Influences of CO2 Bubbling Types on Preparation of Calcite Nanoparticles by Carbonation Process

Abstract

This study investigates the comparison of influences of CO₂ bubbling into the calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) slurry through a microbubble generator (MBG) and an ordinary CO₂ generator (OCG) on the preparation of calcite nanoparticles by a carbonation method. Each obtained precipitate was characterized using XRD, SEM and particle size analyses. During the carbonation process at each CO₂ flow rates, it was determined that the MBG generates tiny bubbles whereas an increase in CO₂ flow rates led to an increase bubble size when the OCG was used. The flow rate of CO₂ was not an important parameter with using the MBG as calcite nanoparticles were prepared (<125 nm) at each CO₂ flow rates. The necessary time for the complete reaction decreases with an increase in the CO₂ flow rates through the MBG in comparison to the OCG. To produce calcite nanoparticles with a high production recovery in shorter times, the MBG should be adopted to the carbonation reactor.