Transformation of abundant magnesium silicate minerals for enhanced CO2 sequestration

Global climate change related to anthropogenic CO2 emissions is one of the most significant challenges for the future of human life on Earth. There are many potential options for reducing or even eliminating atmospheric CO2 emissions including underground sequestration, carbon mineralization and ocean storage. One of the most promising materials for carbon mineralization is Mg(OH)(2) which is highly reactive and capable of forming stable carbonates. Here we show a novel low-carbon method of producing Mg(OH)(2), from globally abundant olivine-rich silicate rocks. A combination of acid digestion and electrolysis of olivine were used to produce Mg(OH)(2) in a fully recoverable system. The use of Mg(OH)(2) from olivine provides a viable pathway for significant industrial scale reductions in global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Magnesium hydroxide is a sustainable material for CO2 sequestration, according to an acid digestion and electrolysis method using olivine-rich silicate rocks in a fully recoverable system.

Automated summary

Global climate change is a major challenge, but the sustainable material magnesium hydroxide from olivine-rich silicate rocks, produced through acid digestion and electrolysis, offers a viable pathway for significant reductions in CO2 emissions.