Abstract
As per the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global warming should be restricted to below 2°C to mitigate the consequences of severe climate change. This study investigates an innovative carbon sequestration method that involves the electrolysis of concentrated seawater to produce alkali solutions and hydrogen gas for mineral carbonation. The optimal conditions were examined with a focus on factors such as electrode materials, current density, and electrolyte flow rate. The study demonstrated the potential for CO2 reduction and the formation of valuable metal carbonates (Mg(OH)2, MgCO3, and CaCO3) via accelerated mineral carbonation. With 1 m3 of concentrated seawater, 1.35 kg of CO2 was removed and 10.3 and 1.1 kg of Mg(OH)2 and CaCO3 were precipitated, respectively. This method is an economically viable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional mineral carbonation, which requires substantial resources.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education (No. 2020R1I1A3A04037029), and by a research grant from Kongju National University in 2023.
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Lee, S., Chae, J. & Jung, S.P. Enhanced CO2 Removal Through the Electrolysis of Concentrated Seawater and Accelerated Mineral Carbonation. KSCE J Civ Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-024-1819-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-024-1819-4