Enzyme promoted CO2 capture integrated with algae production and apparatus therefor
AssigneeNederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappeluk Onderzoek Tno
InventorsEarl Lawrence Vincent Goetheer, Peter Geerdink, Ikenna Sunday Ngene, Leo Jacques Pierre Van Den Broeke
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to the field of reduction of CO2 emission, more in particular to CO2 capture and conversion. The disclosure further relates to the culturing of algae and an apparatus for use thereof. One object of the disclosure is to provide an alternative method for capturing and conversion of CO2 from a gaseous stream.
Claims19
A method for decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a gaseous stream, the method comprising the steps of
- a) contacting a gaseous stream comprising CO2, with a first absorbent liquid stream comprising an enzyme capable of converting liquid-absorbed CO2 into a more liquid-soluble inorganic carbon, wherein said enzyme is a carbonic anhydrase of class EC 4.2.1.1,
- b) allowing the CO2 to be absorbed by said first absorbent liquid and allowing the liquid-absorbed CO2 to be converted into said more soluble inorganic carbon,
- c) separating the first liquid stream into a second and a third liquid stream, each comprising both the enzyme and the dissolved inorganic carbon along with a portion of liquid absorbent from the first absorbent liquid stream, wherein
- d) said second liquid stream comprises, relative to said third liquid stream, a higher concentration of the enzyme,
- e) recycling said enzyme by supplying the enzyme in said second liquid stream back, together with the portion of the absorbent liquid, to be contacted with the gaseous stream in step a),
- f) contacting said third liquid stream with a microorganism capable of converting liquid-solubilised inorganic carbon into oxygen or biomass, wherein said microorganism is an algae tolerating a pH of above 8.0 in an algal culture,
- g) allowing the conversion of the liquid-soluble inorganic carbon by said microorganism, thereby regenerating the absorbent liquid,
- h) recycling the regenerated absorbent liquid to be contacted with the gaseous stream in step a).
An apparatus for removing CO2 from a gaseous stream, comprising:
- a first fluid circulation system for circulating an aqueous absorbent liquid comprising an enzyme being carbonic anhydrase of class EC 4.2.1.1, said first fluid circulation system comprising
- an absorbing unit comprising an inner space, configured to receive a gaseous stream comprising CO2 to interact with said aqueous absorbent liquid, and
- downstream of the absorbing unit a filtration unit comprising a filter configured to separate the enzyme for recycling the enzyme and supplying the enzyme back, together with a portion of the aqueous absorbent liquid, through said first fluid circulation system to the absorbing unit;
- and
- a second fluid circulation system substantially parallel to at least part of said first circulation system, at a first side extending from the filtration unit and at a second end extending from the first circulation system upstream of the absorbing unit and downstream of the filter unit, said second fluid circulation system comprises a bioreactor or pond for culturing microorganisms, wherein said microorganisms are an algae tolerating a pH of above 8.0 in an algal culture and wherein said second circulation system is configured for transporting a remainder of the aqueous absorbent liquid back to the first fluid circulation system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.