Review of contemporary research on inorganic CO2 utilization via CO2 conversion into metal carbonate-based materials

With the exception of some regions, underground CO2 storage is not recommended, and hence, new technologies have been proposed. These technologies are commonly referred to as carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies and can be categorized as organic and inorganic CCU. Considering the high stability of CO2, organic CCU requires highly efficient catalysts to enable commercialization and industrialization, necessitating costly and time-consuming development. In contrast to organic CCU, inorganic CCU enables the safe disposal of CO2 as an insoluble carbonate mineral by reacting it with metals such as calcium and magnesium. Such inorganic-based CCU technologies can sequester CO2 on a large scale without the need for additional energy consumption or a catalyst. Various indices should be considered when utilizing metal carbonates, including the CO2 absorbent types, metal cation sources, and the morphology of the final product. Results from the inorganic CO2 capture, utilization of captured CO2, and advanced mineral carbonation are collected and critically discussed. In addition, advanced potential applications for inorganic CO2 utilization, namely seawater-based CO2 applications, are considered. In this review article, readers will find broad information on the topic, which could be helpful for to early-stage researchers. In addition, based on the chemical reactions provided, it would be beneficial for researchers in the industry to design reactors or plants implementing CCU.