This process, called carbon mineralization, has proven difficult to implement on an industrial scale. To advance its feasibility, scientists must gain a detailed understanding of the properties and behaviors of potential storage reservoirs and the minerals involved.
Olivine, a mineral abundant in Earth's crust and mantle, plays a prominent role in this endeavor. Its structure can incorporate valuable elements like nickel and cobalt. If these materials are released during the mineralization process and subsequently recovered, they could provide additional economic incentives for carbon storage projects.
Due to its potential for critical mineral recovery, olivine-rich reservoirs are a compelling focus for CO2 mineralization. However, evaluating which deposits are most promising requires determining their specific compositions, a process that often involves labor-intensive lab analysis. This complexity can hinder efforts to explore new resources effectively.
To address this challenge, a team of researchers and interns at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) created an expanded database linking olivine's structural analysis to its chemical composition. Instead of relying on complex measurements, scientists can now use the relationship between X-ray diffraction data and chemical properties to quickly assess an olivine sample. This work, published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, also earned a spot on the journal's cover.
"Representing the relationship between olivine structure and composition is essential for taking the next steps in exploring the reactivity of olivine for carbon mineralization and critical mineral recovery," said Quin Miller, a PNNL chemist and co-corresponding author of the paper. "We're also making it easier for more people to determine the composition of olivine."
"It's rewarding on a professional level to help jumpstart the careers of these young scientists," said Subsurface Energy Systems Subsector Manager Todd Schaef, a co-author of the paper. "But their contributions really make this whole thing work. Without them, we wouldn't have been able to create such a useful tool that can be applied all over the world."
Despite the interns' limited time at PNNL, their impact was significant. "This was truly an intern-led paper," said Miller. "The data compilation, analysis, figure making, and manuscript writing were all done by these early career scientists. Beyond edits and advising during the writing process, I was able to let them take the lead in directing the paper."
The team gathered structure and composition data from previously published studies and an existing international database. Their work involved identifying duplicates, resolving discrepancies, and updating chemical compositions. Ultimately, they developed equations linking olivine's structure and composition, providing more precise tools for understanding the mineral's properties.
"Previous studies used 60 or fewer data points to examine structure-composition relationships in olivine," explained Stanfield, now a post-bachelor's research associate and co-corresponding author. "While helpful, they didn't consider the effects of common elemental substitutions. We expanded the dataset to include nearly three times as many unique data points, enhancing accuracy."
"From a realistic standpoint, all olivine can't be treated as the same," said Stanfield. "We're giving people effective tools to make identifying exactly what they're working with faster and easier."
The team's work is already being applied to identify U.S. resources with high potential for carbon mineralization and critical mineral recovery, such as nickel, cobalt, and copper. These tools can streamline site selection by providing insights into the availability of reactive cations and recoverable minerals.
In addition to developing the database, Bartels advanced a method for measuring mineralized carbon with greater sensitivity, while Stanfield contributed to methodologies for estimating carbon storage and mineral extraction potential in basalt formations.
The interns' dedication reflects the urgency of addressing CO2 emissions. Morfin is pursuing a surgical technology program at Yakima Valley College. Bartels and Murchland are advancing to PhDs in geological sciences and plan to continue research at PNNL. Stanfield remains at PNNL as a post-bachelor's research associate and plans to begin his PhD in 2025.
"The effects of carbon dioxide emissions are an ever-increasing problem we need to solve," said Miller. "Seeing the next generation of scientists work to meet these challenges is incredible."
Related Links
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Carbon Worlds - where graphite, diamond, amorphous, fullerenes meet
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