Fast CO2 sequestration by aerogel composites

Larnite powders and larnite/silica aerogel composites as effective agents for CO2 sequestration by carbonation

“…6 shows the XRD patterns of the larnite 2 and composite 1C samples after 15 min of the carbonation reaction inside the reactor. In contrast to the protocol followed in our former work on wollastonite carbonation [21,24,25], the samples were analyzed immediately after the end of the experiment instead of leaving them to stand in the reactor for several hours. In both cases it was possible to identify the calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) polymorphs calcite and vaterite (PDF: 086-0174 and 074-1867, respectively), which belong to the same structural family.…”

Surface and porous textural properties of silica–wollastonite composites prepared by sol–gel process

“…Modification of the surface roughness of wollastonite grains could then favor germination and growth kinetics of calcite crystallization. Embedding calcium silicate (wollastonite, CaSiO 3 ) grains inside a porous silica matrix (with TEOS as silica precursor) was revealed to be a way of enhancing carbonation efficiencies, even at ambient pressure and temperature [21][22][23]. We believe that the silica matrix modifies the wollastonite surface roughness and surface chemical nature.…”

Fractal Structure in Silica and Composites Aerogels

“…The recent literature reports on studies describing new applications area for aerogel. They are indeed good candidate for the mitigation or removal of hazardous pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, oils and solvents, or heavy metals [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ] from the air and water, immobilization of radioactive wastes [ 15 , 16 ], or greenhouses gases [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ]. All these new possibilities are the consequence of the very peculiar aerogels microstructure and the ways to control it.…”