Means and method for reducing carbon dioxide to provide a product
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsPeter G. P. Ang, Anthony F. Sammells
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for reducing carbon dioxide to at least one useful product includes two redox couple electrolyte solutions separated by a first membrane having photosensitizers. The carbon dioxide to be reduced is separated from one of the redox couple electrolyte solutions by another membrane having a catalyst. Water provides hydrogen ions which participate in the reduction of carbon dioxide via a separator. In the operation both membranes are illuminated and produce excited solar sensitizers which cause electron transfer from a first redox solution to the second redox solution and then to the carbon dioxide to react with the hydrogen ions, reducing the carbon dioxide to provide at least one product.
Claims32
A process for reducing carbon dioxide to at least one useful product comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a R.sub.II /O.sub.II redox coupled electrolyte solution,
- b. providing a R.sub.I /O.sub.I redox coupled electrolyte solution,
- c. separating the R.sub.II /O.sub.II solution from the R.sub.I /O.sub.I solution with a first membrane having photosensitizers,
- d. providing carbon dioxide,
- e. separating the carbon dioxide from the R.sub.I /O.sub.I solution with a second membrane having photosensitizers and a catalyst,
- f. providing water,
- g. separating the water from the carbon dioxide in a manner so that hydrogen ions, but not oxygen, may pass from the water to participate in the reduction of the carbon dioxide, and
- h. illuminating both membranes so as to produce excited photosensitizers to cause electron transfer from the R.sub.II /O.sub.II solution to the R.sub.I /O.sub.I solution thence to the carbon dioxide to cooperate with passed hydrogen ions in the reducing of the carbon dioxide to provide at least one product.
A process for reducing carbon dioxide to at least one useful product comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a R.sub.II /O.sub.II redox coupled electrolyte solution,
- b. providing carbon dioxide,
- c. separating the carbon dioxide from the R.sub.II /O.sub.II solution with first and second membranes having photosensitizers and the second membrane is in contact with the carbon dioxide and has a catalyst, and
- d. electrically connecting the first membrane to the second membrane,
- e. providing water,
- f. separating the water from the carbon dioxide in a manner so that hydrogen ions, but not oxygen, may pass from the water to participate in the reduction of the carbon dioxide, and
- g. illuminating both membranes so as to produce excited photosensitizers to cause electron transfer from the R.sub.II /O.sub.II solution to the carbon dioxide to cooperate with passed hydrogen ions in reducing the carbon dioxide to provide at least one product.
Apparatus for reducing carbon dioxide to provide at least one product comprises:
- means for containing a first redox coupled electrolyte solution,
- means for containing a second redox coupled electrolyte solution,
- first means responsive to illumination for transferring electrons from the first electrolyte solution to the second electrolyte solution,
- means for containing water,
- means for containing carbon dioxide,
- means for providing hydrogen ions from the water to the carbon dioxide, and
- second means responsive to illumination for transferring electrons from the second electrolyte to the carbon dioxide where the transferred electrons and the hydrogen ions cooperate to reduce the carbon dioxide thereby providing at least one product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.