Welcome
CO2MakingOver is a scientific website where you can find all the latest news in Carbon Dioxide Utilisation and Sustainable Practices in Extractive Metallurgy, as well as articles and updates on upcoming events.
Do not hesitate to visit all the sections and get in touch for comments, suggestions or if you would like to collaborate with us!
Enjoy your reading!
Carbon dioxide emissions - Where are we?
2019: 410 ppm
2022: 420 ppm
2024: 422 ppm
-
In 2023, the global average atmospheric carbon dioxide was 419.3 parts per million (“ppm” for short), setting a new record high.
-
The increase between 2022 and 2023 was 2.8 ppm — the 12th year in a row where the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased by more than 2 ppm.
-
At Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, where the modern carbon dioxide record began in 1958, the annual average carbon dioxide in 2023 was 421.08.
-
The world is rapidly transitioning to LOW-CARBON TECHNOLOGIES to combat climate change.
-
The world is relying on the utilisation of low-carbon technologies, such as WIND, SOLAR and BATTERIES, but each one of these technologies is mineral intensive, requiring large amounts of base and niche minerals and metals.
-
To meet this demand, more MINING and RECYCLING is needed.
Production of Minerals and Metals
-
Extraction of minerals and metals strongly depends on the use of pyro- or hydrometallurgy, or a combination of both.
-
Such processes requires a lot of energy, and they still depend on the utilisation of fossil fuels (oil, gas) as energy source.
-
They are not exempted of producing a huge amount of flue gases, toxic dust, solid and liquid waste residues, which also require energy to be further treated and dispose.
-
The production of a target metal and/or compound is associated with a CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) FOOTPRINT.
-
The CO2 foot print depends on the process' ENERGY CONSUMPTION, which simultaneously depends on the its efficiency.
-
It is IMPERATIVE TO SECURE THE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OF MINERALS AND METALS by minimising CO2 footprint through the whole value chain.
Carbon Dioxide as a valuable chemical reagent
Carbon dioxide can be considered as a valuable chemical reagent in metallurgical flowsheets.
Examples of applications of CO2 are pH control, the regeneration of acids used as lixiviants, or as a reagent for precipitation of metal carbonates. A new development is the solvent-extraction-assisted formation of metal carbonates.
