Thermally activated serpentine leaching under flue gas conditions in a bubble column reactor operated at ambient pressure and temperature

Abstract

Mineral carbonation of serpentine in the aqueous phase traditionally required high temperatures and pressures or additives to dissolve the mineral. This was accompanied by significant costs and important environmental burdens. This paper aims to demonstrate the feasibility of thermally activated serpentine leaching under ambient temperature and pressure. A simulated cement flue gas effluent with a CO2 content of 18.2% on a volume basis was used. The reaction was performed in a bubble column operated under a homogeneous regime. Agitation was required to improve solution mixing and CO2 diffusion. Results showed that the extent of Mg leaching was limited by the low solubility of silica in the a..