PI: Frank Pazzaglia
Co-PI(s): Stephen Peters, Carlos Romero
University: Lehigh University
Industry partner: H&K, Inc., Lehigh Hanson
Our fossil fuel-based economy generates ~40 Gt/yr of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is driving surface temperatures beyond the 1.5oC threshold required to avoid the worst effects of climate change. As a result, capturing and storing CO2 at the GtCO2/yr scale in cost-efficient ways has now become a global imperative. Our goal is to use the current momentum in federal and state policies to identify an intersection of technology, geology, and industry that can address and adopt carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) well suited for Pennsylvania, a state where both proven and novel CCUS options are geologically and geographically possible. We propose a feasibility study targeting the mineralization of cement industry CO2 emissions. Specifically, we will explore mineralization (conversion of CO2 to rock) of high-purity captured CO2 gas using a basalt/diabase or serpentinite dust solid waste stream generated by the aggregate quarry industry. This research would provide the basis for intellectual property creation and future funding requests to move the technology up the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ladder. Our highly interdisciplinary team seeks to support graduate students and leverages ongoing collaborations with the industrial and regulatory sectors. Broader impacts of our project include establishing a state-level stakeholders forum to facilitate both traditional deep-injection; related geothermal; and novel, emerging CCUS technology options suited for heavy industry (in addition to cement, steel, plastics, chemicals) and portable beyond Pennsylvania.