Enhanced CO2 Removal Through the Electrolysis of Concentrated Seawater and Accelerated Mineral Carbonation
Sang-Min Lee, Ji-Hoon Chae, Sokhee P. Jung
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 CO 2 reduction and the formation of valuable metal carbonates (Mg(OH) 2 , MgCO 3 , and CaCO 3 ) via accelerated mineral carbonation. With 1 m 3 of concentrated seawater, 1.35 kg of CO 2 was removed and 10.3 and 1.1 kg of Mg(OH) 2 and CaCO 3 were precipitated, respectively. This method is an economically viable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional mineral carbonation, which requires substantial resources.