Characteristics of a chemical lung for carbon dioxide conversion to oxygen

초록

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a chemical lung, consisting of potassium superoxide and a silicone polymer, for conversion of CO2 in air to oxygen. In the first type of chemical lung, the extremely high reactivity of potassium superoxide was reduced by its combination with polysiloxane. The second type of chemical lung used a mixture of potassium superoxide and calcium hydroxide to further reduce the reactivity of potassium superoxide, and the mixture was dispersed in a silicone polymer matrix that also served as a water repellant. In general, the amount of converted CO2 is proportional to potassium superoxide in the chemical lung. The small surface area of the chemical lung and the rapid reaction rate indicate that CO 2 conversion in the presence of potassium superoxide is controlled by reaction between CO2 and the chemical lung. © 2010 American Chemical Society.