Accelerated Soil Stabilization via CO2 Gas Phase Carbonation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current soil stabilization methods are inefficient in addressing challenging soil subgrade conditions, leading to performance issues like excessive deformations and erosion in infrastructure, and they often result in carbon emissions during the stabilization process.

Innovation Solution

The method involves contacting a composition of soil, lime, and water with exogenous carbon dioxide to create a continuous gas phase, precipitating carbonate minerals and enhancing soil stabilization, which reduces susceptibility to freezing and thawing and minimizes carbon emissions by sequestering CO2.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional soil stabilization methods are used, then soil strength is improved, but the process is slow and results in carbon emissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil strengthVSAvoidstabilization time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of CO2 from supercritical phase to gas phase, which dramatically accelerates the carbonation reaction rate with lime-stabilized soil, reducing stabilization time from months to days while maintaining strength gains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts CO2 emissions, traditionally a harmful byproduct of stabilization processes, into a beneficial agent that accelerates carbonation and strengthens the soil-lime matrix through rapid carbonate mineral formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Strength

If traditional soil stabilization methods are used, then soil bearing capacity is improved, but carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing capacityVSAvoidcarbon emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts CO2 emissions from a harmful pollutant into a useful reactant that drives accelerated carbonation, transforming the stabilization process into one that sequesters carbon while improving soil bearing capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding CO2 into the atmosphere, the patent recovers and utilizes it as a reactant in the carbonation process, converting it into stable carbonate minerals that permanently sequester carbon in the soil matrix

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If soil stabilization is accelerated using CO2, then stabilization time is reduced, but process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestabilization rateVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of CO2 from supercritical to gas state, which naturally occurs through pressure and temperature changes during injection, to accelerate carbonation without requiring complex additional equipment or processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 accelerates soil stabilization, improves infrastructure durability, and reduces carbon footprint by forming stable carbonate minerals that enhance soil strength and reduce repair needs while sequestering carbon dioxide.

Implementation Method 1

contacting a composition including soil, lime, and water, with exogenous carbon dioxide sufficient to create and/or maintain a continuous gas phase in the composition for a period of time sufficient to precipitate (e.g., to form by precipitation) carbonate minerals in the composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation