Rocks and aggregate, and methods of making and using the same

• US 7,753,618 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arelac, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Calera Corporation
• Inventors: Patterson, Joshua, Farsad, Kasra, Thatcher, Ryan, Constantz, Brent, O'Neil, James, Youngs, Andrew, Camire, Chris, Stagnaro, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge; Joseph W
• Application Number:
  US12/475,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20100024686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 210/639, 210/650, 210/652, 210/702, 210/710, 210/714, 210/717, 210/718, 210/723, 210/724, 210/726, 210768-774, 210/806, 203/10, 203/39, 423/170, 423/184, 423/430, 423/431, 423/437.1, 423/438, 423/439, 423/441, 423/165, 423/220, 423/223, 423/232, 423/155, 423/173, 423/419.1, 423/420.2, 106/461, 106/462, 106/638, 106/640, 106/647, 106/654, 106/668, 106/705, 106811-819, 106/713, 106/738, 106/739, 404/17, 404/44, 588/249, 588/252, 588/313, 588/400, 588/404, 436/145, 436/146, 522/94
• US Class Current: 404/44
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/402 of magnesium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/404 of calcium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/302 Sulfur oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/404 Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/602 Mercury or mercury compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1425 Regeneration of liquid absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1475 Removing carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/1493 Selection of liquid materials for use as absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/77 Liquid phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/60 Preparation of carbonates or bicarbonates in general of percarbonates C01B15/10; of specific carbonates or bicarbonates according to the cation C01B-C01G
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 11/18 Carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 5/24 Magnesium carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/72 by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/82 by IR- or Raman-data
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/88 by thermal analysis data, e.g. TGA, DTA, DSC
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/03 obtained by SEM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/50 Agglomerated particles
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/88 Isotope composition differing from the natural occurrence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/66 : by neutralisation; pH adjustment for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/683 : by addition of complex-forming compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 7/367 : Avoiding or minimising carbon dioxide emissions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 : of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 : Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 40/18 : Carbon capture and storage [CCS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/33 : using wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/235 : In an aqueous solution [e.g., TOC, etc.]

Abstract

Compositions comprising synthetic rock, e.g., aggregate, and methods of producing and using them are provided. The rock, e.g., aggregate, contains CO₂ and/or other components of an industrial waste stream. The CO₂ may be in the form of divalent cation carbonates, e.g., magnesium and calcium carbonates. Aspects of the invention include contacting a CO₂ containing gaseous stream with a water to dissolve CO₂, and placing the water under precipitation conditions sufficient to produce a carbonate containing precipitate product, e.g., a divalent cation carbonate.

Claims

1. A synthetic aggregate comprising a CO₂-sequestering component comprising one or more carbonate compounds which, when the aggregate is subjected to a protocol for measuring carbon isotopic fractionation value (δ

¹³C) consisting essentially of;

(i) digestion of the aggregate in 2M HClO₄ (perchloric acid) to produce CO₂ gas;

(ii) passing the gas through a gas dryer to produce a dried gas;

(iii) analyzing the dried gas using mass spectrometry to determine a ratio of the ¹³C to ¹²C in the carbon dioxide gas;

(iv) comparing the ratio of ¹³C to ¹²C determined in (iii) to a standard value of PeeDee Belemnite (PDB); and

(v) determining a value for carbon isotopic fractionation, expressed as ‰

, from the comparison of (iv);

the aggregate is characterized by having a δ

¹³C value less than −

10‰

, reflective of a fossil fuel origin for the carbon, and wherein the aggregate comprises at least 80% w/w of one or more carbonate compounds and has a hardness of at least 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, and further wherein the aggregate has an average particle size of 0.05 in. or greater.

2. The aggregate of claim 1 wherein the carbonate compounds comprise magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium calcium carbonate, or a combination thereof.

3. The aggregate of claim 2 wherein the molar ratio of calcium to magnesium in the aggregate is from 200/1 Ca/Mg to 1/200 Ca/Mg.

4. The aggregate of claim 1 that has a bulk density of between 75 lb/ft³ and 125 lb/lb/ft³.

5. The aggregate of claim 1 also comprising a sulfate and/or a sulfite.

6. A structure comprising the aggregate of claim 1.

7. The structure of claim 6 that is a building, a roadway, or a dam.

8. The roadway of claim 7 wherein the structure is a roadway and the roadway sequesters at least 1 ton of CO₂ per lane mile of roadway.