Mineral carbonation: Thermal activation of serpentine as flexible component in energy systems
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In this article, the thermal activation of serpentine for mineral carbonation using an electrically heated fluidised bed was studied. A novel process configuration with rapid thermal activation and a thermal energy storage is presented. For the studied material, the preferred thermal activation durations in a fluidised bed were < 2 min at 700°C, 4 – 8 min at 650°C, 16 – 75 min at 600 °C and > 75 min at 550°C, improving reaction kinetics compared to chamber furnace processing at 650°C for 30 min or 750°C for 15 min. In all fluidised bed experiments, the preferred mineralogical changes corresponded to a dehydroxylation degree of 52 – 72% determined with simultaneous thermal analysis. Fourier-transform infrared analyser was used for online determination of the dehydroxylation degree and could be used for process control if the measurement delay was considered better. The mass and energy balances for an industrial-scale thermal activation plant matching 100,000 tCO2/a storage were calculated. The average electrical power demand was 17.4 MW, of which 22.9% was recovered from steam and 61.7% was stored in the thermal energy storage silos. 12-hour and 7-day buffering times resulted in silo volumes of 452.5 m3 and 3,167 m3 and thermal energy storage capacities of 129.0 MWh and 903.2 MWh, respectively. Further studies should include process parameter optimisation as well as techno-economic and life cycle assessments to holistically improve the concept.
Source: Journal of CO2 Utilization
Authors: Sampo Mäkikouri, Marjut Mälkki, Timo Leino, Juho Kauppinen, Fanni Hakanen, Henrik Tolvanen
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,360
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W7128701029