Converting CO2 from biogas and MgCl2 residues into valuable magnesium carbonate: A novel strategy for renewable energy production

In this work a novel strategy for bio-methane production and magnesium chloride waste valorization is addressed. The proposed process is a potential alternative path to the already existing biogas upgrading technologies by carbon dioxide mineralization into valuable magnesium carbonate. The main parameters affecting the precipitation efficiency (reaction time, reaction temperature, and molar ratio reactant/precipitator) are studied, leading to promising results which spark further investigation in this innovative route. Additionally the purity and the morphology of the obtained solid product was accurately analysed through different physicochemical characterization techniques such as Raman, X-Ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscope. The characterisation study reveals a mixture of Nesqueonite and Dypingite carbonate phases obtained in the process being the later the dominant phase in the resulting precipitate. Overall, the results discussed herein confirmed the technical feasibility of this innovative strategy for synergizing carbon dioxide mineralization and renewable energy production. Crown Copyright (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.