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    Constructing Mars: Concrete and Energy Production From Serpentinization Products (2018)

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    2018 Scott_Constructing Mars_Earth and Space Science.pdf (703.1Kb)
    Type of Content
    Journal Article
    UC Permalink
    http://hdl.handle.net/10092/16103
    
    Publisher's DOI/URI
    https://doi.org/10.1029/2017EA000353
    https://doi.org/10.1029/2017EA000353
    
    ISSN
    2333-5084
    Collections
    • Engineering: Journal Articles [1630]
    Authors
    Scott ACN
    Oze C
    show all
    Abstract

    In situ building materials and energy resources are necessary for the long-term human habitation of Mars. Olivine ((Mg,Fe)2SiO4) is a regionally abundant mineral on Mars and may potentially serve both purposes. Here we assess olivine hydrolysis (i.e., serpentinization) and related products including magnesite (MgCO3) as a means to produce a Mg-based cement and molecular hydrogen (H2) as an energy resource. Magnesium oxide (MgO) may be derived from Mg(OH)2 dehydration or calcination (i.e., thermal decomposition) of MgCO3. In laboratory experiments, Mg-based concrete using MgO achieved a compressive strength in excess of 20 MPa. Serpentinization-related H2 gas concentrations increased with increasing temperature (20 to 50 °C) and decreasing olivine particle size reaching a maximum H2 production rate of 4.73 μmol g 1 day 1 , 3 orders of magnitude greater than previously observed. Results from this study indicate that serpentinization and related products serve as a viable pathway for both concrete and fuel production on Mars with minimal energy expenditure and primarily constrained to the availability of water. Moreover, this process would work equally as well on Earth and has significant potential to decrease global industrial CO2 emissions.

    Citation
    Scott, A. N., & Oze, C. (2018). Constructing Mars: Concrete and energy production from serpentinization products. Earth and Space Science, 5, 364–370. https://doi. org/10.1029/2017EA000353
    This citation is automatically generated and may be unreliable. Use as a guide only.
    ANZSRC Fields of Research
    40 - Engineering::4005 - Civil engineering::400505 - Construction materials
    02 - Physical Sciences::0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences::020108 - Planetary Science (excl. Extraterrestrial Geology)
    40 - Engineering::4019 - Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy::401999 - Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy not elsewhere classified

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