Patent ID: 8337604

Claim:
A system for removing unwanted contaminates from gases, wherein the system comprises: a. a source containing gases to be scrubbed, wherein the gases to be scrubbed have a contamination concentration greater than zero ppb to contamination saturation; and b. a scrubber comprising: (i) a housing with a reaction chamber, wherein a portion of the reaction chamber contains a lean liquid, and wherein a reaction zone is formed below a liquid level of the lean liquid; (ii) an inlet in the housing connected to the source, and wherein the inlet is disposed below the liquid level of the lean liquid; and (iii) a gas exit port connected to the housing adapted for evacuating scrubbed gas; a sintered permeable membrane disposed in the reaction zone, wherein the sintered permeable membrane is configured to contact gases to be scrubbed that have been in prior contact with the lean liquid in a portion of the reaction chamber, and wherein the sintered permeable membrane provides an interface for enhanced contact of the gases to be scrubbed and the lean liquid, and wherein the sintered permeable membrane is sandwiched between two pad grids, wherein the pad grids secure the sintered permeable membrane in the housing, and wherein the sintered permeable membrane comprises open spaces that are from 40 percent to 50 percent, and wherein the sintered permeable comprises a member of the group consisting of: ceramic, carbon steel, other steel alloys, copper, copper alloys, carbide gel, other carbide materials, carbide films, polyamides, tungsten, polypropylene, carbon aerogels, ferrite magnets, silicon, polyethylene, polybutylene, homopolymers and copolymers thereof, acetates, glass, silica, and combinations of these materials.