In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).

A waste gas is contacted with a mercury removal agent to remove mercury and a flue gas conditioning agent to alter a resistivity and/or cohesivity of particulates. The flue gas conditioning agent can be substantially free of SO.sub.3 and/or comprise more than about 25 wt. % SO.sub.3, and/or the mercury removal agent can be substantially unaffected by the flue gas conditioning agent. An amount of mercury removed from the waste gas in the presence of the flue gas conditioning agent can be the same or more than that removed from the waste gas in the absence of the flue gas conditioning agent. An amount of the acid gas removed, by an acid gas removal agent, from the waste gas in the presence of the flue gas conditioning agent can be the same or more than that removed from the waste gas in the absence of the flue gas conditioning agent.

The present invention is directed to a process for the removal of aromatic hydrocarbons from a lean acid gas containing less than 20 mol. % of H.sub.2S, comprising: a) contacting the lean acid gas stream (1) with a H.sub.2S-selective liquid absorbent solution (29) in a first absorption zone (2) to produce a gas stream depleted in H.sub.2S (3) and an absorbent solution enriched in H.sub.2S (4), b) introducing the absorbent solution (4) into a non-thermic stripping zone (8) where it is contacted with a stripping gas stream (7) to obtain an absorbent solution depleted in C.sub.4.sup.+ aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (9) and a stripping gas stream enriched in aromatic and C.sub.4.sup.+ aliphatic hydrocarbons (10), c) contacting the stripping gas stream (10) obtained in step b) with a H.sub.2S-selective liquid absorbent solution (28) in a second absorption zone (12) to obtain a stripping gas stream depleted in H.sub.2S (13), and an absorbent solution enriched in H.sub.2S (14) d) introducing the absorbent solution (9) obtained in step b) into a desorption zone (16) wherein the H.sub.2S-selective liquid absorbent solution (17) is recovered and a lean acid gas is produced.

Glass melting process including the introduction of a vitrifiable solid charge into a furnace, heating and melting of charge thereby obtaining molten glass. Discharging the molten glass from the furnace and discharging a CO.sub.2-containing gaseous effluent from the furnace. The charge having at least one carbonate undergoing a dissociation reaction and releasing gaseous CO.sub.2 when heated and melted. The gaseous effluent discharged from the furnace being used to produce, at least one additive in the form of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate, at least a part of which is incorporated in the charge which is introduced into the furnace.

A thermo-electrochemical reactive capture apparatus includes an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode includes a first catalyst, wherein the cathode includes a second catalyst, a porous ceramic support positioned between the anode and the cathode, an electrolyte mixture in pores of the ceramic support, and a steam flow system on an outer side of the cathode. The outer side of the cathode is opposite an inner side of the cathode and the inner side of the cathode is adjacent to the ceramic support. In addition, the electrolyte mixture is configured to be molten at a temperature below about 600? C.

An apparatus includes a captured carbon dioxide input. The captured carbon dioxide input is coupled to receive captured carbon dioxide from a direct air capture system. The apparatus uses the captured carbon dioxide as a low global warming refrigerant to provide cooling functionality in automotive, commercial, and industrial applications, or other operations involving low global warming refrigerants. In various embodiments, the apparatus is a refrigeration apparatus or a heat pump apparatus. Low global warming carbon dioxide refrigerant is natural, non-toxic, non-flammable, and abundant when obtained from a direct air capture system. Moreover, carbon dioxide refrigerant has a high heat transfer coefficient and has a global warming potential (GWP) of one. Carbon dioxide refrigerant is a more sustainable and efficient coolant option than common refrigerants, such as R22, R152, R404a, and R1234yf refrigerants.

A method and apparatus for direct drying of inorganic sludge with a drum drawing process, comprising the following steps: 1) drum mixed drying of slag and sludge: respectively conveying the slag and sludge into a drum (1) in proportion, completing mixing, heat exchange, dehydration, cooling and crushing of the slag and sludge under the rolling action of the drum (1) and a steel ball to achieve cooling, crushing and drying of the slag and sludge, and directly discharging the obtained mixture; 2) slag and sludge separation: separating the steel slag and dry sludge in a manner of combining screening and rotary separation; 3) tail gas treatment: treating dusts, sulfides and organic compounds in tail gas generated by the dry sludge by using wet alkali washing and activated carbon adsorption, and discharging the treated tail gas; and 4) tailing sludge treatment: generating steam and dusts in the drum treatment of the slag and sludge, allowing dusts to enter a tail gas treatment device (4) with steam, aggregating the dusts after wet washing or spraying, and then conveying into a tailing sludge blending device (5) by means of a conveying device, mixing and stirring the tailing sludge and original sludge, conveying the obtained mixture into the drum (1), and drying the mixture to realize zero discharge of undried sludge.

A material for moisture removal and/or water harvesting from air may include a hydrophilic material containing micropores and a low water activity material confined within the micropores of the hydrophilic material. Apparatuses containing such materials and methods for moisture removal and/or water harvesting from air by using such materials are also described.

A process is disclosed for reversibly absorbing carbon dioxide to an alkali metal or earth alkaline absorbent. For absorption the absorbent is contacted with a first gas composition. For desorption the absorbent is contacted with a second gas composition. The moisture contents of the first and second gas compositions are controlled so that during the absorption step the absorbent is converted to a bicarbonate, and during the desorption step the absorbent is converted to a carbonate hydrate. Compared to prior art processes the process of the invention requires less energy input. The process of the invention is particularly suitable for producing a carbon dioxide enriched gas for accelerating plant growth in a greenhouse.

A process for altering the composition of a feed gas containing H.sub.2S equivalents is disclosed. The process comprises (a) contacting the feed gas with a solid adsorbent at a temperature of 250-500 C., to obtain a loaded adsorbent, (b) purging the loaded adsorbent with a purge gas comprising steam, thus producing a product stream which typically contains substantially equal levels of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2S. The process further comprises a step (c) of regenerating the purged adsorbent by removal of water. The adsorbent comprises alumina and one or more alkali metals, such as potassium oxides, hydroxide or the like.