In one embodiment, a separation membrane includes: a porous support structure, wherein the porous support structure comprises a system of continuous pores connecting an inlet of the separation membrane to an outlet of the separation membrane; and at least one alkali metal hydroxide disposed within pores of the porous support structure. Other aspects and embodiments of the disclosed inventive concepts will become apparent from the detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.

A carbon reduction assembly adapted for use with wet and dry coal combustion products (“CCPs”). The assembly includes a direct-fired carbon reduction section having a dry material inlet device that is adapted to receive the dry CCPs and a direct-fired carbon reduction section burner unit that is adapted to reduce carbon content in the dry CCPs. The assembly also includes a direct-fired dryer section that is operatively connected with the direct-fired carbon reduction section and has a wet material inlet device that is adapted to receive the wet CCPs and a direct-fired dryer section drum that is adapted to dry the wet CCPs. The assembly further includes a control unit that is operatively connected with the carbon reduction section and the dryer section. An amount of hot gas generated by the carbon reduction section is conveyed to the dryer section, and the assembly is adapted to produce dry fly ash.

In one embodiment, a separation membrane includes: a porous support structure; and at least one alkali metal hydroxide disposed within pores of the porous support structure. In another embodiment, a method for separating acidic gases from a gas mixture includes exposing the gas mixture to a separation membrane at an elevated temperature, where the separation membrane includes a porous support and at least one molten alkali metal hydroxide disposed within pores of the porous support.

A method and apparatus for cleaning and recycling stack gas from coal-fired power plants, from natural or propane burning heating plants, or from cement kilns by using renewable catalysts of zeolite to separate pollutants into recyclable and reusable materials. The method reduces from the stack gas carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx) as well as halogens such as chloride and fluorides and trace metals particularly, mercury, lead, and zinc. The method and apparatus also result in production of fertilizer products by purging with gaseous or liquid nitrogen the zeolite beds through which the stack gas flows. The oxygen generated may be recycled to the burners in the plant.

Disclosed are a CMS membrane, characterized in that it is obtainable by pyrolysis of a polyimide composed of the monomers 1-(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2H-inden-5-amine and 5-(1,3-dioxo-2-benzofuran-5-carbonyl-2-benzofuran-1,3-dione of the following formulae:

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preferably by pyrolysis of the polyimide having the CAS number 62929-02-6, and a supported CMS membrane comprising a CMS membrane obtainable from a polyimide by pyrolysis and a porous support, characterized in that a mesoporous intermediate layer is provided between the CMS membrane and the porous support.

Further disclosed are a process for preparing the supported membrane, the use of the membranes for separating gas mixtures or liquid mixtures, an apparatus for gas separation or for liquid separation, and the use of the polyimide for preparing a CMS membrane by pyrolysis.

Filter media and filters for the sequestration of carbon dioxide are disclosed. The carbon dioxide sequestering filter media incorporate silicate minerals, and the carbon dioxide sequestering filters incorporate carbon dioxide sequestering filter media. Filters using only carbon dioxide sequestering media and filters combining carbon dioxide sequestering media with traditional air filter media are disclosed. The carbon dioxide sequestering filters may be used instead of traditional air filters in residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Disclosed herein is a system for purifying air; for the capture of solid residues (soot), and the transformation of CO.sub.x and NO.sub.x (and even methane) present in contaminated air generated by industrial combustion.

The purifying air system comprises an air entrance (c); a first module (A), made up of mechanical filters; a second module (B), downwards from the first module (A), and it corresponds to a series of small reactors with molecular converters (nucleophile chemical agents) to capture and transform carbon oxides (CO.sub.x) and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x); and an exit for decontaminated air (D).

The invention provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO.sub.2 electrolysis process. The invention is capable of utilizing a CO.sub.2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO.sub.2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO.sub.2 electrolysis module. The invention may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO.sub.2 concentration modules, one or more O.sub.2 separation modules, and/or an H.sub.2 electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO.sub.2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO.sub.2 electrolysis process.

The disclosure provides a method of treating flue gas that has one or more components. The method comprises passing a solution through both a magnetic field and an electric field to form an activated solution. The method also comprises contacting the activated solution with the flue gas so that the one or more components of the flue gas are at least partially absorbed by the activated solution to form a residue solution.

A hydrogen feed stream comprising oxygen and one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water, is purified using a cryogenic temperature swing adsorption (CTSA) process with high overall recovery of hydrogen. The CTSA is regenerated using an inert gas to prevent an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen from occurring.