Lacinska, A.M. orcid.org/0000-0003-1005-4179, Bateman, K. orcid.org/0000-0002-6060-5234, Chenery, S. et al. (5 more authors) (2024) Immobilisation of chromium in magnesium carbonate minerals. Mineralogical Magazine, 88 (2). pp. 162-169. ISSN 0026-461X
Abstract
Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) is a toxic carcinogenic pollutant that might be released by the mining and processing of ultramafic rocks and nickel laterites and which requires permanent removal from the contaminated biosphere. Ultramafic material can also serve as a feedstock for the sequestration of CO2 resulting from the growth of new minerals, raising the intriguing proposition of integrated sequestration of both pollutants, CO2 and chromium, into magnesium carbonates. Such a synergistic process downstream of ore recovery and mineral processing could be an elegant proposition for more sustainable utilisation and management of the Earth's resources. We have therefore carried out an experimental and microanalytical study to investigate potentially suitable carbonate minerals. Uptake of chromium in carbonate phases was determined, followed by identification of the crystalline phases and characterisation of the local structural environment around the incorporated chromium centres. The results suggest that neither nesquehonite nor hydromagnesite have the structural capacity to incorporate Cr6+ or Cr3+ significantly at room temperature. We therefore propose that further research into this technology should focus on laboratory assessments of other phases, such as layered double hyroxides, that have a natural structural capacity to uptake both chromium and CO2.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | British Geological Survey © UKRI 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Mineralogical Society of the United Kingdom and Ireland. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited. |
Keywords: | hexavalent chromium; hydromagnesite; nesquehonite; ultramafics; laterites; environment; ore processing; carbon capture |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) EP/P006965/1 Innovate UK - KTP fkaTechnology Strategy Board (KTP) Not Known Infineum Ltd PO 4500672762 Diamond Light Source Ltd BRAGG Chair Royal Academy of Engineering BRAGG Chair |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 30 May 2024 15:55 |
Last Modified: | 30 May 2024 15:55 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1180/mgm.2023.91 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:212927 |
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