Hydrothermal Olivine Carbonation for Lower-Energy CO2 Sequestration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for CO₂ sequestration using olivine are inefficient and unsuitable for industrial scale due to low conversion rates and high energy consumption, and alternative methods are costly or impractical for large-scale implementation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving hydrothermal treatment of ultramafic rocks or industrial by-products with a high MgO content, followed by dehydration and reaction with CO₂ to form magnesium carbonate, utilizing additives and milling to enhance reaction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high temperatures and high CO2 partial pressures are used to accelerate the reaction, then the reaction rate is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the reaction system by introducing ammonium salts and bases to alter the reaction mechanism. This allows the carbonation reaction to proceed at lower temperatures and pressures while maintaining high reaction rates, thus resolving the contradiction between reaction speed and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ammonium salts and bases as intermediary substances to facilitate the carbonation reaction. These intermediaries enable the reaction to proceed under milder conditions by providing alternative reaction pathways, thereby reducing the need for high energy input while maintaining efficient CO2 sequestration.
2Speed
If very high CO2 partial pressures and high temperatures are used, then the reaction proceeds faster, but the conversion rate of olivine remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces chemical additives (ammonium salts and bases) that fundamentally change the reaction parameters and mechanism. This enables complete conversion of olivine to magnesium carbonate at lower temperatures and pressures, achieving both high reaction rate and high conversion rate simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The ammonium salts and bases act as intermediaries that facilitate the complete carbonation of olivine. They enable the reaction to proceed to completion by providing alternative pathways that overcome the kinetic barriers present in conventional high-temperature processes, thus achieving high conversion rates without requiring extreme conditions.
3Device complexity
If conventional methods are used for CO2 sequestration, then the process is simpler, but the cost of starting materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive ammonium salts and common bases as reagents, which are much cheaper than the expensive starting materials required by conventional methods. These inexpensive additives enable complete carbonation at lower costs, making the process economically viable for large-scale CO2 sequestration.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical environment through the addition of ammonium salts and bases, the patent enables the use of cheaper starting materials. The altered reaction parameters allow conventional, low-cost materials to achieve complete carbonation efficiency that previously required expensive specialized reagents.
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
Achieves high CO₂ binding capacity with reduced energy input, enabling efficient CO₂ sequestration and production of a binder for concrete, suitable for industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
the prepared starting product is converted, in particular by means of a hydrothermal treatment, into magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and/or magnesium silicate hydrate
Implementation Method 2
The converted starting product is at least partially dehydrated
Implementation Method 3
The converted and dehydrated starting product is reacted with CO2, wherein the carbon dioxide is bound in the formed magnesium carbonate (MgCO3)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for sequestration of CO2 which comprises the steps of providing a starting material comprising at least 20% by mass of one or more of the following constituents: ultramafic rock, weathering products of ultramafic rock, olivine and/or industrial wastes, homogenizing the starting material and hydrothermal treatment of the homogenized starting material in a thermal treatment apparatus at a temperature of above 100°C for at least 24 hours. Also envisaged is dewatering of the converted starting material to remove bound water by thermal treatment and/or reactive grinding. The resulting product is subsequently contacted with CO2 to effect binding thereof.