Patent ID: 8895198

Claim:
An alkaline fuel cell comprising: an air inlet operatively coupled with a multi-trap air filter assembly; the multi-trap air filter assembly including a series of a first thermally regenerative chemical CO 2 trap arranged in tandem with a second strongly-bonding CO 2 chemical trap, the first and second CO 2 traps being disposed downstream from the air inlet, the second CO 2 trap disposed between the first CO 2 trap and an inlet to the cathode of the alkaline fuel cell; the first and second CO 2 traps reduce levels of CO 2 in an air stream supplied to the inlet to the cathode; and wherein the alkaline fuel cell includes an alkaline aqueous electrolyte or an OH − ion conducting polymeric membrane without liquid electrolyte, wherein the first CO 2 trap includes, as active material, a resin with amine functional groups serving as CO 2 trapping sites via a reaction of the amine with CO 2 and water vapor forming bicarbonate according to a process: R—NH 2 +CO 2 +H 2 0=R—NH 3 + (HCO 3 − ) or; CO 2 trapping sites via a reaction with CO 2 under dry air conditions forming carbamate according to a process: 2(R—NH 2 )+CO 2 =(R—NHCOO—)(R—NH 3 +) where R includes a carbonaceous polymer backbone, wherein the first CO 2 trap is for thermal regeneration whereby the first CO 2 trap releases absorbed CO 2 in response to rejuvenation air passing through the first CO 2 trap at temperatures within a range of between about 80 degrees C. and 120 degrees C., and preferably within a range of between about 100 degrees C. to about 105 degrees C.