Methods for transforming silicate-containing materials into materials for co2 removal and other applications

A method for sequestering carbon dioxide comprising:

• a. providing a salt solution;
• b. performing electrochemical reactions in the salt solution to produce a solution of lower pH and a solution of higher pH;
• c. providing a silicate-containing material containing Mg2+ and/or Ca2+ ions;
• d. treating the silicate-containing material with the solution of lower pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material and generate a second solution with higher pH;
• e. combining the solution generated in (d) with at least a portion of the solution with higher pH generated in (b) to form a precipitate and a second salt solution;
• f. recycling the salt solution formed in (e) by adding the salt solution to (b);
• and
• g. exposing the precipitate formed in (e) to a CO2-containing gas.

A method of forming a precipitate comprising:

• a. providing a salt solution;
• b. performing electrochemical reactions in the salt solution to produce a solution of lower pH and a solution of higher pH;
• c. providing a silicate-containing material containing Mg2+ and/or Ca2+ ions;
• d. treating the silicate-containing material with the solution of lower pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material and generate a second solution with higher pH;
• e. treating the treated silicate-contain material generated in (d) with the solution of higher pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material and generate a second solution with lower pH;
• f. combining the solution generated in (d) with at least a portion of the solution generated in (e) to form the precipitate and a second salt solution;
• and
• g recycling the salt solution formed in (f) by adding the salt solution to (b).

A method for sequestering carbon dioxide comprising:

• a. providing a salt solution;
• b performing electrochemical reactions in the salt solution to produce a solution of lower pH and a solution of higher pH;
• c. providing a silicate-containing material containing Mg2+ and/or Ca2+ ions
• d. treating the silicate-containing material with the solution of lower pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material and generate a second solution with higher pH;
• e. treating the treated silicate-contain material generated in (d) with the solution of higher pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material and generate a second solution with lower pH;
• f. combining the solution generated in (d) with at least a portion of the solution generated in (e) to form a precipitate and a second salt solution;
• g. recycling the salt solution formed in (f) by adding the salt solution to (b);
• and
• h exposing the precipitate formed in (f) to a CO2-containing gas.

A method for extracting a transition metal ion-containing precipitate comprising:

• a. providing a salt solution;
• b. performing electrochemical reactions in the salt solution to produce a solution of lower pH and a solution of higher pH;
• c. providing a silicate-containing material containing transition metal ions, e.g. silicate-containing Ni laterites;
• d. treating the silicate-containing material with the solution of lower pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material to generate a solution with higher pH;
• e. combining the solution generated in (d) with at least a portion of the solution with higher pH generated in (b) to form the transition metal ion-containing precipitate and a second salt solution;
• and
• f. recycling the salt solution formed in step (e) by adding the salt solution to (b).

A method for extracting a transition metal ion-containing precipitate comprising:

• a. providing a salt solution;
• b. performing electrochemical reactions in the salt solution to produce a solution of lower pH and a solution of higher pH;
• c. providing a silicate-containing material containing transition metal ions, e.g. silicate-containing Ni laterites;
• d. treating the silicate-containing material with the solution of lower pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material and generate a solution with higher pH;
• e. treating the treated silicate-contain material generated in (d) with the solution of higher pH to dissolve at least a portion of the silicate-containing material and generate a second solution with lower pH;
• f. combining the solution generated in (d) with at least a portion of the solution generated in (e) to form the transition metal ion-containing precipitate and a second salt solution;
• and
• g. recycling the salt solution formed in (f) by adding the salt solution to (b).