Study finds carbon-capture minerals

A consortium led by Caterpillar and including Shell, the British Geological Survey and the Centre for Innovation in Carbon Capture and Storage at Nottingham University, has been selected to carry out the £1m project.

The consortium aims to provide a detailed assessment of the distribution of suitable materials together with an estimate of how much of these could practically be used and ultimately provide an indication of the economics of CO₂ capture by mineralisation.

The leading technology for carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon-dioxide gas then storing it underground in oil and gas reservoirs, and other porous areas. But CCS by mineralisation has been identified by researchers as a promising additional method of sequestering CO₂ emissions.

Minerals and CO₂ can react together to permanently store CO₂ as a solid carbonate product, which can then be stored, used as an aggregate or turned into useful end products such as bricks or filler for concrete. The project team will explore these and other opportunities for value-added use of the resulting carbonate products.