Stabilization of active acetylene by-product via sequestration of CO2

The rising rates of carbide lime waste (CLW), the by-product of acetylene production, cause environmental problems and need for the repurposing of the said material. The high content of calcium in such by-products (60–80%) is the main reason for its utilization in CO₂ sequestration. This study focused on using of CLW to form simple, reliable, cost-efficient process, applying direct solid-liquid-gas carbonation reaction, which consists of bubbling CO₂ gas through an aqueous slurry of slaked CLW with different solid/water ratios. The experimental conditions were adjusted for maximum carbonation efficiency. Experimental results indicated that CLW has the potential to store CO₂ in the form of stable carbonates. Considering the total calcium content, an amount of 0.5833 kg CO₂/kg CLW was achieved. The influence of solid/water ratio on the precipitation of calcium carbonate was investigated using SEM that showed a difference in crystal carbonate sizes and morphologies.