Earth
Captured carbon dioxide could be injected deep in the Earth to dissolve rocks, freeing up nickel and other key metals vital for batteries
Olivine-rich rocks could be used to store CO2 and source key metals
Marieke Peche/Getty Images
Injecting carbon dioxide into rocks deep underground can turn the planet-warming gas into mineral form, permanently keeping it out of the atmosphere. Now, researchers say it may be possible to use the same process to simultaneously extract key metals used in clean electricity technology.
“By doing this surgical mining and doing things deep down-hole, we’re able to keep what we don’t want down there, and bring up the stuff we want,” says Quin Miller at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Washington state.…
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
