The Need
Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels from fossil fuel combustion pose urgent climate and regulatory challenges. Existing carbon capture and sequestration technologies are often costly, energy-intensive, or limited in scalability. There is a critical need for economically viable solutions that not only capture and store CO₂ efficiently but also create valuable byproducts, enabling sustainable industrial decarbonization and circular resource utilization.

The Technology
This technology, developed by OSU engineers, utilizes silicate materials (sourced from nature, synthesized, or recovered from industrial waste streams such as steel slag or fly ash) to capture and mineralize CO₂. Through a multi-step process, silicates react with carbonate solutions and CO₂ to produce stable carbonates and high-purity silica that can be used in the glass, semiconductor, or chemical industries. The process can also generate hydrogen as a co-product. The approach leverages abundant, low-cost feedstocks and integrates seamlessly with existing industrial operations.

Benefits/Advantages
• Utilizes industrial waste (e.g., steel slag, fly ash), reducing landfill and enabling circular economy models
• Achieves higher CO₂ mineralization rates and lower process costs compared to conventional methods
• Produces valuable byproducts (silica, hydrogen, carbonated slag) with established markets
• Operates efficiently at mild temperatures, with potential for integration of waste heat and renewable energy sources