Evaluation of the CO2 capture and storage capacity of alkali-based materials produced from agro-industrial waste

• Grant number: 24/12346-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Constâncio Trindade
• Grantee: Gustavo Bonini de Castro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/02750-9 - Alkaline waste-based materials and low-carbon agroindustrial processes as modernization tools in constructive applications, AP.JP

Abstract

Sustainable development is essential in modern engineering, especially in the face of population and industrial growth that threatens environmental balance due to greenhouse gas emissions. Although industrial revolutions have driven technological advancement, they neglected environmental impacts, increasing CO2 emissions. This project seeks to develop methodologies to capture and store CO2 using agro-industrial waste in alkaline materials, potentially impacting a variety of industries, including civil construction and the manufacture of advanced composite materials. The technique combines aluminosilicates with alkaline solutions, creating materials with dense microstructures, durability, and high mechanical strength, providing multiple benefits to society. The project is divided into three stages. The first stage involves the mechanical activation of typical precursors, such as fly ash and blast furnace slag, and biomass burning residues in environments saturated with CO2. In the second stage, the inclusion of magnesium oxide (MgO) will be tested to increase the mineralization capacity of the alkaline mixtures while still in their fresh state, varying atmospheric conditions. The third stage will focus on studying mineralization after the material's manufacture and curing, aiming for long-term CO2 capture. For qualitative and quantitative analyses, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction with Rietveld analysis, thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, porosimetry, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as destructive compression and flexion tests, will be used. The project's purpose is to demonstrate the physico-chemical feasibility of this process, contributing to the durability and eco-efficiency of this emerging class of materials. Additionally, the project supports the goals of the Paris Agreement, to which Brazil is a signatory, committing to reducing carbon emissions, increasing sustainable bioenergy, and promoting forest restoration by 2030.