A device, system, and method for small scale CO.sub.2 extraction is disclosed. The device includes a sorbent bed having a sorbent resin. The device also includes a blower in fluid communication with the sorbent bed through at least one duct, as well as a collection tray beneath the sorbent bed and having a drain. The device also includes a capture configuration and a regeneration configuration. The capture configuration includes an air flow driven by the blower passing through the sorbent resin. The regeneration configuration includes the flooding of at least the sorbent resin with regeneration fluid. The regeneration fluid has a higher dissolve inorganic carbon concentration after flooding the sorbent resin. Multiple devices may be employed together as a system capable of providing a continuous product stream having an upgraded concentration of CO.sub.2.

A controller can be configured to control a system for extracting liquid water from air comprising a thermal unit, a primary desiccant wheel, and a regeneration fluid path. The controller can comprise a sensor, a motor, and a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the motor. The microcontroller can be configured to determine a water extraction efficiency based on at least one signal received from the sensor, and also can be configured to maximize the water extraction efficiency by adjusting a speed of the motor in response to the determined water extraction efficiency.

The invention provides a process for providing a hydrogen stream to a process utilizing hydrogen comprising obtaining a gas stream containing hydrogen and compressing the gas stream to a pressure of at least 600 psig, Then the compressed gas stream is sent to a pressure swing adsorption unit containing a plurality of beds with at least 5 pressure equalization steps to produce a hydrogen stream. The hydrogen stream can then be compressed and sent to a process utilizing hydrogen. The compressed gas stream may be chilled before entering the pressure swing adsorption unit.

A sulfur removal system including a first reactor and a second reactor that are located in series to one another each having an adsorbent that includes cobalt and copper on an activated carbon support, a method of desulfurizing a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon stream via the sulfur removal system, and a method of making the adsorbent. Various embodiments of the sulfur removal system, the desulfurizing method, and the method of making the adsorbent is also provided.

A sulfur removal system including a first reactor and a second reactor that are located in series to one another each having an adsorbent that includes cobalt and copper on an activated carbon support, a method of desulfurizing a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon stream via the sulfur removal system, and a method of making the adsorbent. Various embodiments of the sulfur removal system, the desulfurizing method, and the method of making the adsorbent is also provided.

A controller may control a system for extracting liquid water from air comprising a thermal unit, a primary desiccant wheel, and a regeneration fluid path. The controller may comprise a plurality of sensors, a plurality of motors, and a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of motors. The microcontroller may be configured to determine a water extraction efficiency based on at least one signal received from at least one of the plurality of sensors and maximize the water extraction efficiency by adjusting a speed of at least one of the plurality of motors in response to the determined water extraction efficiency. The water extraction efficiency may be a value obtained by multiplying a regeneration fluid flow rate within the regeneration fluid path by an absolute humidity of air on a side of the primary desiccant wheel opposite a side in communication with the thermal unit.

A fuel tank inerting system is disclosed. The system includes a fuel tank and a catalytic reactor with an inlet, an outlet, a reactive flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a catalyst on the reactive flow path. The catalytic reactor is arranged to receive fuel from a fuel flow path in operative communication with the fuel tank and oxygen from an oxygen source, and to catalytically react a mixture of the fuel and oxygen along the reactive flow path to generate an inert gas. An inert gas flow path provides inert gas from the catalytic reactor to the fuel tank. An adsorbent is disposed along the fuel flow path or along the reactive flow path.

A packed bed for a heat exchanger may comprise a frame and a first fin layer disposed within the frame. A second fin layer may be disposed within the frame. A first perforated sheet may be disposed between the first fin layer and the second fin layer. A sorbent material may be disposed within a volume of at least one of the first fin layer or the second fin layer.

A process for the treatment of sulfidic spent caustic, conditioned catalyst regeneration vent gas, C4 isomerization off gas, various and hydrocarbon containing liquid and gaseous streams in addition to toxic containing streams like cyanidic off gas and waste water in a propane/butane dehydrogenation complex is described. Various effluent streams are combined in appropriate collection vessels, including an off-gas knockout drum, a hydrocarbon buffer vessel, a spent caustic buffer vessel, an optional a waste water buffer vessel, and a fuel gas knockout drum. Streams from these vessels are sent to a thermal oxidation system.

Disclosed are methods of separating solute from solvent using a photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant can be switched between two states by exposure to light. This can change the affinity of the photoactive extractant for either the solute or the solvent, causing absorption of the solute or solvent. The photoactive extractant can then be separated from the fluid stream containing the solute or solvent. The absorbed solute or solvent is then separated from the photoactive extractant. The photoactive extractant is a photoisomer. Applications for these methods include desalination, water purification, and metal extraction.