CO2 storage in solid form: a study of direct mineral carbonation

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:896225

O'Connor, William K; Dahlin, David C; Nilsen, David N; Rush, G E; Walters, Richard P; Turner, Paul C

Direct mineral carbonation by an ex-situ process in an aqueous system has been investigated over the past two years. The process utilizes a slurry of water mixed with a magnesium silicate mineral, such as olivine [forsterite end member (Mg2SiO4)], or serpentine [Mg3Si2O5(OH)4]. This slurry is reacted with sub- or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce magnesite (MgCO3). The CO2 is dissolved in water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), which dissociates to H+ and HCO3-. The H+ ion hydrolyzes the mineral, liberating Mg2+ cations which react with the bicarbonate to form the solid carbonate. Results of the baseline tests, conducted on ground products of the natural minerals, have demonstrated that the kinetics of the reaction are slow at ambient temperature (22 C) and subcritical CO2 pressures (below 73 atm). However, at elevated temperature and pressure, coupled with continuous stirring of the slurry and gas dispersion within the water column, significant conversion to the carbonate occurs. Extent of reaction is roughly 90% within 24 hours, at 185 C and partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) of 115 atm. Heat pretreatment of the serpentine, coupled with bicarbonate and salt additions to the solution, improve reaction kinetics, resulting in an extent of reaction of roughly 80% within 0.5 hours, at 155 C and PCO2 of 185 atm. Subsequent tests are intended to examine various pretreatment options, the carbonation solution characteristics, as well as other mineral groups.

• Research Organization: Albany Research Center (ARC), Albany, OR
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE - Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
• OSTI ID: 896225
• Report Number(s): DOE/ARC-2000-011; AMP-008
• Country of Publication: Australia
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
58 GEOSCIENCES
ACID CARBONATES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBONATES
CARBONIC ACID
CATIONS
GREENHOUSE GASES
KINETICS
MAGNESIUM SILICATES
OLIVINE
PARTIAL PRESSURE
REACTION KINETICS
SERPENTINE
STIRRING
STORAGE
carbon dioxide
mineral carbonation
olivine
serpentine