High Temperature Carbonation of Ca(OH)2

Ca-Based Layered Double Hydroxides for Environmentally Sustainable Carbon Capture

The process of carbon dioxide capture typically requires a large amount of energy for the separation of carbon dioxide from other gases, which has been a major barrier to the widespread deployment of carbon capture technologies. Innovation of carbon dioxide adsorbents is herein vital for the attainment of a sustainable carbon capture process. In this study, we investigated the electrified synthesis and rejuvenation of calcium-based layered double hydroxides (Ca-based LDHs) as solid adsorbents for CO2. We discovered that the particle morphology and phase purity of the LDHs, along with the presence of secondary phases, can be controlled by tuning the current density during electrodeposition on a porous carbon substrate. The change in phase composition during carbonation and calcination was investigated to unveil the effect of different intercalated anions on the surface basicity and thermal stability of Ca-based LDHs. By decoupling the adsorption of water and CO2, we showed that the adsorbed water largely promoted CO2 adsorption, most likely through a sequential dissolution and reaction pathway. A carbon capture capacity of 4.3 ± 0.5 mmol/g was measured at 30 °C and relative humidity of 40% using 10 vol % CO2 in nitrogen as the feed stream. After CO2 capture occurred, the thermal regeneration step was carried out by directly passing an electric current through the conductive carbon substrate, known as the Joule-heating effect. CO2 was found to start desorbing from the Ca-based LDHs at a temperature as low as 220 °C as opposed to the temperature above 700 °C required for calcium carbonate that forms as part of the Ca-looping capture process. Finally, we evaluated the cumulative energy demand and environmental impact of the LDH-based capture process using a life cycle assessment. We identified the most environmentally concerning step in the process and concluded that the postcombustion CO2 capture using LDH could be advantageous compared with existing technologies.

Analysis of Operation Conditions of Ca(OH)2 Entrained Carbonator Reactors for CO2 Capture in Backup Power Plants

The share of renewables in the energy sector is increasing, and energy storage and backup power combustion systems to cover the periods of time with low renewable energy production are becoming increasingly needed. Flexible calcium looping configurations based on the storage of solids are a promising alternative to capture the CO₂ produced in such backup combustion systems. The use of Ca(OH)₂ instead of CaO is better suited to these applications due to the faster reaction kinetics and higher carbonation conversions as Ca(OH)₂ in powder form can achieve conversions of up to 0.7 in just a few seconds at temperatures of 550-650 °C. To take advantage of these fast reaction kinetics, compact carbonator reactors with short gas-solid contact times (i.e., a few seconds) can be designed. However, the low enthalpy of the carbonation reaction of Ca(OH)₂ makes it challenging to find the optimum conditions which maximize the CO₂ capture efficiency. In this work, a basic entrained reactor with recent experimental reaction kinetics has been used to determine suitable operational windows for this kind of carbonator. CO₂ capture efficiencies above 90% can be achieved for flue gases with low CO₂ concentrations (4%_v CO₂) when they are fed into the carbonator at temperatures of around 500-600 °C while maintaining low F _Ca/F _CO2 ratios (<2) and feeding the sorbent at ambient temperature. When capturing from a flue gas with a higher CO₂ concentration (14%_v CO₂), the sorbent needs to be fed at higher temperatures to effectively capture CO₂ in short contact times (i.e., 6 s).

Post combustion CO2 capture with calcium and lithium hydroxide

A small-scale plant was built for measuring the ability of solid sorbents towards the capture of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in exhaust flue gas from an internal combustion engine. The investigated sorbents were calcium and lithium hydroxides. Both sorbents are low cost and used in the breathing gas purification systems. The carbonation capacity of each sorbent was measured for different sorbent granulometry (pellets and powder), different temperature (from ambient up to 300 °C), gas space velocity, moisture content and chemical composition of the gaseous stream. The aim was, in fact, to expose the sorbents to a gas stream with chemical and physical parameters close to those at the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. Carbonation capacity was measured with a double technique: on-line by continuously CO₂ measurement with a non-dispersive infrared analyzer and off-line by using scanning electron microscopy on carbonated sorbents. Experimental results showed good CO₂ uptake capacity of calcium hydroxide at low temperature (between 20 and 150 °C). Performance improvements came from the fine granulometry due to the increased exposed surface area; moreover, the presence of the moisture in gas stream also enhanced CO₂ capture. The presence of sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide, instead, greatly decreased the carbonation capacity of sorbents.

