CO2 Mineralization and Utilization

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 5172

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Interests: CO2 mineralization and utilization; hydrometallurgical extraction of critical metals; comprehensive utilization of mineral resources

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Guest Editor
School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Interests: CO2 sequestration and utilization; solid waste valorization; mineral synthesis; mineralogical characterization; (bio)hydrometallurgy; geochemical modeling; environmental remediation; process intensification
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Effective reduction in CO2 emissions towards carbon neutrality needs both CO2 mineralization and enhanced supply of critical materials to facilitate the clean energy transition as direct and indirect approaches, respectively. CO2 mineralization is one example of the self-regulatory mechanisms of the Earth and can be accelerated to capture and store excessive CO2 gas as stable mineral carbonates. Accelerated CO2 mineralization can be also utilized in many aspects of anthropology activities, e.g., enhancing the growth of agricultural crops, enhancing metal recovery, producing nanosilicas, etc. With the global transition to clean energy, the utilization of CO2 mineralization plays an increasingly important role in enhancing the recovery of critical materials with minimizing CO2 emissions for sustainable development.

Dr. Fei Wang
Dr. Rafael Santos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • CO2 mineralization and utilization
  • carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS)
  • carbon neutrality
  • clean energy transition
  • sustainable development
  • CO2 emission reduction
  • enhanced metal recovery (EMR)
  • critical and strategic minerals (MCS)

