Mineral Processes for Climate Change Mitigation

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineralogical Crystallography and Biomineralization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2023) | Viewed by 8037

Special Issue Editors

School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 0G2, Canada
Interests: CO2 sequestration; enhanced weathering; CO2 mineralization; geochemistry; geomicrobiology; carbonate formation
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Guest Editor
School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 0G2, Canada
Interests: CO2 mineralization, mineral nucleation; mineral dissolution; Raman Spectroscopy; Atomic Force microscopy; organomineralization

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Guest Editor
School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 0G2, Canada
Interests: mineral carbonation; CO2 mineralization; enhanced weathering; hydrated carbonates; Raman spectroscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbonate minerals play a crucial role in carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies (CCUS) as these provide a safe storage capacity for carbon dioxide (CO2) on a geological time scale. CO2 is fixed as solid carbonate through the reaction with Ca and Mg bearing materials (e.g.: ultramafic rocks and/or alkaline industrial wastes) at low- and high-temperature and pressure, in a process designated as mineral carbonation. However, mineral carbonation rates are very slow and improving the technology efficacy requires adopting strategies that enhance the conversion rate of CO2 to carbonates.

In this Special Issue, we welcome studies (laboratory, modelling, and field-studies) that describe recent advances in the synthesis of carbonate minerals in mineral carbonation settings and contribute to further understanding the factors that inhibit or enhance CO2 sequestration. Topics of interest include studies on kinetics and mechanisms of nucleation and crystal growth, crystallization and dissolution pathways, the effect of impurities in crystal properties, characterization of amorphous and hydrated carbonate phases, synthesis of marketable high-purity carbonate products, mineral stability, microbial carbonates and organomineralization. Original research papers, state-or-art reviews, and short communications are very welcome.

Dr. Ian Power
Dr. Carlos Paulo
Dr. Kwon Rausis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Mineral carbonation
  • Crystalline/amorphous products
  • Nucleation and crystal growth
  • Enhanced weathering
  • CO2 mineralization
  • Organomineralization
  • Crystallization kinetics

