Valorization of granite waste materials for the sequestration of carbon dioxide via mechanochemical activation

In order to mitigate the ever-increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, cheap materials and sustainable approaches, part of the carbon capture utilization strategies (CCU) are required (Voldsund et al., 2016; Farina et al., 2022). In this context, the present work focuses on the investigation of the weathering reaction, activated by mechanical processing, of granite waste materials when exposed to carbon dioxide and water (Oliva et al., 2003). For the first time by our knowledge, vigorous carbon sequestration via solids products (carbonates) has been achieved with orders of magnitude larger than conventional thermally activated processes. The potential of these new routes for the sequestration of carbon dioxide exploiting waste minerals and some of the related challenges, are also briefly discussed.