Larnite powders and larnite/silica aerogel composites as effective agents for CO2 sequestration by carbonation

Synergistic effect of hydration and carbonation of ladle furnace aslag on cementitious substances

Ladle furnace slag (LFS) can undergo hydration and carbonation reactions as cement. This article explores the effect of LFS hydration and carbonation reactions on cementitious substances at different temperatures and different LFS particle sizes, determining the effect of these varying conditions on the microstructure and formation mechanism of cementitious substances. The results show that in the early stages, C₂S and C₃S undergo hydration to generate C–S–H gel, which then undergoes decalcification and condensation to generate CaCO₃ and Ca-deficient C–S–H gel; the hydration reaction and carbonation reaction promote and influence each other. The increase in temperature was found to hinder the formation of CaCO₃ from Ca²⁺ and CO₃²⁻, thus reducing the efficiency of hydration carbonation. The increase in particle size was not conducive to the leaching of C₂S and C₃S to the surface of the reaction phase, which in turn reduced the degree of decalcification and polymerization of the C–S–H gel in the carbonation phase. It was concluded that the optimum LFS hydration and carbonation reactions were achieved at 20 °C and with a LFS particle sizes < 38 μm.

The Importance of Precursors and Modification Groups of Aerogels in CO2 Capture

The rapid growth of CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere has attracted great attention due to the influence of the greenhouse effect. Aerogels' application for capturing CO₂ is quite promising owing to their numerous advantages, such as high porosity (~95%); these are predominantly mesoporous (20-50 nm) materials with very high surface area (>800 m²∙g^-1). To increase the CO₂ level of aerogels' uptake capacity and selectivity, active materials have been investigated, such as potassium carbonate, K₂CO₃, amines, and ionic-liquid amino-acid moieties loaded onto the surface of aerogels. The flexibility of the composition and surface chemistry of aerogels can be modified intentionally-indeed, manipulated-for CO₂ capture. Up to now, most research has focused mainly on the synthesis of amine-modified silica aerogels and the evaluation of their CO₂-sorption properties. However, there is no comprehensive study focusing on the effect of different types of aerogels and modification groups on the adsorption of CO₂. In this review, we present, in broad terms, the use of different precursors, as well as modification of synthesis parameters. The present review aims to consider which kind of precursors and modification groups can serve as potentially attractive molecular-design characteristics in promising materials for capturing CO₂.

A review on steel slag valorisation via mineral carbonation

Alkaline slags, a waste product of steel industry, provide an opportunity for carbon sequestration and creation of value at the same time. This requires an understanding of the mechanisms of leaching and carbonation.

Combined experimental and theoretical studies on adsorption mechanisms of gaseous mercury(II) by calcium-based sorbents: The effect of unsaturated oxygen sites

Accurate mercury speciation measurements are critical for developing methods for mercury removal from flue gas, but the lack of reliable adsorbents has made Hg²⁺ selective retention challenging. Calcium oxide (CaO) loaded on porous support is promising for HgCl₂ selective adsorption because of its porosity and alkaline nature. The main hypothesis investigated in this paper is if the capacity of CaO sorbent for HgCl₂ selective adsorption is attributed to its basic sites, then this will be drastically impacted by the calcium precursors. We synthesized a suite of CaO/SiO₂ sorbents from different precursors, including hydrated calcium oxide (CaO-HS), calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (CaO-NS), and calcium acetate monohydrate (CaO-AcS), to investigate their performance on HgCl₂ selective adsorption in a fixed-bed reactor. Compared with CaO-HS and CaO-NS, CaO-AcS was demonstrated to have the strongest affinity for HgCl₂ and almost complete breakthrough for Hg⁰. Advanced porosity and surface basicity of CaO-AcS were confirmed by characterization analysis. CaO (001) and CaO (011) facet as well as surface defects that have different unsaturated O sites were observed using the high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). Combined theoretical and experimental methods were used to study the interaction mechanisms between HgCl₂ and basic sites on CaO-AcS surfaces. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated all CaO surfaces weakly interact with Hg⁰, while four robust bonding states of HgCl₂ were predicted on different basic sites with the intensity in increasing order: Monodentate < Tridendate < Bidentate < Bridging. This was consistent with HgCl₂-TPD experiments that demonstrated that the four HgCl₂ adsorption configurations on CaO-AcS were attributed to different unsaturated O sites. The findings in this work highlight the application potential of CaO-AcS for gaseous Hg²⁺ sampling and measurement from coal-fired flue gas.

