Month: December 2023

Carbon Dioxide Capture or Removal and Valorisation: Advances in the Development of Materials and Technologies

Abstract submission deadline: 31 August 2024

Manuscript submission deadline: 30 November 2024

Editors: Paula Teixeira, María Pilar Lisbona, Carmen Bacariza

This Special Topic will address topics related, but not limited to:

  • Advances in CO2 sorbent properties for carbon removal (e.g., direct air capture, mineralization, biochar) and capture (e.g., post-combustion and pre-combustion conditions);
  • Enhancement of natural and synthetic sorbent materials properties for CO2 uptake;
  • Stability, activity, and regeneration of sorbents under different technological applications at low, medium, or high temperatures;
  • Dual-function materials for CO2 capture and conversion;
  • Development of catalysts for CO2 conversion to biofuels and green products;
  • Thermal-, photo-, electro-, bio- and plasma catalysis applications in CO2 conversion;
  • Carbon capture from power plants and industrial sectors and carbon removal from the air—novel technologies, integrated concepts, and methodologies;
  • Conversion of CO2 into fuels and chemicals through biological, thermal, electrochemical, and photochemical processes. In this topic, original papers or reviews are welcome.

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Power et al. (2023): The Mining Industry’s Role in Enhanced Weathering and Mineralization for CO2 Removal

Ian M. Power, Carlos Paulo, Kwon Rausis IN: Environmental Science Technologie, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c05081

As a supplier of rock powder, the mining industry will be at the epicenter of the global implementation of Enhanced weathering and mineralization (EWM). Certain alkaline mine wastes sequester CO2 under conventional mining conditions, which should be quantified across the industry. Furthermore, mines are ideal locations for testing acceleration strategies since tailings impoundments are contained and highly monitored. While some environmentally benign mine wastes may be repurposed for off-site use─reducing costs and risks associated with their storage─numerous new mines will be needed to supply rock powders to reach the gigatonne scale

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Desport et al. (2023): Deploying direct air capture at scale: how close to reality?

Desport, L., A. Gurgel, J. Morris, H. Herzog, Y-H.H. Chen, S. Selosse and S. Paltsev IN: Energy Economics, 129, 107244, doi: 10.1016/j.eneco.2023.107244

In this study, the authors employ an economywide model to more fully explore the potential role of DAC, considering the full range of cost estimates ($180-$1,000/tCO2), DAC units supplied by either dedicated renewables or grid electricity, and both the storage of captured CO2 (DACCS) or its utilization (DACCU) to produce fuels.

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Mirzaei et al. (2023): Screening Study of Potassium Carbonate Solvents for Bio-energy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)

Nima Mirzaei, Aishwarya Babu, Efthymios Kantarelis, Matthaeus U. Baebler IN: Chemical Engineering Transactions, 105, https://doi.org/10.3303/CET23105027

The present work aims at investigating absorption of CO2 into promoted and unpromoted aqueous K2CO3. For this the authors performed a series of lab experiments in a thermostated batch stirred tank gas-liquid reactor containing the solvent. The absorption of CO2 was monitored by the decrease in the reactor pressure. To compare the different solvent blends, the experimental conditions, i.e., injection pressure, reactor temperature, stirring speed, and solvent volume were kept constant. For the interpretation of the experiments a simple absorption model is formulated based on which an apparent absorption rate is derived.

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Flipkens et al. (2024): Olivine avoidance behaviour by marine gastropods (Littorina littorea L.) and amphipods (Gammarus locusta L.) within the context of ocean alkalinity enhancement

Gunter Flipkens, Vincent Dujardin, Jordy Salden, Kyle T’Jollyn, Raewyn M. Town, Ronny Blust IN: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 270, 115840, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115840

Coastal enhanced olivine weathering is a CDR technique that could be implemented in coastal management programmes, but its CO2 sequestration potential and environmental safety remain uncertain. Large scale olivine spreading would change the surficial sediment characteristics, which could potentially reduce habitat suitability and ultimately result in community composition changes. To test this hypothesis, the authors investigated the avoidance response of the marine gastropod Littorina littorea (Linnaeus, 1758) and marine amphipod Gammarus locusta (Linnaeus, 1758) to relatively coarse (83 – 332 µm) olivine and olivine-sediment mixtures during short-term choice experiments.

