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Power IM, Paulo C, Rausis K. The Mining Industry's Role in Enhanced Weathering and Mineralization for CO 2 Removal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:43-53. [PMID: 38127732 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Enhanced weathering and mineralization (EWM) aim to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by accelerating the reaction of this greenhouse gas with alkaline minerals. This suite of geochemical negative emissions technologies has the potential to achieve CO2 removal rates of >1 gigatonne per year, yet will require gigatonnes of suitable rock. As a supplier of rock powder, the mining industry will be at the epicenter of the global implementation of EWM. Certain alkaline mine wastes sequester CO2 under conventional mining conditions, which should be quantified across the industry. Furthermore, mines are ideal locations for testing acceleration strategies since tailings impoundments are contained and highly monitored. While some environmentally benign mine wastes may be repurposed for off-site use─reducing costs and risks associated with their storage─numerous new mines will be needed to supply rock powders to reach the gigatonne scale. Large-scale EWM pilots with mining companies are required to progress technology readiness, including carbon verification approaches. With its knowledge of geological formations and ore processing, the mining industry can play an essential role in extracting the most reactive rocks with the greatest CO2 removal capacities, creating supply chains, and participating in life-cycle assessments. The motivations for mining companies to develop EWM include reputational benefits and carbon offsets needed to achieve carbon neutrality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M Power
- Trent School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Carlos Paulo
- Trent School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Kwon Rausis
- Trent School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
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Zhuang W, Song X, Liu M, Wang Q, Song J, Duan L, Li X, Yuan H. Potential capture and conversion of CO 2 from oceanwater through mineral carbonation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161589. [PMID: 36640885 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by human activities not only brings about a serious greenhouse effect but also accelerates global climate change. This has resulted in extreme climate hazards that can obstruct human development in the near future. Hence, there is an urgent need to achieve carbon neutrality by increasing negative emissions. The ocean plays a vital role in absorbing and sequestering CO2. Current research on marine carbon storage and sink enhancement mainly focuses on biological carbon sequestration using carbon sinks (macroalgae, shellfish, and fisheries). However, seawater inorganic carbon accounts for more than 95 % of the total carbon in marine carbon storage. Increasing total alkalinity at a constant dissolved inorganic carbon shifts the balance of existing seawater carbonate system and prompts a greater absorption of atmospheric CO2, thereby increasing the ocean's "carbon sink". This review explores two main mechanisms (i.e., enhanced weathering and ocean alkalinization) and materials (e.g., silicate rocks, metal oxides, and metal hydroxides) that regulate marine chemical carbon sink (MCCS). This work also compares MCCS with other terrestrial and marine carbon sinks and discusses the implementation of MCCS, including the following aspects: chemical reaction rate, cost, and possible ecological and environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Zhuang
- Institute of Eco-environmental Forensics, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Xiaocheng Song
- Institute of Eco-environmental Forensics, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China; National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Min Liu
- Institute of Eco-environmental Forensics, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China; National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Qingdao Research Institute of Wuhan University of Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Jinming Song
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Liqin Duan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Xuegang Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Huamao Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China; National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
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Wei Y, Yuan P, Liu D, Liu M, Losic D, Ma X, Jiang R, Wu N, Yang F, Zhang J. Converting Chrysotile Nanotubes into Magnesium Oxide and Hydroxide Using Lanthanum Oxycarbonate Hybridization and Alkaline Treatment for Efficient Phosphate Adsorption. Inorg Chem 2022; 61:14684-14694. [PMID: 36050289 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Magnesium oxide and hydroxide nanomaterials comprise a class of promising advanced functional metal nanomaterials whose use in environmental and material applications is increasing. Several strategies to synthesize these nanomaterials have been described but are unsustainable and uneconomic. This work reports on a processing strategy that turns natural magnesium-rich chrysotile into magnesium oxide and hydroxide nanoparticles via nanoparticle hybridization and an alkaline process while enabling La-based nanoparticles to coat the chrysotile nanotube surfaces. The adsorbent's resulting hybrid nanostructure had an outstanding capacity for phosphate uptake (135.2 mg P g-1) and enhanced regeneration performance. Furthermore, the adsorbent featured wide applicability with respect to the coexistence of competitive anions and a broad range of pH conditions, and its high-performance phosphate removal from sewage effluent was also demonstrated. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses revealed the scavenging ability of phosphate by the La-based and Mg-based nanoparticles and the multiple capture mechanisms involved, including surface complexation and ion exchange. This proposed approach expands chrysotile's potential use as a magnesium-rich nanomaterial and harbors great promise for the removal of pollutants in a variety of real-world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfu Wei
- National Observation and Research Station of Coastal Ecological Environments in Macao, Macao Environmental Research Institute, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao 999078, China
| | - Peng Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Materials, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Dong Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Materials, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Mingxian Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Dusan Losic
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Xiaomin Ma
- Morlion (Zhuhai) New Material & Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuhai 519031, China
| | - Ran Jiang
- The Pearl River Hydraulic Research Institute, Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Nanchun Wu
- Morlion (Zhuhai) New Material & Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuhai 519031, China
| | - Fang Yang
- The Pearl River Hydraulic Research Institute, Pearl River Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Junxiong Zhang
- Morlion (Zhuhai) New Material & Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuhai 519031, China
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Khudhur FWK, MacDonald JM, Macente A, Daly L. The utilization of alkaline wastes in passive carbon capture and sequestration: Promises, challenges and environmental aspects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 823:153553. [PMID: 35104509 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Alkaline wastes have been the focus of many studies as they act as CO2 sinks and have the potential to offset emissions from mining and steelmaking industries. Passive carbonation of alkaline wastes mimics natural silicate weathering and provides a promising alternative pathway for CO2 capture and storage as carbonates, requiring marginal human intervention when compared to ex-situ carbonation. This review summarizes the extant research that has investigated the passive carbonation of alkaline wastes, namely ironmaking and steelmaking slag, mine tailings and demolition wastes, over the past two decades. Here we report different factors that affect passive carbonation to address challenges that this process faces and to identify possible solutions. We identify avenues for future research such as investigating how passive carbonation affects the surrounding environment through interaction with the biosphere and the hydrosphere. Future research should also consider economic analyses to provide investors with an in-depth understanding of passive carbonation techniques. Based on the reviewed materials, we conclude that passive carbonation can be an important contributor to climate change mitigation strategies, and its potential can be intensified by applying simple waste management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal W K Khudhur
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
| | - John M MacDonald
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Alice Macente
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK
| | - Luke Daly
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, NSW, Australia; Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
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Mineral Carbonation as an Educational Investigation of Green Chemical Engineering Design. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11154156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Engaging students in the experimental design of “green” technology is a challenge in Chemical Engineering undergraduate programs. This concept paper demonstrates an educational methodology to investigate accelerated mineral carbonation, which is a promising technology related to mitigation of climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources as stable solid carbonates. An experimental investigation is conceived, whereby students test the effect of two process parameters (CO2 pressure and mixing rate) on the extent of carbonation reaction. The carbonation reaction has been performed using a mineral called wollastonite (CaSiO3). The experimental study and laboratory report cover principles of reaction kinetics and mass transfer, while illustrating the steps to develop and investigate a green process technology. The results from the experimental investigation, which is carried out by multiple teams of students, are then pooled and used to guide a subsequent design project. Students would conceive a flowsheet, size equipment, and estimate the energy demand and net CO2 sequestration efficiency of a full-scale implementation of the mineral carbonation technology. This educational investigation aims to help undergraduate students to acquire deeper experiential learning and greater awareness of future green technologies by applying fundamental engineering principles into an engaging experimental and design exercise.
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