Dissolution kinetics of diopside as a function of solution saturation state: Macroscopic measurements and implications for modeling of geological storage of CO2

International audienceMeasurements of the dissolution rate of diopside (r) were carried out as a function of the Gibbs free energy of the dissolution reaction (ΔGr) in a continuously stirred flow-through reactor at 90 °C and pH90 °C = 5.05. The overall relation between r and ΔGr was determined over a free energy range of −130.9 −61.5 kJ mo1−1) is characterised by a much weaker inverse dependence of the rates on ΔGr. Modeling the experimental r–ΔGr data with a simple classical transition state theory (TST) law as implemented in most available geochemical codes is found inappropriate. An evaluation of the consequences of the use of geochemical codes where the r–ΔGr relation is based on basic TST was carried out and applied to carbonation reactions of diopside, which, among other reactions with Ca- and Mg-bearing minerals, are considered as a promising process for the solid state sequestration of CO2 over long time spans. In order to take into account the actual experimental r–ΔGr relation in the geochemical code that we used, a new module has been developed. It reveals a dramatic overestimation of the carbonation rate when using a TST-based geochemical code. This points out that simulations of water–rock–CO2 interactions performed with classical geochemical codes should be evaluated with great caution