Exterra Carbon Solutions, a Canadian cleantech company, has received a grant of CA$600,000 from Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests to advance a pioneering project that transforms asbestos mine waste into valuable materials. The initiative targets the extraction of nickel and cobalt—critical and strategic minerals for battery production—while enabling permanent CO₂ sequestration.

A Circular Approach to Asbestos Mine Waste

The project focuses on asbestos mine residues (RMA) sourced from former mining regions like Thetford Mines and Val-des-Sources. Using its proprietary LOW (Low-carbon Oxide from Waste) and ROC (Reactive Oxide to Carbonate) technologies, Exterra extracts reactive alkaline minerals such as calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO). These are then used to bind CO₂ into stable mineral carbonates, effectively turning legacy waste into carbon-negative material resources.

This dual function—resource recovery and climate action—marks a major shift in industrial material sourcing. For product and automotive designers, especially those working on next-generation electric vehicles, this could represent a sustainable and circular alternative to virgin raw materials.

Supporting a Net-Zero Future

The successful validation of the process at pilot scale may pave the way for a full-scale commercial plant by 2028. This positions Quebec as a leader in low-carbon battery materials. This development aligns with broader goals for energy transition, material traceability, and environmental responsibility. These factors are increasingly important in the automotive, packaging, and industrial design sectors.

The material output is not limited to battery metals. By-products like silica can be reused in various composite applications, adding potential value for packaging designers seeking renewable or CO₂-sequestering components.

Environmental and Economic Impact

This project not only addresses legacy environmental damage caused by asbestos mining but also contributes to regional economic revitalisation. Quebec holds over 800 million tonnes of such residues, accounting for roughly one-third of all RMA in North America. Unlocking their value through circular methods could establish a global benchmark for waste valorisation in mining regions worldwide.

Scalable and Verifiable Carbon Storage

The ROC process operates at atmospheric conditions and completes the mineralisation of CO₂ in hours, with minimal infrastructure. Unlike underground storage, this approach results in stable carbonates that can be used as construction fill, providing a safe and verifiable method of carbon capture. These attributes offer appeal to material specifiers and sustainability consultants across multiple design disciplines.

Towards Regenerative Design

As the design world increasingly looks toward regenerative materials and net-zero design goals, innovations like those from Exterra Carbon Solutions demonstrate how waste-to-resource pathways can meet technical, environmental, and economic requirements. For forward-thinking designers across sectors—particularly in automotive and product development—this represents a model for integrating carbon-smart materials into next-generation solutions.

Source: Quebec.ca, Exterra Carbon Solutions
Photo: Billbeee at en.wikipedia