Rates and Mechanisms of Mineral Carbonation in Peridotite: Natural Processes and Recipes for Enhanced, in situ CO₂ Capture and Storage

Abstract

Near-surface reaction of CO 2 -bearing fluids with silicate minerals in peridotite and basalt forms solid carbonate minerals. Such processes form abundant veins and travertine deposits, particularly in association with tectonically exposed mantle peridotite. This is important in the global carbon cycle, in weathering, and in understanding physical-chemical interaction during retrograde metamorphism. Enhancing the rate of such reactions is a proposed method for geologic CO 2 storage, and perhaps for direct capture of CO 2 from near-surface fluids. We review, synthesize, and extend inferences from a variety of sources. We include data from studies on natural peridotite carbonation processes, carbonation kinetics, feedback between permeability and volume change via reaction-driven cracking, and proposed methods for enhancing the rate of natural mineral carbonation via in situ processes ("at the outcrop") rather than ex situ processes ("at the smokestack"). 545 Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2011.39:545-576. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org by University of British Columbia on 10/27/12. For personal use only.

Acid-dissolution of antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite for ex situ carbon capture and storage by mineralisation

“…Currently, two CCSM approaches are being considered: (i) in situ -whereby the CO 2 is injected underground into a suitable host-rock where it reacts to form carbonate [Kelemen and Matter, 2008;Kelemen et al, 2011;Matter and Kelemen, 2009;McGrail et al, 2014;McGrail et al, 2006;Schaef et al, 2011]; and (ii) ex situ, which involves carbonation of feedstock materials above-ground in a specifically designed CCSM plant [Fagerlund et al, 2009;Lackner et al, 1997;Larachi et al, 2012;Park and Fan, 2004;Sanna et al, 2014;Sanna et al, 2013;Wang and Maroto-Valer, 2011a;b;Werner et al, 2013]. Both host-rock for injection and feedstock materials must be widely available and contain large proportions of easily-extractable cations (i.e.…”

Frictional Instabilities and Carbonation of Basalts Triggered by Injection of Pressurized H2O‐ and CO2‐ Rich Fluids

“…Following the reasoning in Kelemen et al (2011), assuming that basalt mineral carbonation rates are comparable to olivine carbonation rates, the optimum temperature for equation (4) would be in the range 150–200°C (Kelemen & Matter, 2008). This is in good agreement with the bulk temperature increase estimated along the slipping zone at the main frictional instability.…”

Drilling the solid earth: global geodynamic cycles and earth evolution

“…The deep carbon cycle is inextricably linked to the tectonic cycles mentioned above (e.g., Walter et al 2011;Dasgupta 2013), and interactions with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere have been vital in the origin and evolution of life, and in the generation of fossil fuels. In addition to understanding this natural cycle, we also need to investigate how CO 2 can be rapidly locked back into the Earth's crust in the process of carbon capture and storage (Kelemen et al 2011).…”