How to Capture Carbon Dioxide from Air or Smoke Using Seawater
This patent describes a system that uses natural seawater to wash carbon dioxide out of industrial smoke or the air, then stores it safely in the ocean, aiming for an affordable, green way to fight climate change.
Original patent title: “Process and apparatus of ocean carbon capture and storage”
This patent describes a system that uses natural seawater to wash carbon dioxide out of industrial smoke or the air, then stores it safely in the ocean, aiming for an affordable, green way to fight climate change. Granted to Zero Carbon Energy Innovation Union in 2023 with 20 claims and 2 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details an apparatus and process for ocean carbon capture and storage. It involves a carbon capture device that scrubs gas containing carbon dioxide, like smoke from a power plant or even the atmosphere itself (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 5, 6). Seawater is pumped into this device to absorb the carbon dioxide. This 'after-scrubbing seawater,' now containing dissolved CO2, is then discharged into the ocean's water column for storage (Claim 2). The system is designed to use low pumping energy, often referred to as 'low head,' and can be powered by renewable sources like wind or waves (AbstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →, Claim 7, 10). For example, a coastal facility could pass its exhaust fumes through this system, using pumped seawater to clean the gas before releasing the CO2-enriched water into the sea.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover carbon capture methods that use chemical solvents or other non-seawater scrubbing agents.
- Does not cover storing captured carbon dioxide as a compressed gas, liquid, or solid, only dissolved in seawater within the ocean's water column.
- Does not cover systems requiring high-pressure pumps to move seawater for scrubbing, as it specifically emphasizes 'low head' operation (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 10).
- Does not cover land-based carbon capture systems that do not discharge the CO2-enriched seawater into the ocean (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover systems that capture CO2 from sources other than directly from the atmosphere or fossil fuel flue gas (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 5, 6).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in directly using natural seawater as both the scrubbing agent for CO2 capture and the medium for ocean storage, combined with a design focused on very low energy pumping. This avoids the need for complex, energy-intensive chemical processes often found in other carbon capture technologies.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Coastal power plants
Marine ships with exhaust scrubbers
Direct air capture facilities located near oceans
Industrial facilities along coastlines
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent offers a method to address climate change by removing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and the atmosphere. By using natural seawater and emphasizing low energy consumption, it aims to provide an affordable and environmentally friendly solution for carbon capture and storage. This approach could be particularly relevant for marine facilities and coastal industries, leveraging the ocean's natural capacity to absorb carbon.
Filed
May 25, 2021
Granted
May 16, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, Zero Carbon Energy Innovation Union Inc, is directly developing technologies in this space. Other companies and research institutions are also exploring various forms of ocean carbon removal and direct air capture, such as Captura and Running Tide, though their specific methods may differ. Major energy companies are also investing in carbon capture solutions, seeking scalable and cost-effective approaches.
Market impact
This patent could enable more cost-effective carbon capture for coastal industries and marine vessels by leveraging natural seawater and low-energy designs. If proven scalable and environmentally safe, it could expand the range of viable carbon removal solutions, potentially lowering the overall cost of achieving climate goals and creating new opportunities in marine-based climate technology and engineering.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details an apparatus and process for ocean carbon capture and storage. It involves a carbon capture device that scrubs gas containing carbon dioxide, like smoke from a power plant or even the atmosphere itself (Claim 1, 5, 6). Seawater is pumped into this device to absorb the carbon dioxide. This 'after-scrubbing seawater,' now containing dissolved CO2, is then discharged into the ocean's water column for storage (Claim 2). The system is designed to use low pumping energy, often referred to as 'low head,' and can be powered by renewable sources like wind or waves (Abstract, Claim 7, 10). For example, a coastal facility could pass its exhaust fumes through this system, using pumped seawater to clean the gas before releasing the CO2-enriched water into the sea.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in directly using natural seawater as both the scrubbing agent for CO2 capture and the medium for ocean storage, combined with a design focused on very low energy pumping. This avoids the need for complex, energy-intensive chemical processes often found in other carbon capture technologies.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover carbon capture methods that use chemical solvents or other non-seawater scrubbing agents.
- Does not cover storing captured carbon dioxide as a compressed gas, liquid, or solid, only dissolved in seawater within the ocean's water column.
- Does not cover systems requiring high-pressure pumps to move seawater for scrubbing, as it specifically emphasizes 'low head' operation (Claim 10).
- Does not cover land-based carbon capture systems that do not discharge the CO2-enriched seawater into the ocean (Claim 1).
- Does not cover systems that capture CO2 from sources other than directly from the atmosphere or fossil fuel flue gas (Claims 5, 6).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$53K – $168K
Midpoint $105K · 14.9 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
20 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Peng, S. (2023). How to Capture Carbon Dioxide from Air or Smoke Using Seawater (U.S. Patent No. 11,648,507). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11648507/process-and-apparatus-of-ocean-carbon-capture-and-storage
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Capture Carbon Dioxide from Air or Smoke Using Seawater cover?
This patent describes a system that uses natural seawater to wash carbon dioxide out of industrial smoke or the air, then stores it safely in the ocean, aiming for an affordable, green way to fight climate change.
Who owns patent US 11648507?
Zero Carbon Energy Innovation Union owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 25, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11648507 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent offers a method to address climate change by removing carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and the atmosphere. By using natural seawater and emphasizing low energy consumption, it aims to provide an affordable and environmentally friendly solution for carbon capture and storage. This approach could be particularly relevant for marine facilities and coastal industries, leveraging the ocean's natural capacity to absorb carbon.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover carbon capture methods that use chemical solvents or other non-seawater scrubbing agents.
Patent monitoring