Systems and methods for generating hydrogen and magnetite from rock
AssigneeOhio State Innovation Foundation
InventorsThomas Darrah, Vikram Rao, Colin Whyte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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 system for sequestering carbon and producing hydrogen and magnetite from rock, the system comprising:
- a source of ore containing olivine or pyroxene;
- a reactor having an inlet that receives ore particles and at least one outlet, the reactor also having at least one additional inlet through which one or more of carbon dioxide or water is introduced, the reactor operable at a first temperature for a first residence time to react carbon dioxide that enters the reactor through the at least one additional inlet with the ore particles to generate magnesium carbonate, the reactor also operable at a second temperature for a second residence time to react water that enters the reactor through the at least one additional inlet with the ore particles to generate magnetite and hydrogen gas;
- and
- a gas separator that is connected to and in fluid communication with the at least one outlet of the reactor, the gas separator configured to separate hydrogen gas from gases that exit the reactor through the at least one outlet.
A method for 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 water into the reactor at a particular temperature for a particular residence time to react with the ore to generate magnetite and hydrogen gas;
- removing, from the reactor, a gas mixture that includes the hydrogen gas;
- separating the hydrogen gas from the gas mixture;
- and
- removing any remaining ore from the reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.