Mineral Carbonation Using Natural Materials: CO2 Reduction Method?

Mineral carbonation is one possible approach to reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This method involves the use of a natural phenomenon of carbon dioxide causing CO2 to bond with natural or concrete materials. Since the appearance of the first publication on the mineral sequestration of CO2 (in 1990 in Nature), research has been conducted into making use of the carbon dioxide bond. The objective was to bind carbon dioxide into a solid form, a method rendering it environmentally safe. In addition, as a result of the reaction being exothermic, heat is released which can potentially be used. This process may be employed as the last step of CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage). Mineral carbonation can be implemented as a method both in situ and ex situ. Mineral sequestration is proposed and has been tested for both minerals and waste. In Poland, a particularly interesting option is the binding of CO2 through mineral carbonation of energy waste with a high content of CaO and limited economic use. Binding of CO2 has also been analyzed with use of the metallurgical slag and dust from cement kilns. Another option for mineral carbonation is the use of natural raw materials. To bind CO2 through mineral carbonation, minerals such as olivine, serpentine, and talc can be applied. This paper is a preliminary analysis presenting the possibility of using mineral raw materials to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. It also analyzes minerals occurring in Poland which can potentially be used to sequester CO2 in ex situ and in situ processes.