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US 7,790,012 B2Granted
Low energy electrochemical hydroxide system and method
AssigneeCalera Corporation
InventorsDonald W. Kirk, J. Douglas Way, Allen J. Bard, Ryan J. Gilliam, Kasra Farsad, Valentin Decker
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Abstract
A low-energy method and system of forming hydroxide ions in an electrochemical cell. On applying a low voltage across the anode and cathode, hydroxide ions form in the electrolyte containing the cathode, protons form at the anode but a gas e.g. chlorine or oxygen does not form at the anode.
Claims47
A system comprising:
- an anode electrolyte in contact with an anode;
- a cathode electrolyte comprising in contact with a cathode, wherein the system is configured to introduce carbon dioxide into the cathode electrolyte;
- a third electrolyte disposed between an anion exchange membrane and a cation exchange membrane such that the anion exchange membrane contacts the anode electrolyte and the cation exchange membrane contacts the cathode electrolyte,
- a gas delivery system configured to deliver hydrogen gas to the anode, wherein the system is configured to produce hydrogen gas at the cathode and absorb hydrogen gas and produce protons at the anode, without producing a gas at the anode, on applying a voltage across the anode and cathode;
- and wherein the system is further configured to add magnesium and calcium to the cathode electrolyte to precipitate magnesium and calcium carbonates, bicarbonates or hydroxides from the cathode electrolyte.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- contacting an anode with an anode electrolyte and a cathode with a cathode electrolyte;
- placing a third electrolyte between a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane such that the third electrolyte is separated from the cathode electrolyte by the cation exchange membrane, and is separated from the anode electrolyte by the anion exchange membrane;
- dissolving carbon dioxide in the cathode electrolyte;
- forming hydroxide ions in the cathode electrolyte and hydrogen at the cathode while absorbing hydrogen at the anode to form protons, by applying a voltage across the anode and cathode without forming a gas at the anode;
- and
- adding calcium and magnesium to the cathode electrolyte and precipitating magnesium and calcium carbonates, bicarbonates or hydroxides from the cathode electrolyte.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- an anode electrolyte contacting an anode;
- a cathode electrolyte contacting a cathode, wherein the system is configured to introduce carbon dioxide into the cathode electrolyte, and
- an ion-exchange membrane disposed between the anode electrolyte and the cathode electrolyte;
- wherein
- the system is configured to produce hydroxide ions in the cathode electrolyte and hydrogen gas at the cathode while absorbing hydrogen gas at the anode to form protons without forming a gas at the anode, on applying a voltage across the anode and cathode;
- and the system is further configured to add magnesium and calcium to the cathode electrolyte to precipitate magnesium and calcium carbonates, bicarbonates or hydroxides from the cathode electrolyte.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- contacting an anode with an anode electrolyte, and a cathode with a cathode electrolyte, wherein the anode electrolyte and the cathode electrolyte are separated by an ion exchange membrane;
- dissolving carbon dioxide in the cathode electrolyte;
- forming hydroxide ions in the cathode electrolyte and hydrogen gas at the cathode while absorbing hydrogen at the anode to form protons, by applying a voltage across the anode and cathode without forming a gas at the anode;
- and
- adding calcium and magnesium to the cathode electrolyte and precipitating magnesium and calcium carbonates, bicarbonates or hydroxides from the cathode electrolyte.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.