Colin's Patents

Electrochemical Regeneration of CO₂ Absorbent

This system uses an electrochemical reactor to regenerate hydroxide (MOH) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from alkali metal carbonate, replacing energy-intensive thermal processes in carbon capture systems like direct air capture (DAC). By separating the components and preventing their recombination, the reactor collects CO₂ without using fossil fuels, offering a more sustainable solution for carbon recycling and climate change mitigation.

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Mixed-Reactant Fuel Cell

Mixed-reactant fuel cells (MRFCs) are an innovative energy technology that combines fuel and oxygen in a single system to generate electricity. In this study, a mixture of potassium formate (liquid) and oxygen (gas) powered a small electric scooter for 15 minutes. This MRFC offers several environmental benefits: it simplifies the design and lowers the cost of fuel cells, and produces clean energy with only water or carbonates as byproducts, making it suitable for sustainable transportation. Additionally, the fuel, potassium formate, can be derived from renewable resources, further reducing the carbon footprint of the technology, offering an alternative to fossil fuel engines.

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Continuous Co-current Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

This invention outlines efficient electrochemical processes for converting carbon dioxide into useful products like formate salts or formic acid. It uses a continuous reactor with a 3D cathode and a two-phase gas/liquid flow, optimizing conditions to achieve high reaction efficiency at low voltages (<10V). Key features include maintaining a high internal gas-to-liquid ratio and operating under mild conditions (pH > 7, CO₂ pressures < 10 bar, and temperatures up to 80°C), making it a promising solution for carbon dioxide reduction and utilization.

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Electrochemical Cogeneration of Alkali Metal Halate and Alkaline Peroxide Solutions

The patent presents a process and apparatus for the electrosynthesis of oxygenated halogen salts of alkali metals (such as halates, hypohalites, and perhalates) and an alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution in a single electrochemical reactor. It also introduces a method for oxygen depolarization of cathodes in this process and enables the synthesis of oxygenated chlorine salts without using chromates, enhancing efficiency and sustainability in chemical production.