Carbonation Kinetics of Ca(OH)2 Under Conditions of Entrained Reactors to Capture CO2

The use of Ca(OH)₂ as a CO₂ sorbent instead of CaO in calcium looping systems has the advantage of a much faster reaction rate of carbonation and a larger conversion degree to CaCO₃. This work investigates the carbonation kinetics of fine Ca(OH)₂ particles (<10 μm) in a range of reaction conditions (i.e., 350–650 °C and CO₂ concentrations up to 25%_v) that could be of interest for applications where a short contact time is expected between the solids and the gases (i.e., entrained bed carbonator reactors). For this purpose, experiments in a drop tube reactor with short reaction times (i.e., below 6 s) have been carried out. High carbonation conversions up to 0.7 have been measured under these conditions, supporting the viability of using entrained carbonator reactors. The experimental results have been fitted to a shirking core model, and the corresponding kinetic parameters for the carbonation reaction have been determined.

Using Different Ions in the Hydrothermal Method to Enhance the Photoluminescence Properties of Synthesized ZnO-Based Nanowires

ZnO films with a thickness of ~200 nm were deposited on SiO2/Si substrates as the seed layer. Then Zn(NO3)2-6H2O and C6H12N4 containing different concentrations of Eu(NO3)2-6H2O or In(NO3)2-6H2O were used as precursors, and a hydrothermal process was used to synthesize pure ZnO as well as Eu-doped and In-doped ZnO nanowires at different synthesis temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the crystallization properties of the pure ZnO and the Eu-doped and In-doped ZnO nanowires, and field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM) was used to analyze their surface morphologies. The important novelty in our approach is that the ZnO-based nanowires with different concentrations of Eu3+ and In3+ ions could be easily synthesized using a hydrothermal process. In addition, the effect of different concentrations of Eu3+ and In3+ ions on the physical and optical properties of ZnO-based nanowires was well investigated. FESEM observations found that the undoped ZnO nanowires could be grown at 100 °C. The third novelty is that we could synthesize the Eu-doped and In-doped ZnO nanowires at temperatures lower than 100 °C. The temperatures required to grow the Eu-doped and In-doped ZnO nanowires decreased with increasing concentrations of Eu3+ and In3+ ions. XRD patterns showed that with the addition of Eu3+ (In3+), the diffraction intensity of the (002) peak slightly increased with the concentration of Eu3+ (In3+) ions and reached a maximum at 3 (0.4) at%. We show that the concentrations of Eu3+ and In3+ ions have considerable effects on the synthesis temperatures and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+-doped and In3+-doped ZnO nanowires.

Optimum Particle Size of Treated Calcites for CO2 Capture in a Power Plant

This work has analyzed the influence of the particle size of a calcite from a quarry, whether original, calcined, or rehydrated, on the efficiency of CO₂ capture of the gases emitted in a coal-fired power plant. Three different particle sizes 0.5 mm, 0.1 mm, and 0.045 mm have been studied. The calcination had a minimal effect on the particle size of the smaller samples A1045 and A1M1 (<30 μm). The N₂ isotherms and the CO₂ adsorption isotherms at 0 °C showed a very significant increase in the surface of the calcined and rehydrated samples (A15CH, A1045CH, and A1M1CH) with respect to the calcined or original samples. The results obtained showed that the capture of CO₂ for the sample A1M1, with a smaller average particle size (<30 μm, is the most effective. For the sample A1M1 calcined and completely rehydrated (Ca(OH)₂), the chemical adsorption of CO₂ to form CaCO₃ is practically total, under the experimental conditions used (550 °C and CO₂ flow of 20 mL min⁻¹). The weight increase was 34.11% and the adsorption capacity was 577.00 mg g⁻¹. The experiment was repeated 10 times with the same sample A1M1 calcined and rehydrated. No appreciable loss of adsorption capacity was observed.

