Removing carbon dioxide from waste streams through co-generation of carbonate and/or bicarbonate minerals

A method of removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream comprising:

• obtaining a hydroxide in an aqueous mixture;
• admixing the hydroxide with the gas stream to produce carbonate products, bicarbonate products, or a mixture of carbonate and bicarbonate products in an admixture;
• and
• separating said carbonate and/or bicarbonate products from the admixture, thereby removing carbon dioxide from the gas stream.

An apparatus comprising:

• a electrolysis chamber comprising at least one cathode and at least one anode, the chamber adapted to produce hydroxide during use;
• mixing equipment operably connected to the electrolysis chamber and to a conduit adapted to contain a gas stream during use, the mixing equipment adapted to admix hydroxide from the electrolysis chamber with the gas stream during use to create an admixture in which carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen compounds in the gas stream can react with the hydroxide;
• and
• a separation chamber operably connected to the mixing equipment and adapted to separate the admixture into a separate gas phase and solid and/or liquid phase.