Refining the future: A serpentine-based reactive adsorbent for carbon dioxide valorization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/jimese.v4i1.2026.3662Keywords:
Aceh serpentinite, carbon capture, reactive adsorbent, sustainabilityAbstract
Background: The rising global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions necessitate efficient and sustainable carbon capture solutions, particularly for Indonesia’s industrial sector. This study explores the potential of Aceh serpentinite, a local mineral resource, as a raw material to produce magnesium oxide (MgO) for use as a reactive adsorbent in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology. Unlike other methods that use expensive imported materials, this research utilizes domestic natural resources through an economical chemical and thermal activation process. Methods: The research methodology involved the preparation of serpentinite samples, which were thermally activated at 700 ℃ for 2 hours to remove hydroxyl groups and enhance mineral reactivity. This was followed by acid leaching using 1M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and precipitation with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to extract the MgO. Findings: The findings demonstrated that thermal activation led to a mass loss of 9.63% (Loss on Ignition), indicating successful dehydroxylation of the mineral structure. Mass balance calculations estimate that approximately 3.54 grams of MgO could be produced from 13.19 grams of raw rock, representing a process efficiency of 72.8%. Conclusion: The findings confirm that Aceh serpentinite contains sufficient reactive magnesium to be a viable and cost-effective material for CCUS applications, offering a sustainable alternative for industrial emission reduction. Novelty/Originality of this article: The novelty of "REFINE" lies in the strategic use of common local minerals through a simplified and economical chemical path to replace expensive imported carbon capture materials, turning natural resources into high-value environmental products.
References
Abu Fara, A., Rayson, M. R., Brent, G. F., Oliver, T. K., Stockenhuber, M., & Kennedy, E. M. (2024). Effect of solid ratio and particle size on dissolution of heat activated lizardite at elevated pressures and moderate temperatures. Minerals, 14, 831. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14080831
Auyeshov, A., Arynov, K., Satimbekova, A., Yeskibayeva, C., & Alzhanov, K. (2024). The thermal activation of serpentinite from the Zhitikarinsky Deposit, Kazakhstan. Molecules, 29, 4455. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184455
Auyeshov, A., Arynov, K., Yeskibayeva, C., Ibrayeva, A., & Dzholdasova, E. (2025a). Synthesis and characterization of silica obtained by combined acid–alkali treatment of serpentinite. Molecules, 30, 4076. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30204076
Auyeshov, A., Arynov, K., Yeskibayeva, C., Ibrayeva, A., & Zhumadildaeva, A. (2025b). Efficient production of high purity magnesium hydroxide from serpentinite. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202506.1914.v1
Bai, Z., Fan, Q., Wang, M., Yuan, S., Li, Y., & Han, Y. (2025). Dehydroxylation of serpentine during suspension roasting pretreatment: Non-isothermal kinetics, phase transformation and microstructural evolution. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5358466
Baigenzhenov, O. S., Kozlov, V. A., Luganov, V. A., Mishra, B., Shayahmetova, R. A., & Aimbetova, I. O. (2015). Complex processing of wastes generated in chrysotile asbestos production. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 36, 242–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2014.955610
Beglaryan, H., Isahakyan, A., Zulumyan, N., Melikyan, S., & Terzyan, A. (2023). A study of magnesium dissolution from serpentinites composed of different serpentine group minerals. Minerals Engineering, 201, 108171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108171
Bullock, L., Yang, A., & Darton, R. C. (2022). Kinetics informed global assessment of mine tailings for carbon dioxide removal. Science of the Total Environment, 808, 152111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152111
Chen, Y., Yang, X., Wu, L., Tong, L., & Zhu, J. (2023). Recovery of magnesium from serpentine via acid leaching and precipitation of high purity Mg(OH)₂. Minerals, 13, 318. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030318
Du Breuil, C., Cesar Pasquier, L., Dipple, G., Blais, J. F., Iliuta, M. C., & Mercier, G. (2019). Mineralogical transformations of heated serpentine and their impact on dissolution during aqueous phase mineral carbonation reaction in flue gas conditions. Minerals, 9, 680. https://doi.org/10.3390/min9110680
Dufourny, A., Julcour, C., Esvan, J., Cassayre, L., Laniesse, P., & Bourgeois, F. (2022). Observation of the depassivation effect of attrition on magnesium silicates' direct aqueous carbonation products. Frontiers in Climate, 4, 946735. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.946735
El-Sayed, D., Ismail, A. K., & El-Hosiny, F. I. (2023). Magnesium chloride crystals with studying mechanism and leaching kinetics of serpentinite ore by hydrochloric acid. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, 76(6), 1439–1446. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-022-02852-7
