Cost-Effective Carbon Dioxide Removal via CaO/Ca(OH) 2 -Based Mineralization with Concurrent Recovery of Value-Added Calcite Nanoparticles

Seungyeol Lee (), Chul Woo Rhee and Gyujae Yoo
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Seungyeol Lee: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Chul Woo Rhee: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Gyujae Yoo: Bio Calcium Co., Ltd., Dong-myeon, Hwasun-gun 58143, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: The rapid rise in atmospheric CO 2 concentrations has intensified the need for scalable, sustainable, and economically viable carbon sequestration technologies. This study introduces a cost-effective CaO/Ca(OH) 2 -based mineralization process that not only enables efficient CO 2 removal but also allows the simultaneous recovery of high-purity calcite nanoparticles as value-added products. The process involves hydrating CaO, followed by controlled carbonation under optimized CO 2 flow rates, temperature conditions, and and additive use, yielding nanocrystalline calcite with an average particle size of approximately 100 nm. Comprehensive characterization using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed a polycrystalline structure with exceptional chemical purity (99.9%) and rhombohedral morphology. Techno-economic analysis further demonstrated that coupling CO 2 sequestration with nanoparticle production can markedly improve profitability, particularly when utilizing CaO/Ca(OH) 2 -rich industrial residues such as steel slags or lime sludge as feedstock. This hybrid, multi-revenue strategy—integrating carbon credits, nanoparticle sales, and waste valorization—offers a scalable pathway aligned with circular economy principles, enhancing both environmental and economic performance. Moreover, the proposed system can be applied to CO 2 -emitting plants and facilities, enabling not only effective carbon dioxide removal and the generation of carbon credits, but also the production of calcite nanoparticles for diverse applications in agriculture, manufacturing, and environmental remediation. These findings highlight the potential of CaO/Ca(OH) 2 -based mineralization to evolve from a carbon management technology into a platform for advanced materials manufacturing, thereby contributing to global decarbonization efforts.

Keywords: CO 2 sequestration; calcite nanoparticles; X-ray diffraction; transmission electron microscopy; techno-economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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