IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jcltec/v7y2025i3p58-d1699431.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Accelerated Carbonation of Waste Incineration Residues: Reactor Design and Process Layout from Laboratory to Field Scales—A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Quentin Wehrung

    (Alkaline Technologies SAS, 44700 Nantes, France)

  • Davide Bernasconi

    (Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Torino, Italy)

  • Fabien Michel

    (Alkaline Technologies SAS, 44700 Nantes, France)

  • Enrico Destefanis

    (Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Torino, Italy)

  • Caterina Caviglia

    (Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Torino, Italy)

  • Nadia Curetti

    (Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Torino, Italy)

  • Meissem Mezni

    (Alkaline Technologies SAS, 44700 Nantes, France
    Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Monastir (ENIM), Departement de Mécanique, Monastir 5019, Tunisia)

  • Alessandro Pavese

    (Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Torino, Italy)

  • Linda Pastero

    (Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Torino, Italy
    NIS—Nanomaterials for Industry and Sustainability Inter-Departmental Centre, Università Degli Studi di Torino, 10135 Torino, Italy)

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) incineration generate over 20 million tons of residues annually in the EU. These include bottom ash (IBA), fly ash (FA), and air pollution control residues (APCr), which pose significant environmental challenges due to their leaching potential and hazardous properties. While these residues contain valuable metals and reactive mineral phases suitable for carbonation or alkaline activation, chemical, techno-economic, and policy barriers have hindered the implementation of sustainable, full-scale management solutions. Accelerated carbonation technology (ACT) offers a promising approach to simultaneously sequester CO 2 and enhance residue stability. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of waste incineration residue carbonation, covering 227 documents ranging from laboratory studies to field applications. The analysis examines reactor designs and process layouts, with a detailed classification based on material characteristics, operating conditions, investigated parameters, and the resulting pollutant stabilization, CO 2 uptake, or product performance. In conclusion, carbonation-based approaches must be seamlessly integrated into broader waste management strategies, including metal recovery and material repurposing. Carbonation should be recognized not only as a CO 2 sequestration process, but also as a binding and stabilization strategy. The most critical barrier remains chemical: the persistent leaching of sulfates, chromium(VI), and antimony(V). We highlight what we refer to as the antimony problem , as this element can become mobilized by up to three orders of magnitude in leachate concentrations. The most pressing research gap hindering industrial deployment is the need to design stabilization approaches specifically tailored to critical anionic species, particularly Sb(V), Cr(VI), and SO 4 2− .

