Carbonation of MSWI APCr for re-use as a light-weight aggregate

The incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a more sustainable alternative to landfilling. Cleaning of flue gases from the incineration of MSW generates air pollution control residues (APCr). Carbon8 Systems, a spinout company from the University of Greenwich, UK has developed a treatment for APCr using accelerated carbonation technology (ACT). Accelerated carbonation enables carbonate-based solidification of an ash (or other suitable waste) using carbon dioxide gas. The solidified and stabilised products can be formed as pellets that are suitable for use as aggregate as a component in the manufacture of concrete building blocks. The result of this work is laying foundations for the construction of the world’s first full-scale commercial accelerated carbonation plant in the UK, with a capacity to produce 36,000 tonnes of APCr-derived annually.