USE OF PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL WATER SPLITTING TO GENERATE MATERIALS FOR SEQUESTERING CARBON DIOXIDE

摘要

An integrated system for sequestering CO2 and producing renewable hydrogen, oxygen, acid and base includes a photoelectrochemical electrolysis unit, a hydrogen sequestration tank, an oxygen sequestration tank, an acid sequestration tank, a base sequestration tank and a gas contact area. The photoelectrochemical electrolysis unit is adapted to split water into oxygen and hydrogen using sunlight and includes a cathode adapted to produce hydrogen and base, an anode adapted to produce oxygen and acid, and an aqueous electrolyte solution. The hydrogen, base, oxygen and acid sequestration tanks collect and process hydrogen, base, oxygen and acid, respectively. The gas contact area is adapted to react CO2 with one of the base or a CO2 sequestering solution prepared using the acid. The integrated system provides a method of incorporating CO2 into valuable carbon-based products. Sales of these carbon negative products may subsidize renewable hydrogen production from water while reducing global atmospheric CO2.