Project description
Natural, biogenic molecules to enhance basalt dissolution, converting CO2 gas into solid
The ERC-funded DRIAD project will gain mechanistic insight into how organic molecules control mineral-fluid behaviour, using a new, state-of-the-art laboratory for investigating fluid-rock interaction at the molecular scale and the first-ever lab for 4D studies of internal rock-structure change, during reaction, at multiple-length scales. The new insight will create an effective method for converting CO2 gas into solid, making it stable for millennia. Basalt, a black volcanic rock, reacts naturally with CO2, but aged basalt reacts slowly. Biogenic organic molecules can speed dissolution and enhance carbonate mineral growth while inhibiting the formation of aluminium silicates, particularly clay and zeolites, which steal cations and block pores. The goal is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly way to mitigate climate change.
Objective
"Ability to quantify the mechanisms of organic molecule control on mineral behaviour would provide predictive ability, a key for solving the serious Earth science challenges society faces. This has been difficult because molecular scale processes are often beyond resolution limits but even tiny amounts of an organic compound can dramatically alter mineral properties. My overall objective is to gain previously inaccessible insight into the controls on dissolution and growth in the silicate system, with new, custom built instruments that ""see"" at scales ranging from atomic to macroscopic. My hypothesis is that - by learning from nature - we can develop a universal, conceptual framework for organic molecule activity and from that, tailor them to do as we wish. I chose silicates because basalt mineralises CO2, converting it effectively to carbonate phases, as the Iceland CarbFix method shows - but partly weathered, old, cold basalt is less reactive. My specific objective is to tailor organic molecules to enhance basalt dissolution and carbonate mineral growth, while inhibiting Al-silicates, especially clay and zeolites, which steal cations and block pores. DRIAD will:
1) develop mechanistic insight for controlling mineral-fluid interaction;
2) produce the first, systematic overview of silicate mineral dissolution, defining precise conditions for cation leaching or Al and Si solvation;
3) build a state-of-the-art laboratory for mechanistic studies of fluid-rock interaction at molecular scale and the first ever lab for 4D study of internal rock structure, during reaction, at nm to cm scale;
4) create a new paradigm in the climate change challenge - cheap, permanent CO2 mineralisation in old, cold basalts, globally.
Even if only partly successful, the new, conceptual framework for organic-mineral interaction will change the game for solving challenges in geoscience and provide insight for medicine (bones, drug delivery) and advanced functional materials (designer crystals)."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
- engineering and technology materials engineering crystals
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences physical sciences molecular and chemical physics
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2800 KONGENS LYNGBY
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.