In mining, only a small fraction of the material extracted is recovered as ore concentrate, producing the largest global waste stream by volume. Each year, about 500 million tonnes of ultramafic mine waste are generated as byproducts from mining critical minerals such as nickel and cobalt, with an additional 30 billion tonnes in legacy tailings. These tailings, rich in serpentine minerals, have the potential to store 47% CO2 by weight, presenting an opportunity for gigatonne-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR).
With the demand for critical minerals expected to increase sixfold by 2040, the volume of ultramafic mine tailings is also expected to rise, offering an expanding feedstock for permanent CDR. However, under natural conditions, carbon mineralization in serpentine is slow, with less than 1% of its storage capacity realized. To fully utilize this waste as a carbon sink, technologies that enhance both the capacity and rate of CO2 capture are essential.
Arca is advancing the development of first-of-kind microwave activation technology for carbon mineralization in industrial waste streams.
Arca’s breakthrough technology uses microwave radiation to enhance the CO2 capture capacity of serpentine minerals – a process known as activation. This innovative approach to mineral activation can increase the CO2 storage capacity in serpentine by 20 times, compared to natural conditions.
This project will support the development and scaling of Arca’s mineral activation technology for industrial integration. Designed for use at both active and legacy mines, the technology aims for gigatonne-scale CO2 removals, transforming mining waste into a resource for permanent CO2 storage.
