Carbon capture, utilization and storage with Swedish mine tailings-opportunities and challenges

Sweden has set a goal to reach zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

In line with this goal, branch organizations of various process industries (e.g., cement, mining, steelmaking) have come up with their respective roadmaps wherein measures have been identified that can help them to reach climate neutrality. Among these measures is carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

This project builds on our ongoing research and development activities on CO2 sequestration with alkaline-rich materials as feedstocks.

The aim of the project is to uncover the opportunities and challenges of using Swedish mine tailings for CO2 sequestration while producing carbonates as well as recovering valuable elements from the tailings that can be used in various valuable applications such as building construction.

In addition to CO2 sequestration, the project will pave the way for the valorization of mine tailings (which are currently to a large extent being landfilled) and enhance resource efficiency in the Swedish mining and mineral sector.

Globally, the project contributes to two United Nations sustainable development goals namely climate action, and responsible consumption and production.

The project is a collaboration between RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Chalmers University of Technology, and Åbo Akademi in Finland.