Feedstocks study on CO₂ mineralization technology

A tremendous amount of CO₂ has been released into the atmosphere over the past two centuries as a result of excessive use of fossil fuels. A variety of methods to reduce CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere have been proposed, but none of them so far has attained a concrete breakthrough. Developing new technologies using CO₂ and industrial alkaline wastes as alternatives to petroleum-based feedstocks may offer attractive opportunities to reduce both the greenhouse gas emissions and the reliance on petroleum derivatives for production of important base chemical commodities. Recently, a novel technique about harvesting electricity from CO₂ mineralization was proposed by our group based on the principle that chemical energy released from CO₂ mineralization process can be converted into electricity in addition to some high value chemical products of the reaction. However, this technology brings into question a number of issues including the chemical mechanisms taking place in the system, the availability of adequate mineralizing feedstocks for harvesting electricity, the quantity of CO₂ that can be sequestered, and the quantity of electricity that can be generated by the CO₂ mineralization process. A detailed investigation of the CO₂ mineralization was conducted including a study of the required raw materials herein classified as alkali and alkaline minerals, industrial alkaline solid wastes and waste water. The great significance of environmental implications estimates that approximately 10492.32 million tons and 150.35 million tons of CO₂ can be mineralized worldwide and in China, respectively. In other words, annually 250.94 and 147.71 million tons of CO₂ can be sequestered worldwide and in China, respectively. Accordingly, the total amount of electricity produced will reach 2687.03 and 40.50 billion kWh worldwide and in China, respectively, i.e., 69.33 billion kWh worldwide and 39.94 billion kWh in China, annually.