Energy consumption assessment of silicate rock comminution options for enhanced weathering

Carbon dioxide removal technologies are essential for limiting global warming. Enhanced silicate rock weathering in agricultural settings has evolved as a viable negative emissions technology due to its significant carbon sequestration potential and improved crop yields. The successful upscaling of the technology needs an accurate assessment of energy requirements for the comminution of mafic and ultramafic rocks. This study proposes using the mineral processing simulator to model the integrated mine-to-mill production process and run multivariable simulations to assess the impact of silicate rock comminution options on energy consumption. Different particle size distributions of the feed due to blast design show distinct comminution performance. The study identified that an intense blast design with a higher powder factor helps to reduce energy requirements while increasing process throughput by 100 tons per hour. Furthermore, applying High Pressure Grinding Rolls for primary grinding significantly reduces energy requirements for comminution by more than 30 % in all operational scenarios. The findings of this research contribute to further determining the technological feasibility and commercial viability of enhanced weathering as a negative emissions technology.