Quantitative assessment of combustion characteristics and carbon sequestration potential of Al/CO2 heterogeneous system

Aluminum (Al) combustion in CO 2 was investigated to assess carbon sequestration potential. Theoretical and experimental results identified C(s), Al 4 C 3 (s), and CO(g) as primary products, with C(s) formation being most thermodynamically favorable. Al oxidation in CO 2 proceeded through three stages, with the second stage (activation energy: 260–268 kJ·mol⁻¹) exhibiting the highest reactivity. Kinetic analysis indicated an Anti-Jander/D1 mechanism for this dominant stage. Reducing particle size from 25 μm to 0.1 μm at 0.1 MPa shortened ignition delay by 664 ms and increased combustion temperature by 847 K. Characterization confirmed carbon incorporation in products (Al 2 O 3 /Al 4 C 3 ) and demonstrated enhanced combustion efficiency and carbon fixation with smaller particles or higher pressures. These findings provide critical insights for Martian in-situ resource utilization and carbon capture technologies.