The Potential of Recycling the High-Zinc Fraction of Upgraded BF Sludge to the Desulfurization Plant and Basic Oxygen Furnace

In ore-based steelmaking, blast furnace (BF) dust is generally recycled to the BF via the sinter or cold-bonded briquettes and injection. In order to recycle the BF sludge to the BF, the sludge has to be upgraded, removing zinc. The literature reports cases of recycling the low-zinc fraction of upgraded BF sludge to the BF. However, research towards recycling of the high-zinc fraction of BF sludge within the ore-based steel plant is limited. In the present paper, the high-zinc fraction of tornado-treated BF sludge was incorporated in self-reducing cold-bonded briquettes and pellets. Each type of agglomerate was individually subjected to technical-scale smelting reduction experiments aiming to study the feasibility of recycling in-plant residues to the hot metal (HM) desulfurization (deS) plant. The endothermic reactions within the briquettes decreased the heating and reduction rate leaving the briquettes unreduced and unmelted. The pellets were completely reduced within eight minutes of contact with HM but still showed melt-in problems. Cold-bonded briquettes, without BF sludge, were charged in industrial-scale trials to study the recycling potential to the HM deS plant and basic oxygen furnace (BOF). The trials illustrated a potential for the complete recycling of the high-zinc fraction of BF sludge. However, further studies were identified to be required to verify these results.

Phase Evolution and Textural Changes during the Direct Conversion and Storage of CO2 to Produce Calcium Carbonate from Calcium Hydroxide

The increasing use of energy resources recovered from subsurface environments and the resulting carbon imbalance in the environment has motivated the need to develop thermodynamically downhill pathways to convert and store CO2 as water-insoluble calcium or magnesium carbonates. While previous studies extensively explored aqueous routes to produce calcium and magnesium carbonates from CO2, there is limited scientific understanding of the phase evolution and textural changes during the direct gas–solid conversion routes to produce calcium carbonate from calcium hydroxide, which is one of the abundant constituents of alkaline industrial residues. With increasing interest in developing integrated pathways for capturing, converting, and storing CO2 from dilute flue gases, understanding the composition of product phases as they evolve is essential for evaluating the efficacy of a given processing route. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the phase evolution and the corresponding textural changes as calcium hydroxide is converted to calcium carbonate under the continuous flow of CO2 at an ambient pressure of 1 atm with continuous heating from 30 °C to 500 °C using in-operando wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and ultrasmall angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) measurements.

Thermally induced carbonation of Ca(OH)2 in a CO2 atmosphere: kinetic simulation of overlapping mass-loss and mass-gain processes in a solid-gas system

Thermally induced carbonation of Ca(OH)₂ in a CO₂ atmosphere is a reaction exhibiting particular features, including stoichiometric completeness to form CaCO₃ and a kinetic advantage over the carbonation of CaO particles. This study aims to gain further insight into the reaction mechanisms of CO₂ capture by Ca(OH)₂ and CaO. It focuses on the kinetic modeling of the carbonation of Ca(OH)₂ as a consecutive reaction in a solid-gas system. The kinetic behaviors of the thermal decomposition of Ca(OH)₂ in an inert gas atmosphere and of the overall process of thermally induced carbonation of Ca(OH)₂ in a CO₂ atmosphere were investigated using thermal analyses and other complementary techniques. Based on kinetic results, the overall reaction of the thermally induced carbonation of Ca(OH)₂ in a CO₂ atmosphere was separated by a kinetic deconvolution analysis into two consecutive reaction steps: the thermal decomposition of Ca(OH)₂ and the subsequent carbonation of the CaO intermediate. The relationship between the two component reaction processes was well illustrated by a consecutive shrinkage of the dual reaction interfaces of Ca(OH)₂-CaO and CaO-CaCO₃. The continuous supply of water vapor and CO₂ to the CaO-CaCO₃ interface from different directions was suggested to be the physico-geometrical advantageous feature of the carbonation of Ca(OH)₂.

