The present invention aims to provide techniques for efficiently synthesizing inorganic microparticles. According to the present invention, inorganic carbonate microparticles can be synthesized by generating ultrafine bubbles containing carbonic acid gas by injecting a gas containing carbonic acid gas and a liquid into a reaction vessel through a nozzle to deposit an inorganic carbonate having an average primary particle size of 300 nm or less in the presence of the ultrafine bubbles.

Inorganic particulate compositions containing inorganic particles associated with a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer associated with the inorganic particles are provided. The particulate composition satisfies at least one of the following properties: a BET surface area of the inorganic particles is greater than 8 m.sup.2/g, a Hegman value of the inorganic particles is 75 microns or less, and a rate of water loss from the composition upon drying from a moisture level greater than 2% wt % is at least 30% greater than a composition having a corresponding content of a polyacrylate polymer associated with the particles. A method to prepare the composition and formulations for inks, paints, coatings and filled polymeric articles containing the inorganic particulate composition are also provided.

A method of making a purified precipitated calcium carbonate from lime mud can include admixing a lime mud cake with water and sodium carbonate to form a first slurry; heating the first slurry under conditions to age the slurry and form one or more of pirssonite, shortite, and gaylussite; separating a solid portion from the aged slurry; washing the solid portion under conditions sufficient to decompose the one or more of pirssonite, shortite, and gaylussite to a CaCO.sub.3 solid fraction and Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 solid fraction and to remove sodium salts; and admixing the CaCO.sub.3 solid fraction with water and a dispersant to disperse the CaCO.sub.3 solid fraction in water and form a dispersed slurry having a Brookfield viscosity of less than about 1000 cps at 100 rpm, thereby producing a dispersed slurry containing the purified precipitated calcium carbonate.

A carbon dioxide fixation method includes a step of preparing a calcium-containing substance containing calcium, a step of preparing a calcium extraction substance for extracting calcium ions from the calcium-containing substance by a reaction with the calcium-containing substance to produce a calcium-containing intermediate, a step of producing a gel including the calcium-containing intermediate, by mixing the calcium-containing substance and the calcium extraction substance, a step of supplying a basic substance and carbon dioxide to the gel including the calcium-containing intermediate to precipitate calcium carbonate which is slightly soluble, and a step of removing the precipitated calcium carbonate.

A carbon dioxide fixation method includes a step of preparing a calcium-containing substance containing calcium, a step of preparing a calcium extraction substance for extracting calcium ions from the calcium-containing substance by a reaction with the calcium-containing substance to produce a calcium-containing intermediate, a step of producing a gel including the calcium-containing intermediate, by mixing the calcium-containing substance and the calcium extraction substance, a step of supplying a basic substance and carbon dioxide to the gel including the calcium-containing intermediate to precipitate calcium carbonate which is slightly soluble, and a step of removing the precipitated calcium carbonate.

A platform for sequestering carbon dioxide using a body of water is described. The platform has a vessel for holding solid metal hydroxide and for exposing the solid metal hydroxide to a flow of water to create a solution of a metal hydroxide having a pH level. The solution containing metal hydroxide is released into the body of water, causing a reaction with the carbon dioxide present in the body of water, thereby producing metal carbonate/bicarbonate, thus sequestering the carbon dioxide. A choice of the metal in the metal hydroxide, a rate of the releasing the solution containing the metal hydroxide into the body of water, and a flow rate of the flow of water so that to substantially maintain the solution containing the metal hydroxide at the pH level that is defined as environmentally safe and not changing chemistry of seawater. A corresponding method is also provided.

Disclosed is a hybrid system of carbon dioxide compact separation membrane and carbon recycling for an urban power plant for effluent carbon dioxide concentration control, including a blower into which an exhaust gas is input and which distributes the exhaust gas, a photo-culture process unit which receives the exhaust gas from the blower, performs a photo-culture process using microalgae, and discharges a first treatment gas, a mixing tank into which the exhaust gas supplied from the blower and the first treatment gas are input, a separation membrane process unit which receives a second treatment gas mixed in the mixing tank, and separates a third enriched gas from the second treatment gas using a plurality of separation membranes, a mineralization reaction unit which mineralizes carbon dioxide using the third enriched gas separated in the separation membrane process unit and discharges a third treatment gas to the mixing tank, a sensor unit which measures a carbon dioxide concentration discharged from each process using a plurality of sensors, and a control unit which controls operations of the photo-culture process unit, the separation membrane process unit and the mineralization reaction unit according to a carbon dioxide content of the inflow exhaust gas.

Disclosed is a hybrid system of carbon dioxide compact separation membrane and carbon recycling for an urban power plant for effluent carbon dioxide concentration control, including a blower into which an exhaust gas is input and which distributes the exhaust gas, a photo-culture process unit which receives the exhaust gas from the blower, performs a photo-culture process using microalgae, and discharges a first treatment gas, a mixing tank into which the exhaust gas supplied from the blower and the first treatment gas are input, a separation membrane process unit which receives a second treatment gas mixed in the mixing tank, and separates a third enriched gas from the second treatment gas using a plurality of separation membranes, a mineralization reaction unit which mineralizes carbon dioxide using the third enriched gas separated in the separation membrane process unit and discharges a third treatment gas to the mixing tank, a sensor unit which measures a carbon dioxide concentration discharged from each process using a plurality of sensors, and a control unit which controls operations of the photo-culture process unit, the separation membrane process unit and the mineralization reaction unit according to a carbon dioxide content of the inflow exhaust gas.

The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.

The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.