Mineral trapping and sequestration of carbon-dioxide in deccan basalts: SEM, FTIR and raman spectroscopic studies on secondary carbonates

Increasing CO₂ emissions and global warming are posing problems for carbon management. Results of laboratory experiments, probing the carbon sequestration potential of picrites from Igatpuri Formation, Deccan Flood Basalt Volcanic Province, India are reported here. The picrites which were reacted with water and carbon dioxide in its supercritical condition for about 5 months duration at 100°C temperature and 60 bars of CO₂ pressure clearly show the growth of secondary carbonates over the surface as well as in the intergranular spaces. SEM-EDS studies, Infrared spectroscopic analysis and Raman spectrographic studies also confirm the development of secondary carbonates in the reacted picrite samples.