GeoCRM Launches to Unlock Critical Raw Materials and CO₂-Binding Potential in Steel Slag
Co-reactive contributes its expertise in CO₂ mineralization to the GeoCRM research consortium, which aims to recover critical raw materials from steelmaking slag while turning the remaining mineral fractions into CO₂-binding materials for construction.
A consortium of leading industrial and academic partners — VDEh‑ Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH, FEhS – Institut für Baustoff‑Forschung e.V., RWTH Aachen University’s Advanced Mineral Processing Technologies unit, thyssenkrupp MillServices& Systems GmbH, and Co‑reactive GmbH — has launched the research project GeoCRM – Geometallurgical Processing of Steel Slag for Critical Raw Materials Recovery and CO₂ Binding, funded by EFRE/JTF. The initiative aims to convert steel slag—an abundant by‑product of steelmaking—into a valuable secondary resource that contributes both to Europe’s raw material security and to climate‑positive construction materials.
Steel slags contain iron oxides as well as critical raw materials such as vanadium and phosphorus, alongside calcium‑silicate-rich phases that can serve as feedstock for CO₂ mineralization. Today, much of this potential remains unused. GeoCRM seeks to change this by developing a comprehensive understanding of slag composition and behavior, and by designing efficient processing routes to recover valuable elements and prepare the remaining mineral fractions for CO₂ binding.
The project partners will map the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of different slag types to determine how valuable components can be selectively liberated and concentrated. Based on this knowledge, they will establish optimized mechanical and metallurgical treatment steps to recover iron oxide for reuse in steelmaking and extract critical raw materials where feasible. The remaining calcium‑silicate fraction will then be processed through controlled carbonation to bind CO₂ and produce reactive materials suitable for use in mortar and cement applications. Additional potential uses, such as agricultural soil improvement or partial substitution of cement raw meal, will also be assessed.
While results are still forthcoming, GeoCRM is expected to deliver a validated processing concept that significantly increases the value and utility of steel slag. By integrating resource recovery with CO₂ mineralization, the project supports a more circular and climate‑friendly steel and construction industry. Co‑reactive contributes its expertise in CO₂ mineralization to help translate these findings into practical pathways for low‑carbon material innovation.
Other news
Co-reactive selected for the EIC Accelerator to scale carbon-negative construction materials
Co-reactive has been selected for the prestigious EIC Accelerator programme, supporting the scale-up of breakthrough technologies with the potential to transform global markets.
Co-reactive secures €6.5 milion in seed funding
Co-reactive has raised €6.5 million in seed funding led by HTGF (with NRW.Bank, HBG Ventures, AFI Ventures, Evercurious VC) plus seven-figure BMWE grants to scale its continuous CO₂ mineralization process that turns captured CO₂ and minerals into high-performance, CO₂-negative SCMs for cement.