Fedoročková, A., Hreus, M., Raschman, P., & Sučik, G. (2012). Dissolution of magnesium from calcined serpentinite in hydrochloric acid. Minerals Engineering, 32, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2012.03.011
Galina, N. R., Arce, G. L. A. F., Maroto Valer, M., & Avila, I. (2023). Experimental study on mineral dissolution and carbonation efficiency applied to potential of hydrogen swing mineral carbonation for improved carbon dioxide sequestration. Energies, 16, 2449. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16052449
Huang, Z., Gong, F., Lu, J., Liu, S., Ding, J., Wang, W., & Yan, J. (2025). Experiments and mechanism of kinetics/stability of CO₂ capture by Ce/Zr carrier-loaded MgO-based adsorbents. Separation and Purification Technology, 353, 128110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.128110
IEAGHG. (2022). Mineral carbonation using mine tailings: A strategic overview of potential and opportunities (Technical Report 2022-10). International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme. https://ieaghg.org/publications/mineral-carbonation-usig-mine-tailings-a-strategic-overview-of-potential-and-opportunities/
Kelemen, P. B., McQueen, N., Wilcox, J., Renforth, P., Dipple, G., & Paukert Vankeuren, A. (2020). Engineered carbon mineralization in ultramafic rocks for CO₂ removal from air: Review and new insights. Chemical Geology, 550, 119628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119628
Li, J., & Hitch, M. (2018). Mechanical activation of magnesium silicates for mineral carbonation: A review. Minerals Engineering, 119, 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.08.034
Makikouri, S., Malkki, M., Leino, T., Kauppinen, J., Hakanen, F., & Tolvanen, H. (2026). Mineral carbonation: Thermal activation of serpentine as flexible component in energy systems. Journal of CO₂ Utilization, 105, 103353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2026.103353
Petersen, J. (2023). From understanding the rate limitations of bioleaching mechanisms to improved bioleach process design. Hydrometallurgy, 221, 106148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2023.106148
Raschman, P., Fedoročková, A., & Sučik, G. (2013). Thermal activation of serpentine prior to acid leaching. Hydrometallurgy, 139, 149–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2013.08.010
Reza, A. A., Mahidin, M., Yunardi, Y., Gani, A., & Wardani, S. (2024). Characteristics of serpentine Aceh morphology and chemical compositions studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence. Key Engineering Materials, 982, 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0290904
Ruan, Z., Li, M., Gao, K., Zhang, D., Huang, L., Xu, W., & Liu, X. (2019). Effect of particle size refinement on the leaching behavior of mixed rare earth concentrate using hydrochloric acid. ACS Omega, 4, 9813–9822. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b01141
Saleem, M. H., Rashid, M. I., Khan, S. A., Waleed, M., & Shahzad, M. U. (2025). Magnesium extraction from serpentine for carbon capture and storage. Journal of the Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 52. https://doi.org/10.54693/piche.05226
Senevirathna, H. L., Wu, S., Lee, C., Kim, J. Y., Kim, S. S., Bai, K., & Wu, P. (2023). Enhancing magnesium oxide efficiency in carbon dioxide capture: Engineered composites with additives. RSC Advances, 13, 27946–27955. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ra04080a
Stankovic, S., Atanackovic, N., Strbacki, J., Kovac, S., Saric, K., Niksic, D., & Schippers, A. (2025). Bioleaching and chemical leaching of magnesium from serpentinites with potential application in mineral carbonation process for carbon dioxide sequestration. Frontiers in Microbiology, 16, 1646341. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1646341
Stokreef, S., Sadri, F., Stokreef, A., & Ghahreman, A. (2022). Mineral carbonation of ultramafic tailings: A review of reaction mechanisms and kinetics, industry case studies, and modelling. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 8, 100491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2022.100491
Vieira, K. R. M., Arce, G. L. A. F., Luna, C. M., Facio, V. O., Carvalho, A. J., Neto, T. G. S., & Ávila, I. (2022). Understanding the acid dissolution of serpentinites (tailings and waste rock) for use in indirect mineral carbonation. South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 40, 154–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajce.2022.02.003
Woodall, C. M., McQueen, N., Pilorgé, H., & Wilcox, J. (2019). Utilization of mineral carbonation products: Current state and potential. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, 9(6), 1096–1113. https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1940
Zhang, N., Chai, Y. E., Santos, R. M., & Šiller, L. (2020). Advances in process development of aqueous CO₂ mineralisation towards scalability. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 8(6), 104453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104453
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Faras Heztio, Naelah Aziza Syihab, Caroline Sophia Selena Liem
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
