Rapid CO2 mineralisation into calcite at the CarbFix storage site quantified using calcium isotopes

Philip A. E. Pogge von Strandmann (), Kevin W. Burton, Sandra O. Snæbjörnsdóttir, Bergur Sigfússon, Edda S. Aradóttir, Ingvi Gunnarsson, Helgi A. Alfredsson, Kiflom G. Mesfin, Eric H. Oelkers and Sigurður R. Gislason
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Philip A. E. Pogge von Strandmann: University of London
Kevin W. Burton: University of Durham
Sandra O. Snæbjörnsdóttir: University of Iceland
Bergur Sigfússon: Reykjavik Energy
Edda S. Aradóttir: Reykjavik Energy
Ingvi Gunnarsson: Reykjavik Energy
Helgi A. Alfredsson: University of Iceland
Kiflom G. Mesfin: University of Iceland
Eric H. Oelkers: University of London
Sigurður R. Gislason: University of Iceland

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The engineered removal of atmospheric CO2 is now considered a key component of mitigating climate warming below 1.5 °C. Mineral carbonation is a potential negative emissions technique that, in the case of Iceland’s CarbFix experiment, precipitates dissolved CO2 as carbonate minerals in basaltic groundwater settings. Here we use calcium (Ca) isotopes in both pre- and post-CO2 injection waters to quantify the amount of carbonate precipitated, and hence CO2 stored. Ca isotope ratios rapidly increase with the pH and calcite saturation state, indicating calcite precipitation. Calculations suggest that up to 93% of dissolved Ca is removed into calcite during certain phases of injection. In total, our results suggest that 165 ± 8.3 t CO2 were precipitated into calcite, an overall carbon storage efficiency of 72 ± 5%. The success of this approach opens the potential for quantification of similar mineral carbonation efforts where drawdown rates cannot be estimated by other means.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10003-8

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