Separation and/or sequestration apparatus and methods

An apparatus for separating CO2 from an electrolyte solution, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated vessel defining an interior volume and configured to house an electrolyte solution, the vessel having two regions, each of the two regions associated with an opposing terminal end of the vessel;
• an input conduit extending outwardly from a wall of one of the two regions of the vessel and in fluid communication with the one of the two regions and configured to convey the electrolyte solution to the one region;
• an output conduit extending outwardly from a wall of another of the two regions of the vessel and in fluid communication with the other of the two regions and configured to convey the electrolyte solution outside the other region;
• an exhaust conduit in fluid communication with the one region;
• an anode located within the one region and configured to provide hydrogen ions to the electrolyte solution within the vessel;
• and
• a cathode located within the other region;
• and further comprising
• a fluid conduit coupling the anode to the cathode, the cathode configured to provide H2 to the fluid conduit, wherein the anode comprises a porous electrode configured to receive H2 from the fluid conduit, and wherein the interior volume of the vessel is continuous between the cathode and the anode.

A method for separating CO2 from an electrolyte solution, the method comprising:

• providing a CO2 rich electrolyte solution to a vessel containing an anode;
• within the vessel, distributing hydrogen ions from the anode to acidify the electrolyte solution and evolve at least some of the CO2 from the electrolyte solution to outside the vessel;
• after evolving at least some of the CO2 from the electrolyte solution, exposing the electrolyte solution to a cathode within the vessel;
• and
• providing H2 from the cathode to the anode.