How to seize the "carbon" in the air?

"In the past, the way to obtain calcium carbonate was relatively simple and crude, which was to cut mountains and explode rocks at the expense of consuming the environment. We used carbon dioxide greenhouse gases and industrial solid waste to make calcium carbonate, which was more low-carbon and environmentally friendly." At the site of the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services, the reporter saw two bottles of samples at the hands of the staff of Yuanyuan Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., namely green carbon-negative calcium carbonate and green carbon-negative masterbatch. They are the use of what the staff called "carbon products" made from carbon capture, utilization and storage technology.

Green carbon-negative calcium carbonate and green carbon-negative masterbatch placed on the company's booth. Photo by Ren Jing

Carbon capture, utilization and storage technology (hereinafter referred to as CCUS) refers to a technology that can be effectively used to capture carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide emitted during the production process can be captured, stored, or purified and put into new production processes for recycling. Utilization is one of the key technologies to deal with global climate change.

"We imitate nature's mineralization reactions that regulate carbon balance, and use chemical engineering to accelerate thousands or even millions of years of reactions in nature in two minutes." Wang Deping, the original scientific and technological staff member, explained the process of "carbon capture" to reporters. The chemical chain mineralization CCUS carbon emission reduction technology used by the company adopts an innovative chemical chain mineralization process, using salt solution and exclusive additives as circulation media to mix the carbon dioxide in industrial exhaust gas with calcium-containing industrial solid waste such as electric stone slag, steel slag, red mud, etc. or natural ore rich in calcium and magnesium alkaline earth, and the continuous mineralization reaction is carried out through patented equipment at room temperature and pressure. It only takes two minutes. Carbon dioxide can be converted into carbon-negative calcium carbonate with economic value.

Calcium carbonate products have high added value and can be widely used in plastics, rubber, papermaking, construction, coatings and other industries. Compared with calcium carbonate produced using traditional methods, under the dual benefits of substitution and negative carbon, each ton of negative carbon is used. Carbon calcium carbonate can reduce nearly two tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

"China needs to consume 30 to 40 million calcium carbonate every year. If we gradually replace the raw materials obtained from mountain blasting and blasting rocks to consume the environment with industrial solid waste products, our future generations will gain more green mountains and clear waters." Wang Deping said.