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Facile Metal Release from Pore-Lining Phases Enables Unique Carbonate Zonation in a Basalt Carbon Mineralization Demonstration

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology

Carbon-negative strategies such as geologic carbon sequestration in continental flood basalts offers a promising route to the removal of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, via safe and permanent storage as stable carbonates. This potential has been successfully demonstrated at a field scale at the Wallula Basalt Carbon Storage Pilot Project where supercritical CO2 was injected into the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG). Here, we analyze recovered post-injection sidewall core cross-sections containing carbonate nodules using μ-XRF chemical mapping techniques that revealed compositional zonation within the nodules. The unique nature of the subsurface anthropogenic carbonates is highlighted by the near absence of Mg in an ankerite-like composition. Furthermore, a comparison between pre- and post-injection sidewall cores along with an in-depth chemical mapping of basalt pore lining cements provides a better understanding into the source and fate of critical cationic species involved in the precipitation of carbon mineralization products. Collectively, these results provide crucial insights into carbonate growth mechanisms under a time-dependent pore fluid composition. Finally, as such, these findings will enable parameterization of predictive models for future CO2 sequestration efforts in reactive reservoirs around the world.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
2203507
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA--182643
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 32 Vol. 57; ISSN 0013-936X
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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