Abstract
With the rapidly growing demand for critical metals and the urgent need for carbon neutrality, comprehensive utilization of natural mineral resources has become increasingly important. This study presents two integrated approaches that simultaneously enable CO2 mineralization and critical metal recovery: (Option 1) intensive CO2 mineralization and selective leaching, and (Option 2) atmospheric CO2 mineralization and selective leaching. Both options are broadly applicable to a range of ultramafic and sulfidic resources. The Option 1 is targeting at ultramafic and oxide resources for simultaneous carbon mineralization and nickel and cobalt recovery from silicate and oxide minerals.
Option 1 targets ultramafic and oxide resources, achieving concurrent carbon mineralization and recovery of nickel and cobalt from silicate and oxide minerals. This option operates under elevated temperature and CO2 pressure in an autoclave, enabling rapid reaction kinetics and high recovery efficiency within hours. While requiring high capital and operational costs, it offers a significant payback rate.
The Option 2 focuses on low-grade chalcopyrite- and/or pentlandite- bearing resources, enabling simultaneous CO2sequestration from ambient air and recovery of copper, nickel, cobalt, or zinc from sulfide minerals. Although this option exhibits slower kinetics, it can be robustly operated under ambient temperature and pressure. Critical metals can be selectively extracted from low-grade ores, wastes, or intermediate processing residues, while atmospheric CO2 is captured and converted into stable carbonate minerals. Option 2 is particularly attractive due to its low capital and operational costs, coupled with high revenue potential from recovered critical metals and CO2 sequestration credits.
Together, these two options offer promising pathways for the mining industry to enhance critical metal recovery, advance carbon neutrality goals, and improve the sustainable utilization of natural mineral resources.