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A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Geochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2018) | Viewed by 59344

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ian Power

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Guest Editor

School of the Environment, Trent University, Peterborough, ON K9J 0G2, Canada
Interests: CO₂ sequestration; enhanced weathering; CO₂ mineralization; geochemistry; geomicrobiology; carbonate formation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Anna Harrison

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Interests: mineral-fluid interactions; CO₂ sequestration; aqueous geochemistry; stable isotopes; reactive transport modelling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, despite increasing calls to reduce carbon emissions and avoid the most damaging impacts of climate change. Moreover, fossil fuels remain relatively inexpensive and will likely continue to be an important energy source for a growing world population for the foreseeable future. Given the monumental task of stabilizing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations, we must explore all available options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions including “Carbon Sequestration”.

Carbon sequestration is an evolving area in geoscience with the potential for scientific breakthroughs, and one that will become increasingly important as the concentration of atmospheric CO₂ rises. This Special Issue of Geoscience aims to advance the science of “Carbon Sequestration” towards enabling society to make informed decisions on the technical, environmental, economic, and social merits of carbon sequestration strategies. This special issue explores all aspects of carbon sequestration relating to the capture, transportation, storage, and conversion of CO₂, as well as interdisciplinary studies involving policy or economics relating to carbon sequestration. Recognizing the diverse nature of carbon sequestration strategies and technologies, we invite contributions that discuss fundamental processes and emerging strategies, field, laboratory, and modelling studies including, but not limited to, geologic CO₂ storage, mineral carbonation, carbon mineralization, enhanced weathering, biological approaches, use of industrial wastes, ocean-related approaches, and geoengineering strategies.

Dr. Ian Power
Dr. Anna Harrison
Guest Editors

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Keywords

CO₂ sequestration
Greenhouse gases
Carbon capture
Carbon storage
CO₂ mineralization
CO₂ utilization
Mineral carbonation
Geologic carbon sequestration.

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14 pages, 1012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sequestering Atmospheric CO₂ Inorganically: A Solution for Malaysia’s CO₂ Emission

by M. Ehsan Jorat, Maniruzzaman A. Aziz, Aminaton Marto, Nabilah Zaini, Siti Norafida Jusoh and David A.C. Manning

Geosciences 2018, 8(12), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8120483 - 14 Dec 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7444

Abstract

Malaysia is anticipating an increase of 68.86% in CO₂ emission in 2020, compared with the 2000 baseline, reaching 285.73 million tonnes. A major contributor to Malaysia’s CO₂ emissions is coal-fired electricity power plants, responsible for 43.4% of the overall emissions. Malaysia’s forest soil offers organic sequestration of 15 tonnes of CO₂ ha⁻¹·year⁻¹. Unlike organic CO₂ sequestration in soil, inorganic sequestration of CO₂ through mineral carbonation, once formed, is considered as a permanent sink. Inorganic CO₂ sequestration in Malaysia has not been extensively studied, and the country’s potential for using the technique for atmospheric CO₂ removal is undefined. In addition, Malaysia produces a significant amount of solid waste annually and, of that, demolition concrete waste, basalt quarry fine, and fly and bottom ashes are calcium-rich materials suitable for inorganic CO₂ sequestration. This project introduces a potential solution for sequestering atmospheric CO₂ inorganically for Malaysia. If lands associated to future developments in Malaysia are designed for inorganic CO₂ sequestration using demolition concrete waste, basalt quarry fine, and fly and bottom ashes, 597,465 tonnes of CO₂ can be captured annually adding a potential annual economic benefit of €4,700,000. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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10 pages, 1822 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phase Evolution and Textural Changes during the Direct Conversion and Storage of CO₂ to Produce Calcium Carbonate from Calcium Hydroxide

by Meishen Liu and Greeshma Gadikota

Geosciences 2018, 8(12), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8120445 - 30 Nov 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6403

Abstract

The increasing use of energy resources recovered from subsurface environments and the resulting carbon imbalance in the environment has motivated the need to develop thermodynamically downhill pathways to convert and store CO₂ as water-insoluble calcium or magnesium carbonates. While previous studies extensively explored aqueous routes to produce calcium and magnesium carbonates from CO₂, there is limited scientific understanding of the phase evolution and textural changes during the direct gas–solid conversion routes to produce calcium carbonate from calcium hydroxide, which is one of the abundant constituents of alkaline industrial residues. With increasing interest in developing integrated pathways for capturing, converting, and storing CO₂ from dilute flue gases, understanding the composition of product phases as they evolve is essential for evaluating the efficacy of a given processing route. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the phase evolution and the corresponding textural changes as calcium hydroxide is converted to calcium carbonate under the continuous flow of CO₂ at an ambient pressure of 1 atm with continuous heating from 30 °C to 500 °C using in-operando wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and ultrasmall angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) measurements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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17 pages, 837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Biochar Incorporation on Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant Uptake; An Opportunity for Carbon Sequestration in Temperate Agriculture

by Rebecca Hood-Nowotny, Andrea Watzinger, Anna Wawra and Gerhard Soja

Geosciences 2018, 8(11), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8110420 - 14 Nov 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5519