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2331 KiB  
Article
Production of Sodium Bicarbonate with Saline Brine and CO2 Co-Utilization: Comparing Modified Solvay Approaches
by Asif Ali, Catarina E. Mendes, Leonardo G. T. C. de Melo, Jinsheng Wang and Rafael M. Santos
Crystals 2023, 13(3), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13030470 - 09 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2489
Abstract
The present work investigates the production of sodium bicarbonate in combination with the co-utilization of saline brine and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS). The use of ammonia in the traditional Solvay process could be eliminated by using a modified Solvay process. This [...] Read more.
The present work investigates the production of sodium bicarbonate in combination with the co-utilization of saline brine and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS). The use of ammonia in the traditional Solvay process could be eliminated by using a modified Solvay process. This study compared the modification with the addition of three buffering additives: Ca(OH)2, KOH, and NH4HCO3. The effectiveness of these processes, using two qualities of saline brine (desalination and aquifer), is compared based on the purity of the produced NaHCO3. It was found that the use of Ca(OH)2 did not produce high-purity NaHCO3, while NH4HCO3 and KOH performed better. Desalination brine utilization with NH4HCO3 resulted in the production of high-purity NaHCO3, while the second most suitable method involved the use of KOH, and the main co-product formed was Na2CO3. Geochemical modeling is performed in order to have insights into the carbonation (in the reactor) and precipitation (in the oven) behavior of the reactions. It predicted the precipitation of mineral phases well, though kinetics might hinder some saturated solids to dissolve first. The present study shows that accurate characterization is critical to accurately assess the success of modified Solvay processes. The use of QXRD and SEM analyses, complemented with geochemical modeling, helped to better understand the processes and the formation of NaHCO3. Further investigations on diverse brines could provide for their better utilization by the geological carbon sequestration and water desalination industries that produce them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Processes for Climate Change Mitigation)
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20 pages, 3252 KiB  
Article
Accelerated Weathering and Carbonation (Mild to Intensified) of Natural Canadian Silicates (Kimberlite and Wollastonite) for CO2 Sequestration
by Ye Eun Chai, Salma Chalouati, Hugo Fantucci and Rafael M. Santos
Crystals 2021, 11(12), 1584; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11121584 - 19 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2960
Abstract
Canada’s mineral reserves can play a very important role in curbing climate change if natural alkaline minerals are used for the process of mineral carbonation. In this work, the potential of using two Canadian natural silicates for accelerated carbonation is experimentally assessed: kimberlite [...] Read more.
Canada’s mineral reserves can play a very important role in curbing climate change if natural alkaline minerals are used for the process of mineral carbonation. In this work, the potential of using two Canadian natural silicates for accelerated carbonation is experimentally assessed: kimberlite mine tailing (Mg0.846Al0.165Fe0.147Ca0.067SiO3.381) from the Northwest Territories, and mined wollastonite ore (Ca0.609Mg0.132Al0.091Fe0.024SiO2.914) from Ontario. The aim of this work was to evaluate the weathering reactivity and CO2 uptake capacity via carbonation of these two comminuted rocks, both of which are made up of a mixture of alkaline minerals, under process conditions that spanned from milder to intensified. Research questions addressed include: does kimberlite contain a sufficient amount of reactive minerals to act as an effective carbon sink; is dehydroxylation necessary to activate kimberlite, and to what extent does it do this; do secondary phases of wollastonite hinder its reactivity; and can either of these minerals be carbonated without pH buffering, or only weathered? Incubator, slurry, and pressurized slurry methods of accelerated weathering and carbonation were used, and the effect of the process parameters (temperature, solid-to-liquid ration, reaction time, CO2 level, pH buffer) on the CO2 uptake and crystalline carbonates formation is tested. The reacted samples were analyzed by pH test, loss-on-ignition test, calcimeter test, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Results showed that wollastonite ore (rich in fast-weathering CaSiO3) is more suitable for accelerated carbonation than kimberlite tailing (containing slow-weathering hydrated magnesium silicates and aluminosilicates) when only its capability to rapidly form solid carbonates is considered. Incubator and pressurized buffered slurry methods proved to be most effective as under these conditions the precipitation of carbonates was more favorable, while the unbuffered slurry reaction conditions were more akin to accelerated weathering rather than accelerated carbonation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Processes for Climate Change Mitigation)
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13 pages, 3289 KiB  
Article
Carbonation of High-Ca Fly Ashes under Flue Gas Conditions: Implications for Their Valorization in the Construction Industry
by Kwon Rausis, Agnieszka Ćwik, Ignasi Casanova and Katarzyna Zarębska
Crystals 2021, 11(11), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11111314 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
The utilization of high-calcium fly ashes (HCFA) from coal-fired power plants in the construction industry is problematic, since their high free lime contents can lead to durability problems. In this research, the carbonation of a high-CaO fly ash has been carried out using [...] Read more.
The utilization of high-calcium fly ashes (HCFA) from coal-fired power plants in the construction industry is problematic, since their high free lime contents can lead to durability problems. In this research, the carbonation of a high-CaO fly ash has been carried out using simulated flue gas and concentrated CO2, with the aim to assess the valorization potential of such materials in the construction industry. The results show that, at 7 bars total pressure, an up to 36% carbonation efficiency can be achieved in just 30 min when pure CO2 is used; a comparable result with flue gas requires about 4 h of reaction. On the other hand, experiments carried out at atmospheric pressure show significantly different carbonation efficiencies depending on the CO2 concentration of the gas used. All experiments resulted in a substantial reduction in the original free lime content, and after reaction times of 4 h (at atmospheric pressure) and pressures of 7 bars (for any reaction time >30 min), the final free lime values were low enough to comply with the requirements of European Standards for their utilization as additions in cement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineral Processes for Climate Change Mitigation)
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