Accelerated weathering of limestone for CO2 mitigation: Opportunities for the stone and cement industries

Large amounts of limestone fines co-produced during the processing of crushed limestone may be useful in the sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Accelerated weathering of limestone (AWL) is proposed as a low-tech method to capture and sequester CO₂ from fossil fuel-fired power plants and other point sources such as cement manufacturing. AWL reactants are readily available, inexpensive and environmentally benign. Waste CO₂ is hydrated with water to produce carbonic acid. This reacts with and is neutralized by limestone fines, thus converting CO₂ gas to dissolved calcium bicarbonate.