CARS-CO2 · Carbonatation of Sulphates for CO2 sequestration

Carbonatation of Sulphates for CO2 sequestration

Calcium sulfates are abundant minerals in the earth's crust. These minerals, which are slightly soluble in water, can be transformed into carbonates when they come into contact with water containing this compound. The main goal of CARS-CO2 was to leverage these reactions as a method for capturing and storing CO2, one of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for the current accelerated climate change. The project had the following three objectives: 1. Improving our understanding of the crystallization processes of sulphates and carbonates. 2. Studying the mechanisms, kinetics and stability of the carbonatation of sulphates and the evaluation of sulphates as potential “sequestrators” of CO2. 3. Designing an effective strategy to use carbonatation of natural and waste sulphates to capture CO2. The achievement of the third objective depended on the successful completion of the first two, making it the cornerstone of the project with the most significant societal impact. Leveraging insights gained from the initial objectives, a novel CO2 capture method was developed. This method utilizes powdered gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) combined with carbonate solutions derived from CO2 capture. Mixing the powdered gypsum with these solutions yields a new carbonate mineral phase, namely vaterite (CaCO3), and sulfate-rich solutions, all achievable at ambient temperatures. Both resulting by-products hold industrial significance; vaterite finds applications in various sectors like cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, while the sulfate-rich solutions could be repurposed for synthesizing new gypsum or for agricultural fertilization. Consequently, the proposed approach aligns with the principles of the circular economy, wherein waste materials are converted into resources with renewed utility. Furthermore, this project also provides a proof of concept for future endeavors, wherein waste gypsum produced by diverse industries would replace synthetic and natural gypsum, thereby extending the sustainability of the approach.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз