Ex of minerals
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Examples of Minerals: Applications and Insights
Ex Situ Mineral Carbonation for CO2 Mitigation
Ex situ mineral carbonation is a process where minerals react with CO2 to form stable carbonates, effectively sequestering carbon dioxide. This method has been explored extensively for its potential to mitigate CO2 emissions. Research has shown that mining wastes, particularly those rich in serpentine and peridotite, can achieve high carbonation levels, up to 80%, without the need for heat activation1. This process is particularly promising in regions like New Caledonia, where there is an abundance of suitable minerals and significant industrial CO2 emissions1.
Thermodynamic Approach to Mineral Capital: Exergoecology
Exergoecology is a method that evaluates the Earth's mineral capital by considering the exergy, or the usable energy, required to extract and concentrate minerals. This approach highlights the depletion of mineral wealth as natural deposits are mined. Case studies on bauxite-aluminium and limestone-lime chains illustrate how the exergy cost of mineral extraction can be quantified, providing a comprehensive understanding of the energy required for these processes2. This method underscores the importance of considering both fossil fuel and non-fuel mineral exergy costs in resource management2.
Aqueous Mineral Carbonation for CO2 Sequestration
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory has investigated the use of Ca-, Fe-, and Mg-silicate minerals for CO2 sequestration through aqueous mineral carbonation. This process involves reacting these minerals with CO2 to form stable carbonates. Initial cost estimates for this method were around $69 per ton of CO2 sequestered, but improvements have reduced this to $54 per ton. However, the large scale required for practical application remains a challenge3.
Complex Mineral Replacement Reactions
The transformation of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) into copper-rich sulfides such as digenite, covellite, and chalcocite is a complex mineral replacement reaction. This process is influenced by factors such as mineral composition, texture, and solution chemistry. Studies have shown that the replacement proceeds through a mechanism involving dissolution and reprecipitation, with the formation of a porous covellite rim around chalcopyrite. The reaction kinetics are controlled by the availability of aqueous Cu+ and Fe2+, which are influenced by temperature and solution composition4.
Inventory of Earth's Exergy Resources
An inventory of Earth's natural capital in terms of exergy includes both renewable and non-renewable energy resources, as well as non-fuel minerals. This comprehensive assessment reveals that the real scarcity issues facing humanity are not due to a lack of energy sources but rather a shortage of minerals. The exergy method allows for a unified assessment of various resources, providing valuable insights into the state of our natural capital5.
Minerals in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Minerals play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical industry, serving as excipients and in various medical applications. Commonly used minerals include oxides (e.g., rutile, zincite), hydroxides (e.g., goethite), carbonates (e.g., calcite, magnesite), sulfates (e.g., gypsum), chlorides (e.g., halite), phosphates (e.g., hydroxyapatite), and phyllosilicates (e.g., kaolinite, talc). These minerals are valued for their physical and chemical properties, such as adsorption capacity, solubility, and reactivity. They are used in drug formulations, dental cements, bone grafts, and more6.
Conclusion
Minerals are integral to various industrial processes and applications, from CO2 sequestration and resource management to pharmaceutical formulations. Understanding the properties and potential uses of different minerals can help optimize their application and address challenges such as resource depletion and environmental impact. The studies highlighted here provide valuable insights into the diverse roles that minerals play in our world.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Ex situ mineral carbonation for CO2 mitigation: Evaluation of mining waste resources, aqueous carbonation processability and life cycle assessment (Carmex project)
Ex situ mineral carbonation can effectively reduce CO2 emissions from mining wastes, with New Caledonia being a strong potential candidate due to its abundance of carbonable rocks and industrial wastes.
Highly CitedExergoecology: A thermodynamic approach for accounting the Earth's mineral capital. The case of bauxite–aluminium and limestone–lime chains
The exergoecological method calculates the mineral exergy bonus, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the Earth's mineral wealth, considering both fossil fuel and non-fuel mineral exergy costs.
Ex situ aqueous mineral carbonation.
Ex situ mineral carbonation shows potential for carbon dioxide sequestration, but its scale and cost may make it impractical due to limited resources and limited CO2 emissions.
Highly CitedAnatomy of a complex mineral replacement reaction: Role of aqueous redox, mineral nucleation, and ion transport properties revealed by an in-situ study of the replacement of chalcopyrite by copper sulfides
The replacement of chalcopyrite by covellite and digenite occurs via an interface coupled dissolution and reprecipitation mechanism, with aqueous Cu availability being the rate-limiting step.
Inventory of the exergy resources on earth including its mineral capital
The real scarcity problems facing humankind are not related to lack of energy sources, but rather a lack of minerals.
Clay and non-clay minerals in the pharmaceutical industry: Part I. Excipients and medical applications
Minerals are widely used in pharmaceutical preparations as excipients and have various medical applications, including contrast diagnostic techniques, dental cements, and bone grafts.
Highly CitedA review on ex situ mineral carbonation
Mineral carbonation offers a stable, long-term CO2 storage method for areas without underground cavities, but needs improvements in reaction rate, feedstock requirements, and energy requirements.
Selective flotation of chalcopyrite from pyrite using diphosphonic acid as collector
HEDP, a green, cheap reagent, shows better selectivity for separating chalcopyrite from pyrite than traditional Ethyl xanthate, offering potential for future chalcopyrite flotation practices.
A novel RO ex situ scale observation detector (EXSOD) for mineral scale characterization and early detection
The EXSOD system effectively detects early mineral salt scaling on RO membranes, enabling on-line monitoring of scaling and fouling in RO plants.
Highly CitedCalcium Carbonate Precipitation for CO2 Storage and Utilization: A Review of the Carbonate Crystallization and Polymorphism
Ex situ mineral carbonation offers a promising option for CO2 capture and storage, converting industrial wastes into value-added carbonate materials, potentially offsetting the total cost of CCS processes.
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