Methods of sequestering co2

Abstract

Methods of sequestering carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) are provided. Aspects of the methods include precipitating a storage stable carbon dioxide sequestering product from an alkaline-earth-metal-containing water and then disposing of the product, e.g., by placing the product in a disposal location or using the product as a component of a manufactured composition. Also provided are systems for practicing methods of the invention.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous source of carbon dioxide, comprising:
 a) preparing a sodium hydroxide solution in an electrochemical process and   b) using the sodium hydroxide solution from the electrochemical process to contact the gaseous source of carbon dioxide and produce a CO 2 -charged solution,   wherein the gaseous source of carbon dioxide is from a mechanical processing plant, a refinery, a cement plant, or a steel plant.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the gaseous source of carbon dioxide is from a cement plant. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the gaseous source of carbon dioxide further comprises mercury. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the gaseous source of carbon dioxide further comprises SOx. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises subjecting the CO 2 -charged solution to precipitation conditions to produce a precipitate product. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the precipitate product comprises from 1% to 50% (w/w) carbon. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the precipitation conditions are adapted to produce a precipitate product comprising strontium. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the precipitate product comprises 3 to 10,000 ppm strontium. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the precipitation conditions are adapted to fix SOx, mercury, or both in the precipitate product. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the precipitate product is in combination with a mother liquor such that the combination forms a slurry. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising transporting the slurry to a long-term storage site. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the long-term storage site is an above ground site, a below ground site, or an underwater site. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising separating the mother liquor from the precipitate product to produce a separated precipitate product. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising placing the separated precipitate product at a long-term storage site. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electrochemical process comprises a chloralkali process. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electrochemical process comprises applying a low voltage across an anode and a cathode. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the low voltage applied across the anode and the cathode is less than 2.0 V. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the electrochemical process does not form a gas at the anode. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising using one or more materials found in nature or industrial by-products to contact the gaseous source of carbon dioxide and produce the CO 2 -charged solution. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , comprising using materials found in nature, wherein the materials found in nature comprise naturally alkaline water. 
     
     
         41 . A method of removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous source of carbon dioxide, comprising:
 a) producing a sodium hydroxide solution in an electrochemical process;   b) using the sodium hydroxide solution from the electrochemical process to contact the gaseous source of carbon dioxide and produce a slurry composition; and   c) transporting the slurry composition to a disposal site underground or underwater.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the gaseous source of carbon dioxide is an industrial plant selected from the group consisting of power plants, chemical processing plants, mechanical processing plants, refineries, cement plants, and steel plants. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the electrochemical process comprises applying a voltage across an anode and a cathode of less than 2.0 V. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising using materials found in nature or industrial by-products to contact the gaseous source of carbon dioxide and produce the CO 2 -charged solution. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the materials found in nature comprise naturally alkaline water. 
     
     
         46 . A method of removing carbon dioxide from a gaseous source of carbon dioxide, comprising:
 a) producing a sodium hydroxide solution in an electrochemical process;   b) using the sodium hydroxide solution from the electrochemical process to contact the gaseous source of carbon dioxide and produce a slurry composition; and   c) separating a precipitated product and a mother liquor from the slurry composition,   wherein the gaseous source of carbon dioxide further comprises SOx, mercury, or both.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the aqueous source of carbon dioxide comprises an industrial plant selected from the group consisting of power plants, chemical processing plants, mechanical processing plants, refineries, cement plants, and steel plants. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the electrochemical process comprises a chloralkali process. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the electrochemical process comprises applying a voltage across an anode and a cathode of less than 2.0 V. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the electrochemical process does not form a gas at the anode. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising using materials found in nature or industrial by-products to contact the gaseous source of carbon dioxide and produce the CO 2 -charged solution. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , comprising using materials found in nature, wherein the materials found in nature comprise naturally alkaline water. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the precipitated product comprises strontium. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the precipitated product comprises 3 to 10,000 ppm strontium.