Suggested Citation

  • Quentin Wehrung & Davide Bernasconi & Fabien Michel & Enrico Destefanis & Caterina Caviglia & Nadia Curetti & Meissem Mezni & Alessandro Pavese & Linda Pastero, 2025. "Accelerated Carbonation of Waste Incineration Residues: Reactor Design and Process Layout from Laboratory to Field Scales—A Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-48, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:7:y:2025:i:3:p:58-:d:1699431
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/7/3/58/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/7/3/58/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huang, T.Y. & Chiueh, P.T. & Lo, S.L., 2017. "Life-cycle environmental and cost impacts of reusing fly ash," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 255-260.
    2. Luciana Mantovani & Mario Tribaudino & Chiara De Matteis & Valerio Funari, 2021. "Particle Size and Potential Toxic Element Speciation in Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) Bottom Ash," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Beatriz S. Bandarra & Sónia Silva & Joana L. Pereira & Rui C. Martins & Margarida J. Quina, 2022. "A Study on the Classification of a Mirror Entry in the European List of Waste: Incineration Bottom Ash from Municipal Solid Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Said, Arshe & Laukkanen, Timo & Järvinen, Mika, 2016. "Pilot-scale experimental work on carbon dioxide sequestration using steelmaking slag," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 602-611.
    5. Enrico Destefanis & Caterina Caviglia & Davide Bernasconi & Erica Bicchi & Renato Boero & Costanza Bonadiman & Giorgia Confalonieri & Ingrid Corazzari & Giuseppe Mandrone & Linda Pastero & Alessandro , 2020. "Valorization of MSWI Bottom Ash as a Function of Particle Size Distribution, Using Steam Washing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Weifeng & Xu, Yuanlong & Wang, Qiuhua, 2022. "Coupled CO2 absorption and mineralization with low-concentration monoethanolamine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    2. Ren, Shan & Aldahri, Tahani & Liu, Weizao & Liang, Bin, 2021. "CO2 mineral sequestration by using blast furnace slag: From batch to continuous experiments," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    3. Zevenhoven, Ron & Legendre, Daniel & Said, Arshe & Järvinen, Mika, 2019. "Carbon dioxide dissolution and ammonia losses in bubble columns for precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 1121-1129.
    4. Ji Young Eom & Seong Jun Yang & Myung Jin Lee & Yu Ra Yang & Young Min Wie & Ki Gang Lee & Kang Hoon Lee, 2024. "Recycling Fly Ash into Lightweight Aggregate: Life Cycle Assessment and Economic Evaluation of Waste Disposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Li, Hongwei & Tang, Zhigang & Li, Na & Cui, Longpeng & Mao, Xian-zhong, 2020. "Mechanism and process study on steel slag enhancement for CO2 capture by seawater," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    6. Hamideh Hamedi & Giovanna Gonzales-Calienes & Jalil Shadbahr, 2025. "Ex Situ Carbon Mineralization for CO 2 Capture Using Industrial Alkaline Wastes—Optimization and Future Prospects: A Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-37, May.
    7. Zhang, Baoxu & Chen, Yumin & Zhang, Bing & Peng, Ruifeng & Lu, Qiancheng & Yan, Weijie & Yu, Bo & Liu, Fang & Zhang, Junying, 2022. "Cyclic performance of coke oven gas - Steam reforming with assistance of steel slag derivates for high purity hydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 592-603.
    8. Oluwafemi E. Ige & Oludolapo A. Olanrewaju, 2023. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Different Portland Cement Types in South Africa," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Kamal Jawher Khudaida & Diganta Bhusan Das, 2020. "A Numerical Analysis of the Effects of Supercritical CO 2 Injection on CO 2 Storage Capacities of Geological Formations," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-32, September.
    10. Zhou, Hui & Park, Ah-Hyung Alissa, 2020. "Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage via alkaline thermal Treatment: Production of high purity H2 from wet wheat straw grass with CO2 capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    11. Li, Wei & Lu, Can & Ding, Yi & Zhang, Yan-Wu, 2017. "The impacts of policy mix for resolving overcapacity in heavy chemical industry and operating national carbon emission trading market in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 509-524.
    12. Finn-Erik Digulla & Stefan Bringezu, 2023. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Mineralization Using Industrial Waste as Feedstock to Produce Cement Substitutes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-22, May.
    13. Xue Wang & Wen Ni & Jiajie Li & Siqi Zhang & Keqing Li, 2021. "Study on Mineral Compositions of Direct Carbonated Steel Slag by QXRD, TG, FTIR, and XPS," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
    14. Natalia Czaplicka & Donata Konopacka-Łyskawa, 2020. "Utilization of Gaseous Carbon Dioxide and Industrial Ca-Rich Waste for Calcium Carbonate Precipitation: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-25, November.
    15. Peter W. Tait & Joe Salmona & Mahakaran Sandhu & Thomas Guscott & Jonathon King & Victoria Williamson, 2025. "Economic, Environmental, and Sociopolitical Aspects of Waste Incineration: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.
    16. Zhang, Weifeng & Xu, Yuanlong & Deng, Zhaoxiong & Wang, Qiuhua, 2022. "Experiments on continuous chemical desorption of CO2-rich solutions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PD).
    17. Ning Yuan & Hao Xu & Yanjun Liu & Kaiqi Tan & Yixiang Bao, 2023. "Synthesis and Environmental Applications of Nanoporous Materials Derived from Coal Fly Ash," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-27, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:7:y:2025:i:3:p:58-:d:1699431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.