Using mining waste for CO₂ sequestration: exploring opportunities through mineral carbonation, nature-based solutions, and CCUS

ABSTRACT

Using mining waste for CO₂ sequestration presents a promising solution for managing waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of established CO₂ sequestration methods that can be applied to mining waste eligible for such application. Three techniques were considered: 1) passive mineral carbonation; 2) a nature-based solution (NBS); and 3) carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). Passive mineral carbonation involves exposing mining waste rich in Ca and Mg silicates to atmospheric CO₂. NBS explores the reclamation of disposal areas, estimating the carbon sequestration by topsoil, organic amendments, and revegetation. CCUS presents some storage possibilities with CO₂ injection into waste piles and utilisation by incorporating waste and CO₂ into cement products. Furthermore, an innovative proposal for injecting CO₂ into surface and underground coal mining waste disposal areas was described as a potential action. The strategies presented in this article can be considered to offset CO₂ emissions from mining projects while also contributing to waste management and more sustainable production.

KEYWORDS:

• Tailings
• waste management
• mineral carbonation
• NBS
• CCUS
• sustainable mining

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to USPSusten for funding support and to Centro Tecnológico, Associação Beneficente da Indústria Carbonífera de Santa Catarina (SATC) for the technical assistance and collaboration.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Supplemental material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2024.2318132

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the USPSusten, Superintendência de Gestão Ambiental, Universidade de São Paulo.