Abstract: A sorbent is made by pyrolyzing a carbon source (preferably coal) at a temperature of at least 500° C. to form pyrolyzed porous carbon that is reacted with acid to form carboxylic acid (—COOH) moieties and adding a metal ion to bind the metal at the carboxylate sites in the pyrolyzed porous carbon. A sorbent is described that comprises a pyrolyzed porous carbon support; magnesium and carboxylate moieties disposed in the pyrolyzed porous carbon support; and possessing a CO2 adsorption isotherm between 0.0 and 0.05 bar CO2 having a slope that is at least 20% greater than between 0.40 and 0.45. CO2 can be selectively removed via pressure and/or temperature swing desorption by contacting a CO2-comprising fluid with the sorbent.

Abstract: The present subject matter overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art by introducing or generating charged particles in an air stream and manipulating the air stream with magnetic fields operating on the charged particles. Embodiments of the present subject mater compress the air stream by accelerating charged particles with a moving magnetic field, where the magnetic field has a velocity perpendicular to its flux lines. The increased velocity of the charged particles increases the statistical mean particle velocity and thereby increases the pressure in the air stream. The compressed air stream is then heated and expanded through a second magnetic field. The expansion of the air stream substantially increases the velocity of the air stream and the charged particles therein. The interaction of the high velocity charged particles and the magnetic field imparts a force perpendicular to the flux lines, this force powers the movement of the magnetic field and can also be extracted in the form of mechanical work.