Integrated carbon capture and storage for an oxyfuel combustion process by using carbonation of Mg(OH)₂ produced from serpentinite rock

The increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has lead to concerns about global warming. One of the options that can contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is CO₂ sequestration by mineral carbonation. In this paper we will present a model of an oxyfuel combustion process integrated into a carbonation process using Mg(OH)₂ produced from magnesium silicate mineral. Therefore, the objective of this work is to develop integrated carbon dioxide capture and storage methods for an oxyfuel combustion process where CO₂ will be captured directly from the flue gas in a carbonation reactor. There it reacts with injected magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)₂ solid, with thermodynamically stable MgCO₃ as the final product. In this paper we will present a process model that illustrates how the carbonation process integrated into oxyfuel combustion could be an alternative process for oxyfuel combustion followed by geological storage of CO₂. We will also present a simulation model for this process by using Aspen Plus® simulation software.