Flammability and oxidation kinetics of hydrophobic silica aerogels

Silica aerogels (SAs) present great application prospects especially on thermal insulation, but their flammability is usually ignored. A combined study on the combustion behaviors and oxidation kinetics of hydrophobic silica aerogels prepared by ambient pressure drying (SA-apd) and supercritical drying (SA-sd) was performed by employing cone calorimeter and thermal analysis. The whole combustion process for SAs could be divided into three stages in which a fire propagation phenomenon was observed with the radial propagation velocity of 6.6-8.3cms^-1. Current investigations forcefully demonstrated that hydrophobic SAs were combustible and easy to flashover when exposed to a heat flux higher than 25kWm^-2. Compared between the two SAs, the SA-sd owned a less fire risk with presenting a less fire hazard and a lower smoke toxicity than those of SA-apd. The oxidation kinetics by Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method revealed that SA-sd had larger apparent activation energies than those of SA-apd which conformed to the thermal stability analysis by TG-DSC. Furthermore, a two-step combustion mechanism was proposed to explain the combustion behaviors of SAs.

Quantity, composition and water contamination potential of ash produced under different wildfire severities

Wildfires frequently threaten water quality through the transfer of eroded ash and soil into rivers and reservoirs. The ability to anticipate risks for water resources from wildfires is fundamental for implementing effective fire preparedness plans and post-fire mitigation measures. Here we present a new approach that allows quantifying the amount and characteristics of ash generated under different wildfire severities and its respective water contamination potential. This approach is applied to a wildfire in an Australian dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest, but can be adapted for use in other environments. The Balmoral fire of October 2013 affected 12,694 ha of Sydney's forested water supply catchment. It produced substantial ash loads that increased with fire severity, with 6, 16 and 34 Mg ha(-1) found in areas affected by low, high and extreme fire severity, respectively. Ash bulk density was also positively related to fire severity. The increase with fire severity in the total load and bulk density of the ash generated is mainly attributed to a combination of associated increases in (i) total amount of fuel affected by fire and (ii) contribution of charred mineral soil to the ash layer. Total concentrations of pollutants and nutrients in ash were mostly unrelated to fire severity and relatively low compared to values reported for wildfire ash in other environments (e.g. 4.0-7.3mg As kg(-1); 2.3-4.1 B mg kg(-1); 136-154 P mg kg(-1)). Solubility of the elements analysed was also low, less than 10% of the total concentration for all elements except for B (6-14%) and Na (30-50%). This could be related to a partial loss of soluble components by leaching and/or wind erosion before the ash sampling (10 weeks after the fire and before major ash mobilisation by water erosion). Even with their relatively low concentrations of potential pollutants, the substantial total ash loads found here represent a water contamination risk if transported into the hydrological network during severe erosion events. For example, up to 4 Mg of ash-derived P could be delivered into a single water supply reservoir.

Calcium silicates synthesised from industrial residues with the ability for CO2 sequestration

This work explored several synthesis routes to obtain calcium silicates from different calcium-rich and silica-rich industrial residues. Larnite, wollastonite and calcium silicate chloride were successfully synthesised with moderate heat treatments below standard temperatures. These procedures help to not only conserve natural resources, but also to reduce the energy requirements and CO2 emissions. In addition, these silicates have been successfully tested as carbon dioxide sequesters, to enhance the viability of CO2 mineral sequestration technologies using calcium-rich industrial by-products as sequestration agents. Two different carbon sequestration experiments were performed under ambient conditions. Static experiments revealed carbonation efficiencies close to 100% and real-time resolved experiments characterised the dynamic behaviour and ability of these samples to reduce the CO2 concentration within a mixture of gases. The CO2 concentration was reduced up to 70%, with a carbon fixation dynamic ratio of 3.2 mg CO2 per g of sequestration agent and minute. Our results confirm the suitability of the proposed synthesis routes to synthesise different calcium silicates recycling industrial residues, being therefore energetically more efficient and environmentally friendly procedures for the cement industry.

Red mud as a carbon sink: variability, affecting factors and environmental significance

The capacity of red mud to sequester CO(2) varied markedly due to differences in bauxite type, processing and disposal methods. Calcium carbonates were the dominant mineral phases responsible for the carbon sequestration in the investigated red mud types. The carbon sequestration capacity of red mud was not fully exploited due to shortages of soluble divalent cations for formation of stable carbonate minerals. Titanate and silicate ions were the two major oxyanions that appeared to strongly compete with carbonate ions for the available soluble Ca. Supply of additional soluble Ca and Mg could be a viable pathway for maximizing carbon sequestration in red mud and simultaneously reducing the causticity of red mud. It is roughly estimated that over 100 million tonnes of CO(2) have been unintentionally sequestered in red mud around the world to date through the natural weathering of historically produced red mud. Based on the current production rate of red mud, it is likely that some 6 million tonnes of CO(2) will be sequestered annually through atmospheric carbonation. If appropriate technologies are in place for incorporating binding cations into red mud, approximately 6 million tonnes of additional CO(2) can be captured and stored in the red mud while the hazardousness of red mud is simultaneously reduced.