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2368 KiB  
Article
A Mathematical Model for Enhancing CO2 Capture in Construction Sector Using Hydrated Lime
by Natalia Vidal de la Peña, Séverine Marquis, Stéphane Jacques, Elise Aubry, Grégoire Léonard and Dominique Toye
Minerals 2024, 14(9), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14090889 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 769
Abstract
The construction sector is among the most polluting industries globally, accounting for approximately 37.5% of the European Union’s total waste generation in 2020. Therefore, it is imperative to develop strategies to enhance the sustainability of this sector. This paper proposes a multiscale COMSOL [...] Read more.
The construction sector is among the most polluting industries globally, accounting for approximately 37.5% of the European Union’s total waste generation in 2020. Therefore, it is imperative to develop strategies to enhance the sustainability of this sector. This paper proposes a multiscale COMSOL Multiphysics numerical model for an ex situ mineral carbonation process of hydrated lime. The carbonation process is characterized at both the micro- and macroscale levels, encompassing interactions within and between the particles. This model incorporates both reaction and diffusion phenomena, considering the effects of porosity and liquid-water saturation parameters. Generally, liquid-water saturation enhances the reaction kinetics but not CO2 diffusion, while porosity improves CO2 diffusion throughout the granular bed. The model has been experimentally validated, showing promising results by accurately characterizing carbonation tendencies and the influence of the CO2 flow rate and the initial water-to-solid ratio on the carbonation process. The proposed mathematical model facilitates the study of various parameters, including particle radius, reactor geometry, and material porosity. This analysis is valuable for both current and future projects, as it aims to identify the most profitable configurations for the hydrated lime carbonation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Mineralization and Utilization)
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14 pages, 7041 KiB  
Article
Acceleration of Iron-Rich Olivine CO2 Mineral Carbonation and Utilization for Simultaneous Critical Nickel and Cobalt Recovery
by Fei Wang and David Dreisinger
Minerals 2024, 14(8), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14080766 - 28 Jul 2024
Viewed by 704
Abstract
CO2 mineral carbonation is an important method to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) in the form of stable mineral carbonates for permanent storage. The slow kinetics of carbonation, especially for iron-rich olivine, is the major challenge for potential application. This work [...] Read more.
CO2 mineral carbonation is an important method to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) in the form of stable mineral carbonates for permanent storage. The slow kinetics of carbonation, especially for iron-rich olivine, is the major challenge for potential application. This work proposes methods to accelerate the mineral carbonation process of different materials in the general mineral grouping of divalent metals–olivine for simultaneous nickel and cobalt recovery. It is found that nickel-olivine is facile for mineral carbonation compared to ferrous and magnesium olivine. Ferrous olivine is the most difficult form of olivine to carbonate as illustrated in both thermodynamics and experimental test results. The increase in iron content in olivine inhibits the CO2 mineral carbonation process by forming an iron-silica-rich passivation interlayer. The use of a reducing gas or reagent can enhance the mineral carbonation of olivine probably through hindering oxidation of Fe(Ⅱ). The addition of sodium nitrilotriacetate (NTA) as a metal complexing agent is much more efficient for the acceleration than usage of a reducing atmosphere. The combination of sodium bicarbonate/CO2 gas supply and NTA can enhance the diffusion of all divalent metal ions from the reacting olivine surface, thereby limiting the formation of the passivation interlayer. Meanwhile, highly selective nickel and cobalt leaching can be simultaneously achieved along with the CO2 mineral carbonation, 94% nickel, and 92% cobalt leaching as well as 47% mineral carbonation versus only 10% iron and 1% magnesium leached in 2 h. This work provides a novel direction to achieve critical metals recovery with accelerated mineral carbonation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Mineralization and Utilization)
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18 pages, 17298 KiB  
Article
Accelerated Carbonation of High-Calcite Wollastonite Tailings
by Arnold Ismailov, Niina Merilaita and Erkki Levänen
Minerals 2024, 14(4), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14040415 - 18 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1176
Abstract
Wollastonite (CaSiO3) is the most researched and well-defined mineral in the field of CO2 mineralization, but it is also a sought-after process mineral and thus, not easily justified for large scale ex situ carbon sequestration, which requires an energy-intensive step [...] Read more.
Wollastonite (CaSiO3) is the most researched and well-defined mineral in the field of CO2 mineralization, but it is also a sought-after process mineral and thus, not easily justified for large scale ex situ carbon sequestration, which requires an energy-intensive step of comminution to increase reactivity. Wollastonite-rich mine tailings are a side stream with an already fine particle size resulting from the extractive process, but their effective utilization is problematic due to legislation, logistics, a high number of impurities, and chemical inconsistency. In this study, the accelerated weathering (aqueous carbonation) of high-calcite (CaCO3) wollastonite tailings was studied under elevated temperatures and high partial pressures of CO2 to determine the carbon sequestration potential of those tailings compared to those of pure reference wollastonite originating from the same quarry. The main process variables were pressure (20–100 bar), temperature (40 °C–60 °C), and time (10 min–24 h). Despite consisting largely of non-reactive silicates and primary calcite, very fine tailings showed promise in closed-chamber batch-type aqueous carbonation, achieving a conversion extent of over 28% in one hour at 100 bar and 60 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Mineralization and Utilization)
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15 pages, 54235 KiB  
Technical Note
Integration of Modified Solvay Process for Sodium Bicarbonate Synthesis from Saline Brines with Steelmaking for Utilization of Electric Arc Furnace Slag in CO2 Sequestration and Reagent Regeneration
by Shadman Monir Anto, Asif Ali and Rafael M. Santos
Minerals 2024, 14(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14010097 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1806
Abstract
In the pursuit of sustainable solutions for carbon dioxide CO2 sequestration and emission reduction in the steel industry, this study presents an innovative integration of steelmaking slag with the modified Solvay process for sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) synthesis from saline brines. [...] Read more.
In the pursuit of sustainable solutions for carbon dioxide CO2 sequestration and emission reduction in the steel industry, this study presents an innovative integration of steelmaking slag with the modified Solvay process for sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) synthesis from saline brines. Utilizing diverse minerals, including electric arc furnace (EAF) slag, olivine, and kimberlite, the study explored their reactivity under varied pH conditions and examined their potential in ammonium regeneration. SEM and WDXRF analyses were utilized to acquire morphological and chemical compositions of the minerals. Advanced techniques such as XRD and ICP-OES were employed to meticulously analyze mineralogical transformations and elemental concentrations. The findings demonstrate that steelmaking slag, owing to its superior reactivity and pH buffering capabilities, outperforms natural minerals. The integration of finer slag particles significantly elevated pH levels, facilitating efficient ammonium regeneration. Geochemical modeling provided valuable insights into mineral stability and reactivity, which aligned with the ICP-OES results. This synergistic approach not only aids in CO2 capture through mineral carbonation but also minimizes waste, showcasing its potential as a sustainable and environmentally responsible solution for CO2 mitigation in the steel industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Mineralization and Utilization)
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