Validation of a population balance model for olivine dissolution

Markus Hänchen, Sam Krevor, Marco Mazzotti, Klaus S. Lackner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dissolution of silicate minerals, among them olivine, in water enables its subsequent reaction with carbon dioxide to form magnesium carbonate, a process called aqueous mineral carbonation. A general model for the dissolution of olivine, based on a population balance approach, has been developed. For this purpose, the dissolution rate of olivine has been measured as a function of varying particle size and pH at 120 {ring operator} C. Three separate particle populations in three different size ranges were used: a sub 90, a 90-180, and a 180-355 μ m size fraction. The pH was varied between 2 and 4.75 using HCl. Experiments were carried out in a flow-through reactor under a nitrogen atmosphere of 20 bar. The dissolution extent varied from 12% up to complete dissolution, depending on experimental conditions. Particle size distributions of the different size fractions were measured with a Coulter Multisizer®. Using the assumption of a surface controlled reaction, the solution to the population balance equation was coupled with a reactor model. Data were fitted to the model to obtain a shape modulated dissolution rate, kv1 / 3 D, combining the volume shape factor kv with the dissolution rate D, which has the dimensions of a velocity. Including earlier published dissolution experiments an overall correlation for the dissolution rate was regressed. Using the general model, the limitations of the simplified model employed in an earlier publication are illustrated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6412-6422
Number of pages11
JournalChemical Engineering Science
Volume62
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carbon dioxide capture and storage
  • Dissolution
  • Kinetics
  • Mathematical modelling
  • Mineral carbonation
  • Particulate processes
  • Population balance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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