According to a report by the Physicist Network, scientists have developed a method for the rapid production of magnesite. As a mineral that can store carbon dioxide, magnesite can reduce the long-term existence of large-scale production on an industrial scale in the future. Atmospheric CO 2To counter the effects of global warming. The research report was presented at the Gold Schmidt meeting of the important international academic conference on geochemistry in Boston.
Magnesite is a kind of magnesium carbonate mineral. After the solution containing magnesium acts on calcite, it will turn calcite into magnesite, so magnesite also belongs to calcite family. In addition, magnesium-rich rock will also change into magnesite. Mine. It is understood that one ton of natural magnesite can remove about half a ton of CO from the atmosphere. 2, but the speed is very slow. Therefore, this technology is beneficial to reduce CO in the atmosphere. 2However, there are still problems in terms of actual operation and economic costs.
Ian Bauer, a professor at Trent University in Canada who led the study, said that they revealed the formation of magnesite under low temperature conditions and proposed a method that can significantly accelerate its crystallization process: As a catalyst, the microspheres can form magnesite within 72 days. Since the chemical properties of the microspheres remain unchanged throughout the reaction, efficient use can be achieved and the formation time of the magnesite can be greatly shortened. This process can occur at room temperature, which means that the production of magnesite is very energy efficient.
It is understood that this research work is still in the experimental stage. It has been confirmed that magnesite can be used for carbon sequestration, that is, permanent storage of CO in the atmosphere. 2However, it is necessary to further use scientific methods to complete the detailed research of storage technology.
Professor Peter Kellerman of Columbia University said: 'Technicians have learned the principles and mechanisms of natural magnesite crystallization at low temperatures and apply it efficiently to the artificial production of magnesite. This provides a relatively low cost. Carbon storage pathway, even in the future can achieve CO 2Removed from the air, this is very exciting.'
