Researchers convert CO2 and slag into valuable resource

Researchers at Aalto University, Espoo, Finland, have opened a pilot plant that converts CO2 and slag, the byproduct of steel manufacturing, into a valuable mineral product. The product, precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), is used in such products as plastic, paper, rubber, and paint.

"We are turning the industrial solid byproduct from steel manufacturing into a product that is 50 times more valuable," said Arshe Said, a postgraduate researcher at Aalto University. "Also, this process actually consumes CO2 and acts as a CO2 sink, which benefits the environment greatly."

"The conventional method involves large mining activities and has high CO2 emissions," said Sanni Eloneva, DSc (Tech).

The pilot PCC plant is running in Otaniemi campus of Aalto University. The method used in the pilot is based on the patent owned by the university's foundation together with Åbo Akademi and Rautaruukki Oyj (now part of SSAB).

Researchers currently are investigating the possibility of extracting other valuable materials from the slag after the extraction of calcium as well.