Abstract

Field studies of biochar addition to soil and nutrient cycling using ¹⁵N fertilizers in temperate agriculture are scant. These data are required in order to make evidence based assessments. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that biochar application can increase crop yields through improving the nitrogen uptake and utilization of added inorganic fertilizer, whilst sequestering significant quantities of carbon. Results showed that although biochar addition led to significant spring barley grain yield increases in the first year of biochar application, an unusually dry year; this was possibly not solely the result of improved nitrogen uptake, as total crop N was similar in both treatments. Results suggested it was improved water utilization, indicated by the crop carbon isotope values and soil moisture characteristics. In the second year, there were no significant effects of the previous year’s biochar addition on the sunflower yield, N status, fertilizer recovery or any signs of improved water utilization. These data add to a growing body of evidence, suggesting that biochar addition has only slightly positive or neutral effects on crop growth and fertilizer retention but has the potential to sequester vast amounts of carbon in the soil with minimal yield losses in temperate agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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15 pages, 3973 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Ball Milling Effect on the CO₂ Uptake of Mafic and Ultramafic Rocks: A Review

by Ioannis Rigopoulos, Ioannis Ioannou, Andreas Delimitis, Angelos M. Efstathiou and Theodora Kyratsi

Geosciences 2018, 8(11), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8110406 - 7 Nov 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4595

Abstract

Mineral carbonation is considered to be the most stable mechanism for the sequestration of CO₂. This study comprises a comparative review of the effect of ball milling on the CO₂ uptake of ultramafic/mafic lithologies, which are the most promising rocks for the mineralization of CO₂. Samples of dunite, pyroxenite, olivine basalt and of a dolerite quarry waste material were previously subjected to ball milling to produce ultrafine powders with enhanced CO₂ uptake. The optimum milling conditions were determined through selective CO₂ chemisorption followed by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments, revealing that the CO₂ uptake of the studied lithologies can be substantially enhanced via mechanical activation. Here, all these data are compared, demonstrating that the behavior of each rock under the effect of ball milling is predominantly controlled by the mineralogical composition of the starting rock materials. The ball-milled rock with the highest CO₂ uptake is the dunite, followed by the olivine basalt, the pyroxenite and the dolerite. The increased CO₂ uptake after ball milling is mainly attributed to the reduction of particle size to the nanoscale range, thus creating more adsorption sites per gram basis, as well as to the structural disordering of the constituent silicate minerals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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27 pages, 6310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CCS Risk Assessment: Groundwater Contamination Caused by CO₂

by Zhenze Li, Mamadou Fall and Alireza Ghirian

Geosciences 2018, 8(11), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8110397 - 30 Oct 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7543

Abstract

The potential contamination of underground drinking water (UDW) caused by CO₂ leakage is a critical decision input for risk assessment and management decision making. This paper presents an overview of the potential alterations to UDW quality caused by CO₂ and the relevant quality guidelines on drinking water. Furthermore, a framework and numerical simulator have been developed to (i) predict and assess the potential consequences of CO₂ leakage on the quality of UDW; and (ii) assess the efficiency of groundwater remediation methods and scenarios for various UDW leakage conditions and alterations. The simulator was applied to a Canadian CO₂ disposal site to assess the potential consequences of CO₂ leakage on groundwater quality. The information, framework, and numerical tool presented here are useful for successful risk assessments and the management of CO₂ capture and sequestration in Canadian geological formations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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12 pages, 1181 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Waste Concrete Valorization; Aggregates and Mineral Carbonation Feedstock Production

by Louis-César Pasquier, Nassima Kemache, Julien Mocellin, Jean-François Blais and Guy Mercier

Geosciences 2018, 8(9), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8090342 - 11 Sep 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5431

Abstract

Concrete is a major constituent of our world. Its contributes to building society but is also an important contributor to the global CO₂ emissions. The combination of waste concrete recycling and greenhouse gas abatement is obviously an interesting approach. Mineral carbonation is the methodology that allows the use of calcium oxide within the concrete and transform it into carbonates with the CO₂. Following previous results, carbonation experiments were performed using concrete paste extracted from a waste concrete sample after aggregate separation. The latter was performed after crushing and attrition followed by sieving to obtain three fractions. The coarser one composed of aggregates, the second of sand and the last, a fine powder of waste concrete paste (MCF). The MCF is then used in carbonation experiments in an 18.7 L stirred reactor with a diluted source of CO₂ following previously optimized conditions. Different S/L ratios were experimented. The results show that 110 kg of CO₂ can be stored per ton of MCF obtained after separation. Using the mass balance obtained from the experiments, an economic evaluation was performed on both aggregate separation and carbonation. While the first step can be profitable, using the MCF as a material for industrial flue gas abatement is less evident, both on the applicability and the feasibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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20 pages, 3909 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

