Project: Fundamental Studies of Mineral Carbonation with Application to CO2 Sequestration

Acronym	FUNMIN (Reference Number: 299668)
Duration	01/09/2019 - 28/02/2022
Project Topic	Optimise the CO2 mineralisation into anhydrous MgCO3, actioned from the most evolved simulations & empirical determinations worldwide of the molecular events surrounding MgCO3 formation: 1.Characterisation of the reaction mechanism & kinetics of the rate-determining Mg-dehydration process in a series of solutions, to resolve the catalytic role of composition in promoting Mg···H2O dissociation. 2.Determination of the nucleation pathway & the role of solution composition on the formation and stability of anhydrous and hydrated MgCO3 pre-nucleation clusters, to reveal what promotes the selective formation of anhydrous MgCO3. 3.Identification of the molecular processes at solid-liquid interfaces, to uncover the role of solution composition & surface nano-morphology in promoting anhydrous MgCO3 growth. 4.Identification of what catalysing the direct CO2 conversion to anhydrous MgCO3 at mild conditions, through a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms controlling MgCO3 crystallization.
Project Results (after finalisation)	Knowledge contributions that will be generated during the project:(1) Molecular-level insights into the mechanisms of MgCO3 crystallization. (2) The catalytic role of solution environments and surface nanotopography on molecular processes controlling MgCO3 formation from solution (Mg-dehydration, nucleation & growth). (3) Analytical macroscopic geochemical models for predicting the surface reactivity and growth rates of MgCO3. Using an agenda-changing synergy between experiments and modelling, our project will impact the development of resource-efficient CCUS technologies by providing a fundamental understanding of CO2 mineralization, the missing link to deploying Mg-carbonation as a real-world CO2 mitigation solution ("Utilization Panel Report: CO2 Conversion to Solid Carbonates"). The collaboration with Cambridge Carbon Capture will promote knowledge exchange with industry and "up-scale" the insights generated from the project to more practical aspects of mineral carbonation
Website	visit project website
Network	ACT
Call	ACT Second Call

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	University of London	Coordinator	United Kingdom
2	Cambridge Carbon Capture	Partner	United Kingdom
3	Universidad de Granada	Partner	Spain
4	Unviersidad de Ovied	Partner	Spain
5	Université Grenoble Alpe	Partner	France