Regenerable solvents mediate accelerated low temperature CO₂ capture and carbon mineralization of ash and nano-scale calcium carbonate formation

Journal Article · 05 February 2022 · Resources, Conservation and Recycling

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106209 · OSTI ID:1977605

Yin, Tianhe ^[1]; Yin, Shufan ^[2]; Srivastava, Akanksha ^[2]; Gadikota, Greeshma ^[2]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States); OSTI
2. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

The dual need to remove CO₂ from our emissions and treat alkaline industrial residues such as ash materials motivate the design of innovative pathways to simultaneously capture and convert CO₂ into mineralized carbonates. Direct carbon mineralization is one approach that addresses the need to simultaneously treat alkaline industrial residues and mineralize CO₂ emissions. Low CO₂ solubility in water and slow kinetics at ambient temperature have challenged the direct carbon mineralization of alkaline industrial residues. Here, to address these challenges, the use of CO₂ capture solvents that enhance CO₂ solubility and facilitate accelerated carbon mineralization of fly ash at temperatures below 90 °C is investigated. Calcium carbonate formation results in the inherent regeneration of the solvent. The carbon mineralization extents of non-calcium carbonate content in fly ash were 50% and 51% and in waste ash were 58% and 62% in 2.5 M sodium glycinate and 30 wt% MEA solutions, respectively. The experiments were performed at 50 °C for 3 hours with CO₂ partial pressure of 1 atm in a continuously stirred slurry environment with 15 wt.% solid. Furthermore, nanoscale CaCO₃ is successfully synthesized from dissolved calcium using CO₂-loaded sodium glycinate and surfactants such as CTAB (Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide). Surfactants such as CTAB bind to the calcium carbonate surface and regulate the growth of calcium carbonate particles. These innovative approaches demonstrate the feasibility of directly storing CO₂ in fly ash and waste ash as calcium carbonate and producing nanoscale calcium carbonate using regenerable CO₂ capture solvents.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO)
• Grant/Contract Number: EE0009391
• OSTI ID: 1977605
• Journal Information: Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Journal Name: Resources, Conservation and Recycling Journal Issue: C Vol. 180; ISSN 0921-3449
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English