Ex Situ Aqueous Mineral Carbonation

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) located in Albany, OR (formerly the Albany Research Center) has studied ex situ mineral carbonation as a potential option for carbon dioxide sequestration. Studies focused on the reaction of Ca-, Fe-, and Mg-silicate minerals with gaseous CO2 to form geologically stable, naturally occurring solid carbonate minerals. The research included resource evaluation, kinetic studies, process development, and economic evaluation. An initial cost estimate of approximately $69/ton of CO2 sequestered was improved with process improvements to $54/ton. The scale of ex situ mineral carbonation operations, requiring 55 000 tons of mineral to carbonate, the daily CO2 emissions from a 1-GW, coal-fired power plant, may make such operations impractical.

Mineral CO2 sequestration by environmental biotechnological processes

“…In these scenarios, the sequestration facilities should be placed close to the mining sites (Huijgen et al, 2007). Grinding of minerals has been reported to consume the largest energy among the mineral processing processes (Gerdemann et al, 2007). Figure 1.3 shows the grinding energy required for size reduction for the case of wollastonite particles (Gerdemann et al, 2007) using a ball mill and stirred media detritor (SMD).…”

“…Grinding of minerals has been reported to consume the largest energy among the mineral processing processes (Gerdemann et al, 2007). Figure 1.3 shows the grinding energy required for size reduction for the case of wollastonite particles (Gerdemann et al, 2007) using a ball mill and stirred media detritor (SMD). It can be observed that reducing the mineral size from 35 μm to 15 μm can greatly influence the process costs by doubling the energy consumption.…”

“…increasing the surface area (Maroto-Valer et al, 2005). However, the high costs and intensive energy needs associated with such chemical or physical treatments of silicate minerals have been mentioned as the main drawbacks for application of these methods (Gerdemann et al, 2007;Huijgen et al, 2003;Renforth et al, 2011;Sipilä et al, 2008). Therefore, recently, the application of biological processes as a more cost-efficient method for enhancing the dissolution of alkaline silicates has been investigated (Bennett et al, 2001;Pokrovsky et al, 2009;Rawlings et al, 2003;Ullman et al, 1996;Welch & Ullman, 1993;Wogelius & Walther, 1991).…”

“…Using the current technologies, the sequestration cost is in the range of 57 and 250 euro/ton carbon-sequestered depending on the silicate mineral used (Gerdemann et al, 2007;Huijgen et al, 2007) 1 . This is while the reported cost for geological storage is in the range of 100-190 euro/ton carbon-stored (using a conversion rate of 1.3 dollor = 1 euro) (Anderson & Newell, 2004;Metz et al, 2005).…”

“…The following section (1.3) elaborates on the application of biological processes for the mineral carbonation of CO 2 . (Gerdemann et al, 2007). This energy does not include the energy spent for mineral crushing.…”