Carbonate precipitation in artificial soils produced from basaltic quarry fines and composts: An opportunity for passive carbon sequestration

David A. C. Manning, P. Renforth, E. Lopez-Capel, S. Robertson, N. Ghazireh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)
48 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The proportions of different carbon pools within artificial soils prepared by blending composts with dolerite and basalt quarry fines has changed over a period of 7 years, accumulating inorganic carbon as carbonate minerals newly formed within the soils. With no artificial energy inputs following construction, this is regarded as a passive mineral carbonation process. Carbon isotope data show that up to 40% of the carbon within the soil carbonate is derived from photosynthesis, mixed with carbon from geological sources (limestone present in the quarry fines). Organic matter within the soils shows very variable composition, with an apparent increase with time in the relative proportion of labile carbon relative to more stable forms, reflecting a change in the soil organic matter composition associated with the establishment of new plant communities. The rate of accumulation of inorganic carbon as carbonate minerals is estimated to be equivalent to 4.8tCha-1 annually to a depth of 0.3m, consistent with rates observed for accumulations of carbonate carbon in urban soils containing demolition wastes (annually 3.0tCha-1 to 0.3m). There appears to be substantial potential for artificial soils to be designed expressly for the purpose of carbon capture. The process is analogous to the use of reed beds for the removal of pollutants from contaminated waters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)309-317
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Volume17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2013

Keywords

  • Carbon isotope
  • Compost
  • Dolerite
  • Mineral carbonation
  • Oxygen isotope
  • Soil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution
  • General Energy
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Carbonate precipitation in artificial soils produced from basaltic quarry fines and composts: An opportunity for passive carbon sequestration'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this