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Carbon dioxide sequestration by direct mineral carbonation: process mineralogy of feed and products

Journal Article · · Minerals & Metallurgical Processing
OSTI ID:897119

Direct mineral carbonation was investigated as a process to convert gaseous CO[2] into a geologically stable final form. The process utilizes a slurry of water, with bicarbonate and salt additions, mixed with a mineral reactant, such as olivine (Mg[2]SiO[4]) or serpentine [Mg[3]Si[2]O[5](OH)[4]]. Carbon dioxide is dissolved into this slurry, resulting in dissolution of the mineral and precipitation of magnesium carbonate (MgCO[3]). Optimum results were achieved using heat-pretreated serpentine feed material and a high partial pressure of CO[2] (P[C][O][2]). Specific conditions include 155 C, P[C][O][2] = 185 atm and 15% solids. Under these conditions, a 78% conversion of the silicate to the carbonate was achieved in 30 minutes. Process mineralogy was utilized to investigate the appropriate feed characteristics, identify the process products and interpret the mineral dissolution and carbonate precipitation reaction paths.

Research Organization:
Albany Research Center (ARC), Albany, OR
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
897119
Report Number(s):
DOE/ARC-2002-006; CRADA 0966
Journal Information:
Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Journal Name: Minerals & Metallurgical Processing Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 19; ISSN 0747-9182
Publisher:
Society for Mining, Metallurgical, and Exploration, Inc., 8307 Shaffer Parkway, Littleton, CO 80127
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English