Reaction schemes involving acids and bases; reactors comprising spatially varying chemical composition gradients; and associated systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022064063-A1
Application number	US-202017423467-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2020
Priority date	Jan 16, 2019
Publication date	Mar 3, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Reaction schemes involving acids and bases; reactors comprising spatially varying chemical composition gradients (e.g., spatially varying pH gradients), and associated systems and methods, are generally described.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
establishing and/or maintaining a region comprising a spatially varying chemical composition gradient; transporting a chemical compound to a first region of the spatially varying chemical composition gradient such that the chemical compound is dissolved and/or reacted in a liquid within the spatially varying chemical composition gradient; and collecting a precipitate from a second region of the spatially varying chemical composition gradient, wherein the precipitate comprises one or more elements from the chemical compound dissolved and/or reacted within the spatially varying chemical composition gradient.

2 . A method of making cement, comprising:
establishing and/or maintaining a region comprising a spatially varying pH gradient; transporting calcium carbonate to an acidic region of the spatially varying pH gradient such that the calcium carbonate is dissolved and/or reacted in a liquid within the spatially varying pH gradient; collecting solid calcium hydroxide from an alkaline region of the spatially varying pH gradient, wherein the solid calcium hydroxide comprises calcium from the calcium carbonate dissolved and/or reacted within the spatially varying pH gradient; and heating the solid calcium hydroxide and/or solid calcium oxide derived from at least a portion of the solid calcium hydroxide within a kiln to make cement.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spatially varying chemical composition gradient comprises a spatially varying pH gradient.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first region comprises an acidic region.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second region comprises an alkaline region.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical compound comprises a metal salt.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more elements comprises a metal element.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical compound is dissolved and reacted within the liquid within the spatially varying pH gradient.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the calcium carbonate is dissolved and reacted within the liquid within the spatially varying pH gradient.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical compound comprises metal carbonate.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the metal carbonate comprises calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and/or nickel carbonate.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the precipitate comprises a metal hydroxide.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is part of a batch process.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed continuously.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method produces a byproduct different from the precipitate, and the method further comprises collecting the byproduct.

16 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the method produces a byproduct different from the solid calcium hydroxide and/or the solid calcium oxide, and the method further comprises collecting the byproduct.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the byproduct comprises CO 2 , O 2 , and/or H 2 .

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the byproduct comprises CO 2 and the collecting the byproduct comprises sequestering the CO 2 .

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the byproduct is used as fuel.

20 - 60 . (canceled)

61 . A system for producing cement, comprising:
a reactor comprising a region comprising a spatially varying chemical composition gradient, the reactor comprising a reactor outlet configured to output solid calcium hydroxide; and a kiln comprising a kiln inlet, wherein:
the kiln is downstream from the reactor outlet,
the kiln inlet is configured to receive at least a portion of the solid calcium hydroxide and/or solid calcium oxide derived from at least a portion of the solid calcium hydroxide; and
the kiln is configured to produce cement using the solid calcium hydroxide and/or solid calcium oxide.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Chiang Yet-Ming
• Ellis Leah
• Badel Andres

Classifications

• Y02P40/121

  Energy efficiency measures, e.g. improving or optimising the production methods · CPC title

• C04B7/06 Primary

  using alkaline raw materials (C04B7/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02P40/18

  Carbon capture and storage [CCS] · CPC title

• B01J2219/00029

  Batch processes · CPC title

• C04B2/08 Primary

  Devices therefor · CPC title