Novel strategies for CO2 utilization and storage in mineral processing**

矿物碳储存（MCS）是二氧化碳与碱性矿物反应形成固体碳酸盐的一种碳封存方式。尽管MCS与其他碳储存技术相比具有优势，但它需要大量的矿物原料。通过采矿获得这种矿物原料可能会产生很大的环境足迹。矿物加工废料是MCS原料的另一种来源，这些原料已被开采并精细研磨。在这个项目中，我们建议开发一种集成工艺，同时储存二氧化碳，提高选矿作业效率，增强尾矿稳定性，消除废物。具体而言，我们计划研究(1)活性矿物碳化对超镁基镍矿浮选的影响；(2)探索利用CO2作为浮选气沉淀镁、钙离子和调节工艺水，同时储存碳；(3)研究利用矿物碳化在超镁基镍尾矿中生成胶凝物质，加强尾矿干堆管理。(4)考察矿物碳酸化将超镁铁尾矿转化为有价值商品和消除废料产生的潜力。如果成功，将开发新技术，不仅增加采矿和矿物加工业务的可持续性，而且还通过碳的储存和新产品的销售产生新的收入来源，并使以前不经济的采矿业务变得可行。这些成果对于迫切需要开发新技术来处理低品位矿石和管理尾矿的加拿大矿业公司以及从采矿部门就业中受益的加拿大人来说都很重要。其他好处包括减缓气候变化和减少采矿和矿物加工对土地和水的影响。******

Mineral carbon storage (MCS) is a type of carbon sequestration where carbon dioxide is reacted with alkaline minerals to form solid carbonates. Although MCS has advantages compared to other carbon storage techniques, it requires large quantities of mineral feedstock. The acquisition of this mineral feedstock through mining can have a large environmental footprint. Mineral processing wastes are an alternative source of MCS feedstock which are already mined and finely ground. In this project, we propose to develop an integrated process to simultaneously store carbon dioxide, improve the efficiency of mineral processing operations, enhance tailings stability and eliminate waste. Specifically, we plan to investigate (1) the impact of active mineral carbonation on the flotation of ultramafic nickel ores, (2) explore the use of CO2 as a flotation gas to precipitate magnesium and calcium ions and condition process water while simultaneously storing carbon, (3) study the use of mineral carbonation to generate cementitious materials in ultramafic nickel tailings to enhance tailings management by dry-stack, and (4) examine the potential for mineral carbonation to transform ultramafic tailings into valuable commodities and eliminate the production of waste materials. If successful, new technologies will be developed that not only increase the sustainability of mining and mineral processing operations, but also generate new streams of revenue through the storage of carbon and sale of new products, and could make previously uneconomic mining operations feasible. These outcomes are important for Canadian mining companies, who urgently need to develop new technologies to process low-grade ores and manage tailings, as well as for Canadians in general who benefit from employment in the mining sector. Additional benefits include climate change mitigation and reduced impacts of mining and mineral processing on lands and water.******