Accelerated carbonation of steelmaking slags in a high-gravity rotating packed bed

Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) sequestration using the accelerated carbonation of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag in a high-gravity rotating packed bed (RPB) under various operational conditions was investigated. The effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, rotation speed and slurry flow rate on the CO(2) sequestration process were evaluated. The samples of reacted slurry were analyzed quantitatively using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and qualitatively using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sequestration experiments were performed at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 20:1 with a flow rate of 2.5 L min(-1) of a pure CO(2) stream under atmospheric temperature and pressure. The results show that a maximum conversion of BOF slag was 93.5% at a reaction time of 30 min and a rotation speed of 750 rpm at 65°C. The experimental data were utilized to determine the rate-limiting mechanism based on the shrinking core model (SCM), which was validated by the observations of SEM and TEM. Accelerated carbonation in a RPB was confirmed to be a viable method due to its higher mass-transfer rate.

Procedure to use phosphogypsum industrial waste for mineral CO2 sequestration

Industrial wet phosphoric acid production in Huelva (SW Spain) has led to the controversial stockpiling of waste phosphogypsum by-products, resulting in the release of significant quantities of toxic impurities in salt marshes in the Tinto river estuary. In the framework of the fight against global climate change and the effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a simple and efficient procedure for CO(2) mineral sequestration is presented in this work, using phosphogypsum waste as a calcium source. Our results demonstrate the high efficiency of portlandite precipitation by phosphogypsum dissolution using an alkaline soda solution. Carbonation experiments performed at ambient pressure and temperature resulted in total conversion of the portlandite into carbonate. The fate of trace elements present in the phosphogypsum waste was also investigated, and trace impurities were found to be completely transferred to the final calcite. We believe that the procedure proposed here should be considered not only as a solution for reducing old stockpiles of phosphogypsum wastes, but also for future phosphoric acid and other gypsum-producing industrial processes, resulting in more sustainable production.

High temperature CO2 capture using calcium oxide sorbent in a fixed-bed reactor

The gas-solid reaction and breakthrough curve of CO(2) capture using calcium oxide sorbent at high temperature in a fixed-bed reactor are of great importance, and being influenced by a number of factors makes the characterization and prediction of these a difficult problem. In this study, the operating parameters on reaction between solid sorbent and CO(2) gas at high temperature were investigated. The results of the breakthrough curves showed that calcium oxide sorbent in the fixed-bed reactor was capable of reducing the CO(2) level to near zero level with the steam of 10 vol%, and the sorbent in CaO mixed with MgO of 40 wt% had extremely low capacity for CO(2) capture at 550°C. Calcium oxide sorbent after reaction can be easily regenerated at 900°C by pure N(2) flow. The experimental data were analyzed by shrinking core model, and the results showed reaction rates of both fresh and regeneration sorbents with CO(2) were controlled by a combination of the surface chemical reaction and diffusion of product layer.

Influence of Chemical Conditions on the Nanoporous Structure of Silicate Aerogels

Silica or various silicate aerogels can be characterized by highly porous, open cell, low density structures. The synthesis parameters influence the three-dimensional porous structures by modifying the kinetics and mechanism of hydrolysis and condensation processes. Numerous investigations have shown that the structure of porous materials can be tailored by variations in synthesis conditions (e.g., the type of precursors, catalyst, and surfactants; the ratio of water/precursor; the concentrations; the medium pH; and the solvent). The objectives of this review are to summarize and elucidate the effects of chemical conditions on the nanoporous structure of sol-gel derived silicate aerogels.

Environmental remediation and conversion of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) into useful green products by accelerated carbonation technology

This paper reviews the application of carbonation technology to the environmental industry as a way of reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂), a green house gas, including the presentation of related projects of our research group. An alternative technology to very slow natural carbonation is the co-called ‘accelerated carbonation’, which completes its fast reaction within few hours by using pure CO₂. Carbonation technology is widely applied to solidify or stabilize solid combustion residues from municipal solid wastes, paper mill wastes, etc. and contaminated soils, and to manufacture precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). Carbonated products can be utilized as aggregates in the concrete industry and as alkaline fillers in the paper (or recycled paper) making industry. The quantity of captured CO₂ in carbonated products can be evaluated by measuring mass loss of heated samples by thermo-gravimetric (TG) analysis. The industrial carbonation technology could contribute to both reduction of CO₂ emissions and environmental remediation.