Reducing energy-related CO₂ emissions using accelerated weathering of limestone

The use and impacts of accelerated weathering of limestone (AWL; reaction: CO₂+H₂O+CaCO₃→Ca²⁺+2(HCO₃^-) is explored as a CO₂ capture and sequestration method. It is shown that significant limestone resources are relatively close to a majority of CO₂-emitting power plants along the coastal US, a favored siting location for AWL. Waste fines, representing more than 20% of current US crushed limestone production (>10⁹ tonnes/yr), could provide an inexpensive or free source of AWL carbonate. With limestone transportation then as the dominant cost variable, CO₂ mitigation costs of $3-$4/tonne appear to be possible in certain locations. Perhaps 10–20% of US point–source CO₂ emissions could be mitigated in this fashion. It is experimentally shown that CO₂ sequestration rates of 10^-6 to 10^-5 moles/sec per m² of limestone surface area are achievable, with reaction densities on the order of 10^-2 tonnes CO₂ m^-3day^-1, highly dependent on limestone particle size, solution turbulence and flow, and CO₂ concentration. Modeling shows that AWL would allow carbon storage in the ocean with significantly reduced impacts to seawater pH relative to direct CO₂ disposal into the atmosphere or sea. The addition of AWL-derived alkalinity to the ocean may itself be beneficial for marine biota.