journal article·2025-03Open access

Electrodeposition of Carbon‐Trapping Minerals in Seawater for Variable Electrochemical Potentials and Carbon Dioxide Injections

Nishu Devi, Xiaohui Gong, Daiki Shoji, Amy Wagner, Alexandre Guerini, Davide Zampini, Jeffrey Lopez, Alessandro F. Rotta Loria

Advanced Sustainable Systems· Volume 9· Issue 3

Abstract

Abstract Seawater offers immense potential for addressing global energy and climate challenges. Electrochemical seawater splitting is a sustainable approach for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration, producing hydrogen gas at the cathode and oxygen or chlorine gas at the anode. Simultaneously, minerals such as calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide precipitate at the cathode, especially when coupled with CO2 injections for the sake of CO2 sequestration. These precipitates are often dismissed as energy‐intensive byproducts. However, they have untapped potential as resources for construction, manufacturing, and environmental remediation. Here, a comprehensive experimental investigation is presented into the electrochemical precipitation of minerals in seawater under varying operational conditions. By systematically varying applied voltage, current density, and CO2 flow rate, the conditions that optimize mineral yield and selectivity while minimizing energy consumption are revealed. The findings advance the understanding of electrochemical synthesis and material processing in aqueous solutions, with a particular focus on the mineralization of calcareous compounds and their transformation into large‐scale aggregates. These findings also support an additional and highly scalable application of seawater electrolysis, encompassing not only oceanic renewable hydrogen production and CO2 sequestration but also the sustainable production of carbon‐trapping minerals and aggregates.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electrochemical Analysis and Applications · Fuel Cells and Related Materials · Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and Sensors

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road Evanston IL 60208 USA

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road Evanston IL 60208 USA

CEMEX Innovation Holding AG – Brügg Branch Römerstrasse 13 Brügg CH‐2555 Switzerland

CEMEX Innovation Holding AG General‐Guisan‐strasse 6 Zug CH‐6300 Switzerland

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