Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processes

Abstract The challenge of cost-effective and efficient indirect carbonation processes is significant. This study aimed to address the limitations associated with alkaline additives, which are among the primary factors negatively affecting the economic viability of the indirect carbonation process. S...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Won Jo, Myoung-Jin Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02118-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849325905701240832
author Won Jo
Myoung-Jin Kim
author_facet Won Jo
Myoung-Jin Kim
author_sort Won Jo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The challenge of cost-effective and efficient indirect carbonation processes is significant. This study aimed to address the limitations associated with alkaline additives, which are among the primary factors negatively affecting the economic viability of the indirect carbonation process. Specifically, we evaluated the feasibility of replacing NaOH, a commonly used alkaline additive, with Ca(OH)2, a more cost-effective and safer alternative. Particular emphasis was placed on the potential production of fine-particle vaterite CaCO3, which, despite its high industrial applicability, poses production challenges owing to its inherent instability. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of using Ca(OH)2, with and without sucrose, on the production yield, morphology, particle size, and purity of CaCO3, in comparison to NaOH. Despite the low solubility of Ca(OH)2, its combination with sucrose effectively stabilized pH levels and significantly enhanced CaCO3 yields. The addition of sucrose further increased supersaturation, aiding vaterite formation. Using Ca(OH)2 with sucrose resulted in a vaterite content exceeding 95%, similar to that achieved with NaOH. A cost analysis revealed that producing vaterite-type CaCO3 using Ca(OH)2 combined with sucrose required only 53% of the cost associated with NaOH, demonstrating its superior economic feasibility. These findings establish Ca(OH)2, particularly in combination with sucrose, as a viable alternative to NaOH in the pH swing process, providing cost savings, improved safety, and high-purity vaterite-type CaCO3 suitable for various industrial applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-6cb24293d2bd45408ad044e501eaa513
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-6cb24293d2bd45408ad044e501eaa5132025-08-20T03:48:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-02118-4Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processesWon Jo0Myoung-Jin Kim1Department of Convergence Study on the Ocean Science and Technology, Korea Maritime and Ocean UniversityDepartment of Convergence Study on the Ocean Science and Technology, Korea Maritime and Ocean UniversityAbstract The challenge of cost-effective and efficient indirect carbonation processes is significant. This study aimed to address the limitations associated with alkaline additives, which are among the primary factors negatively affecting the economic viability of the indirect carbonation process. Specifically, we evaluated the feasibility of replacing NaOH, a commonly used alkaline additive, with Ca(OH)2, a more cost-effective and safer alternative. Particular emphasis was placed on the potential production of fine-particle vaterite CaCO3, which, despite its high industrial applicability, poses production challenges owing to its inherent instability. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of using Ca(OH)2, with and without sucrose, on the production yield, morphology, particle size, and purity of CaCO3, in comparison to NaOH. Despite the low solubility of Ca(OH)2, its combination with sucrose effectively stabilized pH levels and significantly enhanced CaCO3 yields. The addition of sucrose further increased supersaturation, aiding vaterite formation. Using Ca(OH)2 with sucrose resulted in a vaterite content exceeding 95%, similar to that achieved with NaOH. A cost analysis revealed that producing vaterite-type CaCO3 using Ca(OH)2 combined with sucrose required only 53% of the cost associated with NaOH, demonstrating its superior economic feasibility. These findings establish Ca(OH)2, particularly in combination with sucrose, as a viable alternative to NaOH in the pH swing process, providing cost savings, improved safety, and high-purity vaterite-type CaCO3 suitable for various industrial applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02118-4VateriteCalcium hydroxidepH-swingSucroseIndirect carbonationAlkaline agent
spellingShingle Won Jo
Myoung-Jin Kim
Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processes
Scientific Reports
Vaterite
Calcium hydroxide
pH-swing
Sucrose
Indirect carbonation
Alkaline agent
title Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processes
title_full Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processes
title_fullStr Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processes
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processes
title_short Enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in pH-swing processes
title_sort enhancing the economic feasibility of vaterite production using calcium hydroxide in ph swing processes
topic Vaterite
Calcium hydroxide
pH-swing
Sucrose
Indirect carbonation
Alkaline agent
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02118-4
work_keys_str_mv AT wonjo enhancingtheeconomicfeasibilityofvateriteproductionusingcalciumhydroxideinphswingprocesses
AT myoungjinkim enhancingtheeconomicfeasibilityofvateriteproductionusingcalciumhydroxideinphswingprocesses