US 12,186,728 B2
Systems and processes for producing fixed-nitrogen compounds
Joshua Michael McEnaney, East Palo Alto, CA (US); John Anthony Schwalbe, Palo Alto, CA (US); Nicolas Hunter Pinkowski, Stanford, CA (US); and Brian Andrew Rohr, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Nitricity Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Nitricity Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/240,768.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/015,651, filed on Apr. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331135 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B01J 19/12 (2006.01); B01D 53/14 (2006.01); B01D 53/78 (2006.01); B01J 4/00 (2006.01); B01J 12/00 (2006.01); B01J 19/00 (2006.01); B01J 19/08 (2006.01); H01J 37/32 (2006.01); C05C 5/00 (2006.01); C05C 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 19/122 (2013.01) [B01D 53/14 (2013.01); B01D 53/78 (2013.01); B01J 4/001 (2013.01); B01J 4/008 (2013.01); B01J 12/002 (2013.01); B01J 19/0053 (2013.01); B01J 19/088 (2013.01); H01J 37/32082 (2013.01); H01J 37/32192 (2013.01); H01J 37/3244 (2013.01); H01J 37/32743 (2013.01); H01J 37/32844 (2013.01); B01J 2219/00162 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0805 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0807 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0875 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0894 (2013.01); C05C 5/00 (2013.01); C05C 11/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for producing nitrates, nitrites, nitric acid, salts thereof, or a mixture thereof, the method comprising:
producing an effluent stream comprising one or more oxidized nitrogen species from using a plasma reactor, the plasma reactor producing the one or more oxidized nitrogen species by producing a plasma comprising nitrogen and oxygen from an inlet stream comprising nitrogen and oxygen;
producing one or more of NO, NO2, nitric acid, nitrates, nitrites, salts thereof, or a mixture thereof from the effluent stream comprising the one or more oxidized nitrogen species using an absorber;
removing at least a portion of the one or more oxidized nitrogen species from the effluent stream using the absorber, such that the absorber produces a gas phase stream and a liquid phase, wherein the liquid phase comprises the produced nitrates, nitrites, nitric acid, salts thereof, or a mixture thereof;
combining the gas phase stream produced by the absorber with a feed stream comprising air;
pressurizing the combined gas phase stream produced by the absorber and the feed stream to a pressure from 1 psig to 10 psig using a first blower or a first compressor; and
recycling the combined gas phase stream produced by the absorber and the feed stream to the inlet stream, such that the inlet stream comprises the gas phase stream produced by the absorber and the feed stream.