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USGS · 70035943

Accelerated weathering of limestone for CO2 mitigation: Opportunities for the stone and cement industries

William H. Langer·Carma A. San Juan·Greg H. Rau·Ken Caldeira
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Abstract

Large amounts of limestone fines co-produced during the processing of crushed limestone may be useful in the sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Accelerated weathering of limestone (AWL) is proposed as a low-tech method to capture and sequester CO 2 from fossil fuel-fired power plants and other point sources such as cement manufacturing. AWL reactants are readily available, inexpensive and environmentally benign. Waste CO 2 is hydrated with water to produce carbonic acid. This reacts with and is neutralized by limestone fines, thus converting CO 2 gas to dissolved calcium bicarbonate.

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William H. Langer, Carma A. San Juan, Greg H. Rau, Ken Caldeira. 2009. Accelerated weathering of limestone for CO2 mitigation: Opportunities for the stone and cement industries. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70035943

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