Volume 230, 2021

Managed pathways for CO2 mineralisation: analogy with nature and potential contribution to CCUS-led reduction targets

Abstract

The managed mineralisation of CO2 on mineral substrates has significant potential to mitigate CO2 emissions to atmosphere, using processes that are analogous to the formation of limestone in nature. High-temperatures and pressures or ambient conditions can be applied in processes that compare with the natural chemical, hydrothermal or biological formation of limestone. In the UK, recent policy developments recognise the potential of carbon utilisation and a reduction target of 40 Mt by 2030 has been set. In the present work, the analogies between natural and managed carbonate-production are briefly reviewed and the potential gains for mineralisation technology employing flue-gas as a direct source of CO2 are presented. With reference to selected UK solid waste arisings, our high-level analysis indicates mineralisation is capable of permanently sequestrating 1.2 Mt per year of CO2 in carbonated construction products. At a European level, nearly 7.8 Mt of CO2 can be managed in the same way. If indicative indirect CO2 savings are also considered, maximum total CO2 reductions of up to 3 and 30 Mt per year are possible in the UK and Europe, respectively. In respect of the UK’s CCUS-led CO2 reductions for the 8 years to 2030, our high-level assessment suggests that up to 24 Mt, representing 60% of the ‘target’, may be met by the mineralisation of selected industrial process residues.

Graphical abstract: Managed pathways for CO2 mineralisation: analogy with nature and potential contribution to CCUS-led reduction targets

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 N’w 2020
Accepted
04 Yan 2021
First published
12 Yan 2021

Faraday Discuss., 2021,230, 152-171

Managed pathways for CO2 mineralisation: analogy with nature and potential contribution to CCUS-led reduction targets

C. D. Hills, N. Tripathi and P. J. Carey, Faraday Discuss., 2021, 230, 152 DOI: 10.1039/D0FD00142B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements