Abstract:
Global climate change resulting from the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO
2 is one of the most critical environmental challenges of the 21st century. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies have emerged as a vital means of mitigating global warming. Under conditions of 25 ℃ and solution pH ranging from 5 to 8, wollastonite exhibits higher solubility compared to other silicate minerals, as well as relatively rapid carbonation reaction kinetics. The reaction products—calcite and quartz—possess substantial value for industrial and agricultural applications. Previous research has demonstrated that the carbonation reaction rate of wollastonite is significantly enhanced when reacted with CO
2-bearing fluids or supercritical CO
2-H
2O mixtures, as opposed to anhydrous CO
2 gas. The extent and efficiency of the carbonation process are influenced by multiple factors, including temperature, pressure, fluid salinity, wollastonite particle size, the presence of organic ligands, water saturation (S
w), water-to-rock ratio, reaction duration, pH, and stirring rate. Carbonation efficiency has been shown to correlate positively with temperature, reaction time, water-to-rock ratio, and water saturation, and negatively with salinity and particle size. Taking the Shizhuyuan super-large polymetallic skarn deposit in Hunan Province as a representative case, it is estimated that the CO
2 sequestration capacity of such formations ranges from 29 to 140 Gton, which is approximately equivalent to China’s current annual industrial CO
2 emissions. Accordingly, skarn formations demonstrate considerable potential for application in CCUS technologies.