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Title:
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Carbon dioxide sequestration by mineral carbonation: Literature review update 2003-2004
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
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1-7-2005
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-C--05-022
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ECN publication
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Number of pages:
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Full text:
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37
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Download PDF
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Abstract:
The increasing interest in mineral CO2 sequestration
caused the need for an update of the ECN literature review on this subject
(February 2003). The present report reviews literature published in
2003 and 2004 on the carbonation of solid Ca/Mg-silicates for CO2
sequestration. This review update confirms the selection in the previous
report of the so-called aqueous mineral carbonation route as the most
promising process route. Much progress has been made on this route in
recent years resulting in a system study that showed this approach to
be both technologically and energetically feasible. However, sequestration
costs are (still) too high compared to other CO2 storage
options and in view of expected CO2 market prices. Cost reductions
might be achieved by adding suitable additives to enhance the reaction
rate in an (two-step) aqueous process, by developing large-scale continuous
reactors and (on a limited scale) by using low-cost feedstock such as
industrial alkaline solid residues. A breakthrough in further cost reduction
of mineral sequestration probably has to come from totally new concepts,
such as a mineral sequestration process integrated within a power plant.
Very limited research has been published on such approaches. Beneficial
re-use of carbonated products could also reduce sequestration costs
for the first mineral CO2 sequestration (demonstration) plants.
Mineral CO2 sequestration (still) is a longer-term option
compared to other sequestration options, and probably has limited potential
in the short term. Further technology development and cost reduction
are needed for mineral CO2 sequestration to become part of
a broad portfolio of employable CO2 sequestration technologies.
In the present report, the need for a new
study on mineral CO2 sequestration by the International Energy
Agency (IEA) is also assessed. In 2000, the IEA published an evaluation
of the technological and economical feasibility of a number of CO2
mineralisation process routes. The main conclusion of that evaluation
was that none of the process routes studied proved to be energetically
and economically feasible. With regard to the process-routes evaluated
in the IEA study, the present report confirms this conclusion. However,
the IEA report did not include the most promising carbonation process
route available today (i.e., the aqueous carbonation route).
Therefore, an update of the IEA-assessment on 'CO2 storage
as carbonate minerals' is, in principle, advisable. However, since a
(cost-)evaluation of the aqueous carbonation route has been published
recently, it is questionable whether a new IEA assessment study would
provide sufficient new insights at this moment. Furthermore, more information
is required on the feasibility of some potentially attractive developments
that are currently in a conceptual state. In view of these considerations,
the IEA is advised to repeat this literature review, with a similar
scope, in 2-3 years. The developments over this period may provide the
necessary new insights to warrant a new assessment on mineral CO2
sequestration by the IEA.
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