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HyCat

Negative-emissions energy production by co-generation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide mineralization

The HyCat project proposes to study the potential of silicates for the in situ  production of H2 and the co-sequestration of CO2. Silicates, usually found in serpentinites and peridotites react readily with water and CO2 producing H2 through the oxidation or Fe(II) while precipitating carbonate minerals (magnesite, calcite, dolomite).

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This technique presents an innovative and proactive way to produce much-needed green hydrogen for the energy transition while storing CO2 and coping with global warming, while using simple seawater as a reactant.

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Relative percolation set-up

Dissolution patterns

This project is in partnership with the University of Warsaw and Pr. Piotr Szymzak.

Using microfluidics, we are investigating the different patterns arising from the dissolution of porous media or fractures. Results show the strong coupling between flow rate, dissolution kinetics and fracture aperture, giving different patterns such as fractals or wormholing.

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Microfluidic set-up for studying gypsum dissolution patterns

Subduction fluids and porosity generation

This project was initiated from discussions with Dr. Hugues Raimbourg on the fate of fluids and traces in subduction zones from the dehydration of clay minerals and serpentinites. The purpose is to investigate the composition of fluids generated by dehydration reaction and identify tracers allowing to follow them on their way to the surface. Ultimately we would like to investigate the porosity generation linked to this fluid generation and the generation of percolation paths.

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Golden capsule used for the dehydration experiments
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