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Kamyab et al. (2023): Carbon dynamics in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and removals: a comprehensive review

Hesam Kamyab, Morteza SaberiKamarposhti, Haslenda Hashim, Mohammad Yusuf IN: Carbon Letters, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-023-00647-4

This study delved into agriculture’s climate impact. It comprehensively analysed emissions from diverse agricultural sources, carbon sequestration possibilities, and the repercussions of agricultural emissions on climate and ecosystems. It addressed carbon sequestration and removal in agriculture, focussing on soil carbon sequestration, afforestation, and reforestation. It highlighted agriculture’s potential not only to reduce emissions, but also to serve as a carbon reservoir, lowering overall GHG impact. The research also scrutinised the multifaceted nature of agriculture, examining the obstacles hindering mitigation strategies, including socioeconomic constraints and regulatory hurdles.

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Günter & Ekhardt (2023): Balancing climate goals and biodiversity protection: legal implications of the 30×30 target for land-based carbon removal

Philipp Günther, Felix Ekardt IN: Frontiers in Climate, 5, https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2023.1276606

This article examines the legal conflicts between land-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies and the establishment of protected areas through the lens of international environmental law. The authors argue that the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework’s “30×30” target—which aims to protect 30% of global terrestrial and marine areas by 2030—constitutes a “subsequent agreement” under international law and thus clarifies the legal scope and content of the obligation to establish protected areas under Article 8 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Since states have pledged 120 million square kilometers for land-based CDR, these commitments potentially conflict with the “30×30” target, especially if global cropland for food production is to be maintained. Consequently, some land-based CDR strategies may directly or indirectly impede the achievement of the “30×30” target, which could be deemed inconsistent with international law. 

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Nature – Liu et al. (2023): Biochar-plant interactions enhance nonbiochar carbon sequestration in a rice paddy soil

Zhiwei Liu, Wei Zhang, Ruiling Ma, Shixian Li, Kaiyue Song, Jufeng Zheng, Yan Wang, Rongjun Bian, Xuhui Zhang, Genxing Pan IN: Communications Earth & Environment, 4, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01155-z

It remains elusive on how biochar addition influences nonbiochar C in soils and its mechanisms, especially in the presence of plants. Here the authors conducted a 365-day soil microcosm experiment with and without adding 13C-labeled biochar into topsoil to quantify changes in nonbiochar C in the topsoil and subsoil in the presence or absence of rice plants and to determine the mechanisms by which biochar controls nonbiochar C accrual in the soil profile.

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Liu et al. (2023): Design method of high transport performance biochar-cement based materials based on particle size distribution and permeation probability calculation model

Rui Liu, Huaixing Wang, Huigang Xiao, Jizhao Li, Pengfei Pan, Wenwei Yang IN: Construction and Building Materials, 411, 134557, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.134557

Enhancing carbon fixation efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in cement-based materials is an active method of coping with climate change, which has important environmental and social benefits. The amount of carbon dioxide transported into the cement-based material represents the maximum carbon fixation capacity. Enhancing the carbon transport performance of cement-based materials is the material guarantee and basic premise for improving their carbon fixation levels. Considering the impact of particle connections on the maximum cluster, a permeation probability calculation model of porous media system was established, providing the changing rule of the permeation probability with the mathematical expectation of the Poisson distribution, which was verified to be reasonable through experimental studies.

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Nature – Qu & Hang (2023): The primary factors influencing the cooling effect of carbon dioxide removal

Xia Qu, Gang Huang IN: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, 6, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00547-4

Understanding the cooling effect (CE) of CDR and its primary controlling factors has been challenging due to the limited number of models conducting the CDR simulation. To address this, the authors employed an energy balance model (EBM), which effectively captures or reproduces the global mean surface air temperature change to CO2 forcing. 

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