CO2 mineral sequestration: developments toward large-scale application (original) (raw)

A review of mineral carbonation technologies to sequester CO₂

Chemical Society Reviews, 2014

Carbon dioxide (CO 2) capture and sequestration includes a portfolio of technologies that can potentially sequester billions of tonnes of CO 2 per year. Mineral carbonation (MC) is emerging as a potential CCS technology solution to sequester CO 2 from smaller/medium emitters, where geological sequestration is not a viable option. In MC processes, CO 2 is chemically reacted with calcium-and/or magnesium-containing materials to form stable carbonates. This work investigates the current advancement in the proposed MC technologies and the role they can play in decreasing the overall cost of this CO 2 sequestration route. In situ mineral carbonation is a very promising option in terms of resources available and enhanced security, but the technology is still in its infancy and transport and storage costs are still higher than geological storage in sedimentary basins ($17 instead of 8pertCO2).Exsitumineralcarbonationhasbeendemonstratedonpilotanddemonstrationscales.However,itsapplicationiscurrentlylimitedbyitshighcosts,whichrangefrom8 per tCO 2). Ex situ mineral carbonation has been demonstrated on pilot and demonstration scales. However, its application is currently limited by its high costs, which range from 8pertCO2).Exsitumineralcarbonationhasbeendemonstratedonpilotanddemonstrationscales.However,itsapplicationiscurrentlylimitedbyitshighcosts,whichrangefrom50 to $300 per tCO 2 sequestered. Energy use, the reaction rate and material handling are the key factors hindering the success of this technology. The value of the products seems central to render MC economically viable in the same way as conventional CCS seems profitable only when combined with EOR. Large scale projects such as the Skyonic process can help in reducing the knowledge gaps on MC fundamentals and provide accurate costing and data on processes integration and comparison. The literature to date indicates that in the coming decades MC can play an important role in decarbonising the power and industrial sector.

ChemInform Abstract: A Review of Mineral Carbonation Technologies to Sequester CO 2

ChemInform, 2015

Optimization of Mineral Activation for CO 2 sequestration

Mineral carbonation, the reaction of CO 2 with non-carbonate minerals to form stable mineral carbonates, has proved to be a promising concept for permanent CO 2 sequestration. However, there are some drawbacks of this technology: the reaction kinetics that require pulverization of the raw materials, long reaction times and high partial pressures. In the previous studies conducted at the Energy Institute of Penn State University, a novel active carbonation concept, which utilized surface activation to accelerate the reaction rates and efficiencies for forming carbonates from minerals, was developed. This research project took a step forward to further optimize the active carbonation process. A parametric study was conducted in order to increase the efficiency of mineral activation process for subsequent CO 2 sequestration.

Development of a CO2 Sequestration Module by Integrating Mineral Activation and Aqueous Carbonation