How Characterization of Particle Size Distribution Pre- and Post-Reaction Provides Mechanistic Insights into Mineral Carbonation

by Aashvi Dudhaiya and Rafael M. Santos

Geosciences 2018, 8(7), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8070260 - 11 Jul 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 8083

Abstract

Mineral carbonation is the conversion of carbon dioxide, in gas form or dissolved in water, to solid carbonates. Materials characterization plays an important role in assessing the potential to use these carbonates in commercial applications, and also aids in understanding fundamental phenomena about the reactions. This paper highlights findings of mechanistic nature made on topics related to mineral carbonation, and that were made possible by assessing particle size, particle size distribution, and other morphological characteristics. It is also shown how particle size data can be used to estimate the weathering rate of carbonated minerals. An extension of the carbonation weathering rate approach is presented, whereby using particle size distribution data it becomes possible to predict the particle size below which full carbonation is obtained, and above which partial carbonation occurs. The paper also overviews the most common techniques to determine the particle size distribution, as well as complementary and alternate techniques. In mineral carbonation research, most techniques have been used as ex situ methods, yet tools that can analyze powders during reaction (in situ and real-time) can provide even more insight into mineral carbonation mechanisms, so researchers are encouraged to adopt such advanced techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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18 pages, 43686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Membrane Separation of Ammonium Bisulfate from Ammonium Sulfate in Aqueous Solutions for CO₂ Mineralisation

by Evelina Koivisto and Ron Zevenhoven

Geosciences 2018, 8(4), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8040123 - 4 Apr 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4974

Abstract

The separation of ammonium bisulfate (ABS) from ammonium sulfate (AS) in aqueous solutions by monovalent ion selective membranes was studied. Optimised usage of these chemicals is both an important and challenging step towards a more efficient CO₂ mineralisation process route developed at Åbo Akademi University (ÅA). The membranes were placed in a three or five-compartment electrodialysis stack. Silver, stainless steel and platinum electrodes were tested, of which a combination of Pt (anode) and stainless steel (cathode) electrodes were found to be most suitable. Separation efficiencies close to 100% were reached based on ABS concentrations in the feed solution. The tests were performed with an initial voltage of either 10 V–20 V, but limitations in the electrical power supply equipment eventually resulted in a voltage drop as separation proceeded. Exergy calculations for energy efficiency assessment show that the input exergy (electrical power) is many times higher than the reversible mixing exergy, which indicates that design modifications must be made. Further work will focus on the possibilities to make the separation even more efficient and to develop the analysis methods, besides the use of another anode material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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26 pages, 7734 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Faults as Windows to Monitor Gas Seepage: Application to CO₂ Sequestration and CO₂-EOR

by Ronald W. Klusman

Geosciences 2018, 8(3), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8030092 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4678

Abstract

Monitoring of potential gas seepage for CO₂ sequestration and CO₂-EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) in geologic storage will involve geophysical and geochemical measurements of parameters at depth and at, or near the surface. The appropriate methods for MVA (Monitoring, Verification, Accounting) are needed for both cost and technical effectiveness. This work provides an overview of some of the geochemical methods that have been demonstrated to be effective for an existing CO₂-EOR (Rangely, CA, USA) and a proposed project at Teapot Dome, WY, USA. Carbon dioxide and CH₄ fluxes and shallow soil gas concentrations were measured, followed by nested completions of 10-m deep holes to obtain concentration gradients. The focus at Teapot Dome was the evaluation of faults as pathways for gas seepage in an under-pressured reservoir system. The measurements were supplemented by stable carbon and oxygen isotopic measurements, carbon-14, and limited use of inert gases. The work clearly demonstrates the superiority of CH₄ over measurements of CO₂ in early detection and quantification of gas seepage. Stable carbon isotopes, carbon-14, and inert gas measurements add to the verification of the deep source. A preliminary accounting at Rangely confirms the importance of CH₄ measurements in the MVA application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Sequestration)

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3 pages, 160 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Commentary on Sequestering Atmospheric CO₂ Inorganically: A Solution for Malaysia’s CO₂ Emission

by John Barry Gallagher, Nithiyaa Nilamani and Norlaila Binti Mohd Zanuri

Geosciences 2019, 9(2), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9020090 - 15 Feb 2019

Viewed by 2717

Abstract

The commentary questions the basis behind an article on accounting and calculating inorganic carbon sequestration services for Malaysia. We point out the omission of coastal vegetated ecosystems. We also bring the author’s attention to the problems of using a seemingly resultant chemistry within open systems, in which reactive species come from external sources. In addition, we point out that ecosystem services in the mitigation of climate change must be referenced against a manufacturing process, such as cement’s normal lifetime of carbon dioxide sequestration. Without such a reference state, sequestration services may be severely overestimated and when used within a cap and trade system, it will lead to an increased rate of carbon dioxide emissions. Full article

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