1. Development of Microreactor System for in situ investigation of rock-brine-
CO2 interactions
Ashley Thompson1, 2
and Lars Ehm2, 3
1
Department of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
2
Mineral Physics Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
3
Photon Sciences Directorate, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
A microreactor is being developed for in situ, high-energy x-ray diffraction investigations
of reaction process between carbon dioxide, brines and rocks. Our design is an evolution
of a previous existing reaction cell developed by Diefenbacher et al [1]., Several changes
and improvements have been made to the new cell design: (i) the reactor chamber will be
accessible through two points, whereby any combination of gases, liquids or fluids can be
injected and investigated,(ii) the CO2 flow and pressure will be controlled through a
supercritical fluid pump which allows the cell to operate under a well-controlled pressure
and flow conditions, and (iii) sintered polycrystalline diamond will be initially employed
as X-ray transparent window material. The microreactor will allow investigation of
reactions in the rock-brine-CO2 system in the pressure-temperature range of 400 bar and
600°C. The new microreactor system will increase our capabilities to perform in situ
investigations of the reaction processes in between rock-brine and CO2, relevant for
potential carbon storage applications in geological formations.
References
[1] Jason Diefenbacher, Michael McKelvy, and Andrew V.G. Chizmeshya, Review
Scientific Instrument 76, 015103 (2005)