Materials Science, Technology and Engineering news feed is moving fast.
On the contrary slower moving realisation, seldom lives-up to expectations. Arguably this can result in a lowering of expectations with an accompanying lowering of standards?
Now is the time for making New Years Resolutions - Few will regret the end to 2008!
Someone who wished to remain anonymous, but granted me permission to publish, recently wrote in a personal and confidential document the following statements:
"NB. Currently Studying Opportunities for a new concept(s) for CO2 absorption with simultaneous production of Hydrogen, industrially oriented; Steelmaking, mining and metallurgical extraction =>energy production, distribution & control of industrial gas emissions:
From local (motivation) to global...
Systems /Synergy 4 Approach:-click to enlarge the Venn Diag image opposite.
1. Focus: CCS-Carbon, Capture & Storage, 2.Mining (Coal)– Motivation, Coal reserves France(58)-Scotland, Ayrshire...
3.Coal Powered Electricity & Heat generation,
4.Metallurgy/Materials/Advanced Processes,
It is common knowledge that immediate action is required and plebiscited. The 2009 clean economy appears to be the time to start -get over this crises stuff and no hedging! One of my resolutions will be to report on these fields and contribute as far as my professional skills permit.I strongly believe a concurrent engineering approach is the best way forward, if the coal burning lobby is to avoid being named and shamed globally!
Having failed to post regularly on the many advances during 2008 I shall echo a couple of news items from our pro-association IOM3 (UK) 1. Peridotite
Peridotite carbonation can be accelerated via drilling, hydraulic fracture, input of purified CO2 at elevated pressure, and, in particular, increased temperature at depth. After an initial heating step, CO2 pumped at 25 or 30 °C can be heated by exothermic carbonation reactions that sustain high temperature and rapid reaction rates at depth with little expenditure of energy. In situ carbonation of peridotite could consume >1 billion tons of CO2 per year in Oman alone, affording a low-cost, safe, and permanent method to capture and store atmospheric CO2.
ref:
In situ carbonation of peridotite for CO2 storage,PNAS By
Peter B. Kelemen and
Jürg Matter of the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964
NB. P.B.K. and J.M. have a preliminary patent filing for the technique of heating peridotite to achieve self-sustaining, rapid carbonation. Good luck with the realisations.
2.
Coal of Africa.
A new coal mine in RSA-Republic of South Africa has started production. The company aims to Produce 5-6 MT/y, 70% for exportation.
