Cambridge and Anglian Materials Society Evening Lecture

Dr Michael Priestnall, Chief Technology Officer, Cambridge Carbon Capture Ltd

-- Synopsis--

Geological sequestration of captured CO2 is an energy intensive process and one that will also require large-scale integrated infrastructure.  Mineral carbonation is the leading alternative to geo-CCS; it is also expensive and energy intensive, but can be applied stand-alone, and potentially profitably, at small scale.  The process mirrors the spontaneous steps of the natural carbon-silicate cycle in which atmospheric CO2 dissolves in water and reacts with eroded magnesium and calcium silicate rocks and solutions to deposit magnesium and calcium carbonates.  The key challenge to making mineral carbonation an economically feasible industrial process, at large-scale, is primarily the energy and/or chemicals input required to speed-up and make Mg/Ca available for carbonation - some of the approaches to address this will be described.  At small-scales there are increasing business opportunities to drive economic feasibility through the value of materials and byproducts, and, as will be described, through, a novel combination of mineral carbonation with alkaline fuel cells.

Presentation will commence at 7.30pm, light refreshments from 7.00 pm.

Our talks are open to anyone who has an interest in the topic and wants to learn more.