Novel applications of non-traditional stable isotopes to studying near-equilibrium geochemical kinetics with applications to carbon removal and storage

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Chen Zhu, Indiana University, Bloomington
• Tuesday 13 June 2023, 12:00-13:00
• Department of Earth Sciences, Tilley Lecture Theatre.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Oscar Branson.

The isotope-doping method holds the promise of transforming near-equilibrium reaction kinetics research, which provides the urgently needed experimental data for closing knowledge gaps in CO2 removal and storage for climate change mitigation. With the availability of non-traditional isotopes, we see an unprecedented opportunity for breaking conceptual barriers and methodological impasses. In this seminar, I will present three examples of our recent work. First, 29Si-doped experiments on quartz, feldspars, and kaolinite dissolution tested the hypothesis of mechanism switch from far from equilibrium to near equilibrium and illustrated the way to model irreversible reactions. Second, we measured the isotope exchange rates at solubility equilibrium for barite with 137Ba and 32S doping in initial solutions. Extrapolation of the lab-measured exchange rates to marine sediment conditions suggests a reset of isotope signatures within years. These new experimental data, together with new data in the literature, beg to question the fidelity of many mineral paleo-environmental proxies. Third, new 145Nd-doped monazite solubility experiments at high P-T show promise to circumvent the re-precipitation problem in solubility measurements. The solubility of rare earth elements is central to critical minerals research and exploration. Many climate change mitigation solutions are based on CO2 -water-mineral interactions. Our research aims to provide a basic scientific foundation for mitigation efforts.

This talk is part of the Department of Earth Sciences Seminars (downtown) series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Department of Earth Sciences Seminars (downtown)
• Department of Earth Sciences seminars
• Department of Earth Sciences, Tilley Lecture Theatre
• ps635

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.