STICO Lab

Cations such as Ca, Mg, and Na exist in seawater, a semi-permanent resource, and produce carbonate, a stable mineral form, through reaction with CO₂ under alkaline conditions. CO₂ generated from power generation is captured and stored at a location where seawater is easily handled. This is different from the CCS process for producing liquefied carbonic acid. It does not require separate desorption, compression, or liquefaction processes and is easy to store. The reaction between alkaline salts and CO₂ in seawater is a spontaneous exothermic reaction, and complex carbonates such as dolomite are created through ionic bonding between metals and non-metals.

Carbon-using products such as fuel, chemical products, and building aggregates are expected to form a market of up to $70 billion in 2020, and will grow at a CAGR of 13.8% in the future to form a market of up to $8,370 in 2030.

In the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Carbon Mineralization, CCUS technology represents the highest potential storage capacity among carbon storage methods and is classified as a reliable and operational technology. It is a permanent method and does not require long-term monitoring as there are no CO₂ leakage issues.

The technology to individually produce carbonates using differences in solubility further increases the value of the product. The industrial field can be expanded by producing calcium, magnesium, and sodium carbonate in stages

• MgCO₃, CaCO₃ : Paper, Plastics, Paint, Rubber, Heat insulating material, etc.
• Na₂CO₃ : Soap, Detergent, Glass materials, Chemical additives, etc.