;
- and
- a nanotextured surface configured to facilitate nucleation of a solid within the container.
1 more element
A system, comprising:
- a first fluid portal associated with a first portion of the flow system and a second fluid portal associated with a second portion of the flow system;
- a first set of electrodes associated with the first portion of the flow system, configured to alter the pH of water when present in the first portion;
- a second set of electrodes associated with a second portion of the flow system, configured to alter the pH of water when present in the second portion;
- a nanotextured surface configured to facilitate nucleation of a solid within the container,
- wherein the flow system is configured to operate in a first arrangement in which the system draws fluid into the system from the first fluid portal, flows the fluid in a direction from the first portal toward the second portal, through the first portion and the second portion, and ejects the fluid from the second fluid portal, and to be adjustable so as to operate in a second arrangement in which the system draws fluid into the system from the second fluid portal, flows the fluid in a direction from the second portal toward the first portal, through the second portion and the first portion, and ejects the fluid from the first fluid portal.
2 more elements
4-6. (canceled)
A method, comprising:
- intaking an aqueous solution containing bicarbonate through a first orifice into a flow system;
- in a first portion of the flow system, electrochemically raising the pH of the solution by releasing OH− from a first electrode into the solution, and/or capturing H+ from the solution at the first electrode, thereby causing precipitation of at least some bicarbonate;
- flowing the solution into a second portion of the flow system, and at a second electrode electrochemically lowering the pH of the solution by capturing OH− from the solution at a second electrode and/or releasing H+ into the solution from the second electrode;
- ejecting the solution from the flow system through a second orifice.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.