A new research center set to open in October at the University of Nottingham will investigate ways to trap and store carbon dioxide permanently, converting it into safe commercial products. One promising technology binds CO2 extracted from burning coal to silicate-based rocks such as serpentine, which is found in large enough quantities to store all the CO2 produced by the combustion of the world's known fossil fuel reserves. While in nature this reaction happens over eons of time, the researchers expect to lock the CO2 in place within minutes.
The end product will be a mineral such as magnesite, which can be shaped into bricks for construction or used as aggregates for road-building. Carbon dioxide comprises 40% of its weight and it would take 1,500 times more space to store the same amount in gas form. Fossil fuel power plants eventually could adopt the new process by adding a reactor to their emissions treatment system.