Aqueous extract of broccoli mediated synthesis of CaO nanoparticles and its application in the photocatalytic degradation of bromocrescol green

CaO nanoparticles have been prepared using CaCl₂ and aqueous extract of broccoli as a precursor and reducing agent, respectively. Different volumes of the aqueous broccoli extract were utilised to obtain Ca(OH)₂ and subsequent calcination gave CaO nanoparticles. The synthesised CaO was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology was studied using transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), and the surface composition of Ca(OH)₂ was explored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The major functional groups present in the capping material responsible for the reduction of the metal salt and the surface passivation of Ca(OH)₂ were identified. The XRD pattern revealed cubic phase for all the CaO nanoparticles, and the crystallite size was estimated using Scherrer's equation showed a variation which is dependent on the volume of the extract used. TEM analysis showed different shapes, while the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) results confirmed the crystallinity of the nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis of Ca(OH)₂ showed the decomposition product to be CaO. Sample C3, which has the smallest particle size, was used as a catalyst for the degradation of bromocresol green via photo irradiation with ultraviolet light and the result revealed a degradation efficiency of 60.1%.

Halloysite Nanotubes: Controlled Access and Release by Smart Gates

Hollow halloysite nanotubes have been used as nanocontainers for loading and for the triggered release of calcium hydroxide for paper preservation. A strategy for placing end-stoppers into the tubular nanocontainer is proposed and the sustained release from the cavity is reported. The incorporation of Ca(OH)₂ into the nanotube lumen, as demonstrated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, retards the carbonatation, delaying the reaction with CO₂ gas. This effect can be further controlled by placing the end-stoppers. The obtained material is tested for paper deacidification. We prove that adding halloysite filled with Ca(OH)₂ to paper can reduce the impact of acid exposure on both the mechanical performance and pH alteration. The end-stoppers have a double effect: they preserve the calcium hydroxide from carbonation, and they prevent from the formation of highly basic pH and trigger the response to acid exposure minimizing the pH drop-down. These features are promising for a composite nanoadditive in the smart protection of cellulose-based materials.

Ca(OH)2nano-pods: investigation on the effect of solvent ratio on morphology and CO2adsorption capacity

A schematic diagram of the proposed mechanism of the formation of Ca(OH)₂pod shapes by a precipitation route.

Kinetics and mechanism of direct reaction between CO2 and Ca(OH)2 in micro fluidized bed

Even at present it is still difficult to characterize the reaction between CO2 and Ca(OH)2 at high temperature and atmospheric pressure using traditional instruments such as thermogravimetric analyzer and differential scanning calorimeter. This study was devoted to characterizing such a reaction in a newly developed micro fluidized bed reaction analyzer (MFBRA) under isothermal conditions in the temperature range of 773-1023 K. The results indicated that the MFBRA has not only a good adaptability for characterizing the above-mentioned reaction but enables as well a new insight into the mechanism of the reaction. An obvious time delay was identified for the release of the formed steam (H2O) in comparison with the onset of its CO2 absorption, which might be attributed to the formation of an unstable intermediate product Ca(HCO3)2 in the reaction process between CO2 and Ca(OH)2. The activation energy for forming Ca(HCO3)2 was found to be about 40 kJ/mol, which is much lower than that of the reaction between CO2 and CaO.

Spray water reactivation/pelletization of spent CaO-based sorbent from calcium looping cycles

This paper presents a novel method for reactivation of spent CaO-based sorbents from calcium looping (CaL) cycles for CO(2) capture. A spent Cadomin limestone-derived sorbent sample from a pilot-scale fluidized bed (FBC) CaL reactor is used for reactivation. The calcined sorbent is sprayed by water in a pelletization vessel. This reactivation method produces pellets ready to be used in FBC reactors. Moreover, this procedure enables the addition of calcium aluminate cement to further enhance sorbent strength. The characterization of reactivated material by nitrogen physisorption (BET, BJH) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the enhanced morphology of sorbent particles for reaction with CO(2). This improved CO(2) carrying capacity was demonstrated in calcination/carbonation tests performed in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Finally, the resulting pellets displayed a high resistance to attrition during fluidization in a bubbling bed.