Patent ID: 7879139
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: B01D,B01J,Y02A,Y02C

Abstract:
1. A method of treating and reactivating a sorbent for use in capturing carbon dioxide in a fuel combustion process, wherein the combustion process is performed in a fluidized bed and generates carbon dioxide, and the sorbent comprises a calcinable alkaline earth metal, the method comprising (a) calcining the sorbent to form an alkaline earth metal oxide; and thereafter (b) introducing the alkaline earth metal oxide into a carbonator at a high temperature sufficient to react the alkaline earth metal oxide with a concentrated stream of carbon dioxide capable of shocking the sorbent to produce a carbonate of the alkaline earth metal; (c) transferring the alkaline earth metal carbonate into the fluidized bed; (d) calcining the alkaline earth metal carbonate to regenerate the alkaline earth metal oxide and carbon dioxide; (e) selectively removing the carbon dioxide produced in step (d); and (f) returning the alkaline earth metal oxide product of step (d) to the carbonator to capture carbon dioxide generated in the fuel combustion process; and thereafter (g) repeating steps (c) to (f) and selectively repeating step (b) between steps (f) and (c).