2004

Mineral carbonation is a promising concept for permanent CO 2 sequestration due to the vast natural abundance of the raw minerals, the permanent storage of CO 2 in solid form as carbonates, and the overall reaction being exothermic. However, the primary drawback to mineral carbonation is the reaction kinetics. To accelerate the reaction, aqueous carbonation processes are preferred, where the minerals are firstly dissolved in solution. In aqueous carbonation, the key step is the dissolution rate of the mineral, where the mineral dissolution reaction is likely to be surface controlled. In order to accelerate the dissolution process, the serpentine can be ground to very fine particle size (<37µm), but this is a very energy intensive process. Alternatively, magnesium could be chemically extracted in aqueous solution. Phase I showed that chemical surface activation helps to dissolve the magnesium from the serpentine minerals (particle size ~100µm), and furthermore, the carbonation reaction can be conducted under mild conditions (20°C and 650psig) compared to previous studies that required >185°C, >1850psig and <37µm particle size. Phase I also showed that over 70% of the magnesium can be extracted at ambient temperature leaving amorphous SiO 2 with surface areas ~330m 2 /g. The overall objective of Phase 2 of this research program is to optimize the active carbonation process developed in Phase I in order to design an integrated CO 2 sequestration module. During the current reporting period, Task 1 "Mineral activation' was initiated and focused on a parametric study to optimize the operation conditions for the mineral activation, where serpentine and sulfuric acid were reacted, as following the results from Phase 1. Several experimental factors were outlined as having a potential influence on the mineral activation. This study has focused to date on the effects of varying the acid concentration, particle size, and the reaction time. The reaction yields and the characterization of the reaction products by ICP/AES, TGA, and BET analyses were used to describe the influence of each of the experimental variables. The reaction yield was as high as 48% with a 5M acid concentration, with lower values directly corresponding to lower acid concentrations. ICP/AES results are indicative of the selective dissolution of magnesium with reaction yields. Significant improvements in the removal of moisture, as observed from TGA studies, as well as in the dissolution can be realized with the comminution of particles to a D 50 less than 125µm. A minimum threshold value of 3M concentration of sulfuric acid was determined to exist in terms of the removal of moisture from serpentine. Contrary to expected, the reaction time, within this design of experiments, has been shown to be insignificant. Potentially coupled with this unexpected result are low BET surface areas of the treated serpentine. These results are issues of further consideration to be addressed under the carbonation studies.The remaining results are as expected, including the dissolution of magnesium, which is to be utilized within the carbonation unit. Phase 1 studies have shown that carbonation reactions could be carried out under a milder regime through the implementation of NaOH titration with the magnesium solution. The optimization of acid concentration, particle size, and reaction temperature will ultimately be determined according to the carbonation efficiencies. Therefore and according to the planned project schedule, research efforts are moving into Task 2 "Aqueous carbonation" as the redesign of the reactor unit is nearly completed. "Development of a CO 2 sequestration module by integrating mineral activation and aqueous carbonation" P a g e 2

Mineral CO2 sequestration in alkaline solid residues

Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies 7, 2005

Mineral carbonation is a promising sequestration route for the permanent and safe storage of carbon dioxide. In addition to calcium-or magnesium-containing primary minerals, suitable alkaline solid residues can be used as feedstock. The use of alkaline residues has several advantages, such as their availability close to CO 2 sources and their higher reactivity for carbonation than primary minerals. In addition, the environmental quality of residues can potentially be improved by carbonation. In this study, key factors of the mineral CO 2 sequestration process are identified, their influence on the carbonation process is examined, and environmental properties of the reaction products with regard to their possible beneficial utilization are investigated. The use of alkaline solid residues forms a potentially attractive alternative for the first mineral sequestration plants.

Experimental mineral carbonation: approaches to accelerate CO 2 sequestration in mine waste materials

International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 2011

The ability to sequester CO 2 under elevated temperature and pressure has been shown to be successful using MgO-rich rocks. This is achieved by mineral carbonation. Two predominant sources of substrate material are considered, namely ultramafic mine waste rock and process tailings. Each material has specific sequestration potential benefits for select mining operations to source additional revenue from the offset of anthropogenic carbon and sales of carbonate industrial products. Laboratory scale tests can determine the CO 2 fixation capacity of the proposed rocks; however, a more practical repeatable method of determining the carbonation potential is needed. Data generation from autoclave testing of applicable mining waste material facilitates the understanding of carbonation determining parameters. The development of a sequestration potential algorithm that can be applied to drill hole geochemical data is preferred. The generation of non-destructive sequestration potential values from geostatistical interpretation will facilitate their inclusion into applicable mining block models and the determination of bulk carbon sequestration capacity.

A Quantitative Investigation of CO2 Sequestration by Mineral Carbonation

arXiv: Geophysics, 2015

Anthropogenic activities have led to a substantial increase in carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas (GHG), contributing to heightened concerns of global warming. In the last decade alone CO2 emissions increased by 2.0 ppm/yr. globally. In the year 2009, United States and China contributed up to 43.4% of global CO2 emissions. CO2 capture and sequestration have been recognized as promising solutions to mitigate CO2 emissions from fossil fuel based power plants. Typical techniques for carbon capture include post-combustion capture, pre-combustion capture and oxy-combustion capture, which are under active research globally. Mineral carbonation has been investigated as a suitable technique for long term storage of CO2. Sequestration is a highly energy intensive process and the additional energy is typically supplied by the power plant itself. This leads to a reduction in net amount of CO2 captured because of extra CO2 emitted. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the energy c...

CO2 mineral sequestration: developments toward large-scale application (original) (raw)

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