Biomass CO2 Sequestration in Concrete via Mineral Carbonation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently sequestering biomass-derived CO2 emissions from combustion systems, particularly at low temperatures and ambient pressure, without CO2 enrichment, and in producing low-carbon concrete materials with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the conditioning of biomass-derived CO2-containing flue gas by removing particulate matter, acidic gases, and alkali compounds, followed by contacting the conditioned gas with concrete or alkaline-rich materials in a carbonation chamber to precipitate calcium carbonate, thereby sequestering CO2 in concrete at low temperatures and ambient pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If CO2 enrichment is used to increase carbonation efficiency, then the rate of calcium carbonate precipitation improves, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the CO2 already present in biomass flue gas without requiring external CO2 enrichment or capture systems. The biomass combustion process itself provides the carbonation agent, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding complex CO2 separation and enrichment equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful CO2 emissions from biomass combustion into a useful resource for carbonation. Instead of treating CO2 as waste that must be captured and enriched, the system directly utilizes the dilute CO2 flue gas for calcium carbonate precipitation, turning an environmental problem into a production advantage.
2Speed
If high temperatures are used to accelerate carbonation reactions, then the reaction rate improves, but energy consumption increases and low-temperature operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the carbonation process by using alkaline-rich materials with high reactivity toward CO2. This allows the reaction to proceed at appreciable rates at low temperatures by altering the chemical affinity rather than relying on thermal energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces thermal activation (heat-driven reactions) with chemically-driven reactions using highly reactive alkaline materials. This substitution allows carbonation to occur at low temperatures by utilizing chemical reactivity instead of thermal energy to drive the precipitation of calcium carbonate.
3Quantity of substance
If CO2 capture and enrichment steps are added to improve carbonation efficiency, then the concentration of CO2 increases, but the process complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the CO2 already present in biomass flue gas without requiring external CO2 enrichment or capture systems. The biomass combustion process itself provides the carbonation agent, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding complex CO2 separation and enrichment equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful CO2 emissions from biomass combustion into a useful resource for carbonation. Instead of treating CO2 as waste that must be captured and enriched, the system directly utilizes the dilute CO2 flue gas for calcium carbonate precipitation, turning an environmental problem into a production advantage.
4Strength
If conventional cement-based concrete is used, then structural strength is achieved, but greenhouse gas emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful CO2 emissions from biomass combustion into a useful resource for carbonation. Instead of treating CO2 as waste that must be captured and enriched, the system directly utilizes the dilute CO2 flue gas for calcium carbonate precipitation, turning an environmental problem into a production advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the carbonation process by using alkaline-rich materials with high reactivity toward CO2. This allows the reaction to proceed at appreciable rates at low temperatures by altering the chemical affinity rather than relying on thermal energy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the permanent removal of CO2 emissions from biomass combustion and the production of low-carbon concrete materials with a greater than 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional concrete production, even under dilute CO2 concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the conditioned gas in a carbonation chamber, with a component selected from the group consisting of a green body, concrete, an aqueous solution of alkaline solids, an aqueous solution of aggregates, or a combination thereof; and precipitating calcium carbonate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are integrated biomass combustion-carbonation gas conditioning systems to directly sequester carbon dioxide from biomass-derived CO2-containing flue gas. The CO2 is sequestered by mineral carbonation in concrete materials within a carbonation reactor. The mineral carbonation processes sequester CO2 in concrete materials, aqueous slurries, or aggregates without any additional carbon enrichment process. Contacting a CO2-containing gas stream from a biomass combustion apparatus with concrete, aggregate, or alkaline solutions, causes a carbonation reaction in which carbonation products such as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and alumina silica gel are formed. The carbonation reactions set forth herein are useful for strengthening concrete and concrete components. Certain processes herein condition the biomass-derived flue gas. The conditioning includes condensing the gas to remove acidic gas, and to remove particulates and water. The conditioning includes adjusting the temperature, relative humidity, and gas flow rate of the biomass-derived flue gas without any carbon capture step before entering the carbonation reactor. The permanent storage of CO2 in concrete materials reduces carbon emissions from biomass combustion systems. The process does so, in certain embodiments, at low temperatures, ambient pressure, and even under dilute CO2 concentrations in CO2-containing flue gas streams. For example, the CO2 concentration in a CO2-containing flue gas stream from a biomass combustion system may be lower than 20 volume percent (vol %) and be used to produce low-carbon concrete materials.