Systems and methods for generating hydrogen and magnetite from rock
AssigneeOhio State Innovation Foundation
InventorsThomas Darrah, Vikram Rao, Colin Whyte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for sequestering carbon, evolving hydrogen gas, producing iron oxide as magnetite, and producing magnesium carbonate as magnesite through sequential carbonation and serpentinization/hydration reactions involving processed olivine- and/or pyroxene-rich ores, as typically found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rock. Precious or scarce metals, such nickel, cobalt, chromium, rare earth elements, and others, may be concentrated in the remaining ore to facilitate their recovery from any gangue material.
Claims20
A method for sequestering carbon and generating hydrogen and magnetite from rock, the method comprising:
- obtaining an ore containing olivine or pyroxene;
- introducing the ore into a reactor that is operable at temperatures above ambient temperature and pressures above atmospheric pressure;
- introducing carbon dioxide into the reactor at a first temperature for a first residence time to react with the ore to generate magnesium carbonate;
- introducing water into the reactor at a second temperature for a second residence time to react with the ore to generate magnetite and hydrogen gas;
- removing the hydrogen gas from the reactor;
- and
- removing any remaining ore from the reactor.
A method for sequestering carbon and generating hydrogen and magnetite from rock, the method comprising:
- obtaining an ore containing olivine or pyroxene;
- introducing the ore into a first reactor that is operable at temperatures above ambient temperature and pressures above atmospheric pressure;
- introducing carbon dioxide into the first reactor at a first temperature for a first residence time to react with the ore to generate magnesium carbonate;
- passing the ore to a second reactor;
- introducing water into the second reactor at a second temperature for a second residence time to react with the ore to generate magnetite and hydrogen gas;
- removing the hydrogen gas from the second reactor;
- and
- removing the ore from the second reactor.
A method for sequestering carbon and generating hydrogen and magnetite from rock, the method comprising:
- obtaining an ore containing olivine or pyroxene;
- introducing the ore into a first reactor that is operable at temperatures above ambient temperature and pressures above atmospheric pressure;
- introducing carbon dioxide into the first reactor at a first temperature for a first residence time to react with the ore to generate magnesium carbonate;
- passing the any remaining ore to a second reactor;
- introducing water into the second reactor at a second temperature for a second residence time to reactor with the remaining ore to generate magnetite and hydrogen gas;
- removing the hydrogen gas from the second reactor;
- removing any remaining ore from the second rector;
- and
- passing the water through a heated bed of copper filings to reduce an oxygen fugacity of the water prior to introducing the water into the second reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.