Methods and systems for capturing and storing carbon dioxide are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: mixing materials including magnesium or calcium with one or more acids and chelating agents to form a magnesium or calcium-rich solvent; using the organic acids derived from biogenic wastes as acids or chelating agents; generating carbonate ions by reacting a gas including carbon dioxide with a carbonic anhydrase biocatalyst; reacting the solvent with the carbonate ions to form magnesium or calcium carbonates; recycling a solution containing the biocatalyst after forming magnesium or calcium carbonates for re-use in the generating step; using the magnesium and calcium carbonates as carbon neutral filler materials and using the silica product as green filler materials or inexpensive absorbents.

Methods and systems for capturing and storing carbon dioxide are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: mixing materials including magnesium or calcium with one or more acids and chelating agents to form a magnesium or calcium-rich solvent; using the organic acids derived from biogenic wastes as acids or chelating agents; generating carbonate ions by reacting a gas including carbon dioxide with a carbonic anhydrase biocatalyst; reacting the solvent with the carbonate ions to form magnesium or calcium carbonates; recycling a solution containing the biocatalyst after forming magnesium or calcium carbonates for re-use in the generating step; using the magnesium and calcium carbonates as carbon neutral filler materials and using the silica product as green filler materials or inexpensive absorbents.

A carbonate microfluidic model with controllable nanoscale porosity and methods are described. The method for fabricating a carbonate nanofluidic micromodel with controllable nanoscale porosity for studying fluid behaviors in an underground oil-reservoir environment includes: disposing a plurality of polymer spheres into a transparent flow cell; initiating crystallization of the plurality of polymer spheres to form a template with an opal structure; filling the transparent flow cell with a calcium-based solution and a carbonate-based solution to form nanocrystals in voids of the opal structure; and removing the template formed by crystallization of the plurality of polymer spheres from the transparent flow cell leaving an inverse opal structure with a plurality of nanoscale pores and a carbonate surface. The model includes: a transparent flow cell including a first end defining an inlet and a second end defining an outlet; and an inverse opal structure of carbonate inside the transparent flow cell.

A carbonate microfluidic model with controllable nanoscale porosity and methods are described. The method for fabricating a carbonate nanofluidic micromodel with controllable nanoscale porosity for studying fluid behaviors in an underground oil-reservoir environment includes: disposing a plurality of polymer spheres into a transparent flow cell; initiating crystallization of the plurality of polymer spheres to form a template with an opal structure; filling the transparent flow cell with a calcium-based solution and a carbonate-based solution to form nanocrystals in voids of the opal structure; and removing the template formed by crystallization of the plurality of polymer spheres from the transparent flow cell leaving an inverse opal structure with a plurality of nanoscale pores and a carbonate surface. The model includes: a transparent flow cell including a first end defining an inlet and a second end defining an outlet; and an inverse opal structure of carbonate inside the transparent flow cell.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

A method including precipitating a precipitate including one or more divalent cation carbonates from a solution including the divalent cation of each of the one or more divalent cation carbonates, and storing at least a portion of the precipitate downhole by placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via a well. Precipitating can include contacting the solution with a gas, such as atmospheric air, including carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The method can further include separating the precipitate from the solution, and forming a slurry including the at least a portion of the precipitate. Placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via the well can include pumping the slurry downhole via the well. A system is also provided. Via the system and method, CO.sub.2 can be sequestered downhole.

A method including precipitating a precipitate including one or more divalent cation carbonates from a solution including the divalent cation of each of the one or more divalent cation carbonates, and storing at least a portion of the precipitate downhole by placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via a well. Precipitating can include contacting the solution with a gas, such as atmospheric air, including carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The method can further include separating the precipitate from the solution, and forming a slurry including the at least a portion of the precipitate. Placing the at least the portion of the precipitate downhole via the well can include pumping the slurry downhole via the well. A system is also provided. Via the system and method, CO.sub.2 can be sequestered downhole.

A vacuum heat insulating material including a core material and a sheath for covering the core material, the interior thereof being sealed to maintain a reduced pressure therein, wherein the sheath includes a gas-barrier laminate that has at least a heat-melt-adhesion layer, a vapor-deposited layer and a gas-barrier material, and the gas-barrier material has a gas-barrier layer that includes a polycarboxylic acid type polymer and contains a monovalent metal element in an amount of not more than 1.4% by weight, a polyvalent metal element in an amount of at least not less than 5.0% by weight, and a nitrogen element in an amount of 0.01 to 3.0% by weight per the total weight of nitrogen and carbon. The vacuum heat insulating material has excellent heat insulating capability and gas-barrier property, and sustains excellent heat insulating capability over extended periods of time as well as excellent flexibility and waterproof property.

The present invention relates to the use of solid metal materials for catalyzing the hydration of carbon dioxide. It also relates to methods of and apparatus for hydrating carbon dioxide and capturing carbon. The solid metal materials may be nickel nanoparticles. The invention finds particular application in the sequestration of carbon dioxide either at the point of release or from the atmosphere.