Carbonation of Magnesium Silicate Minerals: An Experimental Study

Abstract CO2 sequestration by magnesium silicate mineral is the only known process that can permanently store CO2 using a natural feedstock that exists in sufficient quantities to be used practically. Transporting large amounts of mineral over long distances is uneconomical. For Canada to benefit from such a process, identification of suitable Canadian magnesium silicate mineral deposits is crucial. Only carbonation under pressure in NaCl and NaCl/NaHCO3 solutions results in high Mg conversions (40–80%). Among the minerals examined in this study, the serpentines reacted most easily, and peridotite was the most difficult to carbonate. Increasing carbonation pressure to very high levels reduced the degree of carbonation as hydrolysis reactions became competitive with the carbonation process.