Multi-promoters modified CaO-based sorbent derived from mixed waste slag for long-term CO2 cyclic capture

•MWP and REPP waste slag used as calcium-based sorbent sources is economy.•REPP, including Ce-, La-, and Al-based promoters is first used for CO2 capture.•MWP-15wt.%REPP sorbent showed better X (75 %) and C (0.46 g CO2/g sorbent) after 50 cycles.•The excellent CO2 cyclic performance of MWP contributed to the multi-promoters in REPP. Calcium looping, a carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technique, may provide an effective route to eliminate climate change brought by the steadily rising anthropogenic CO2 emissions. However, the key challenge for calcium looping is the sintering-induced decay over the numerous cycles for CaO-based sorbents. Herein, multi-promoters modified CaO-based sorbents, derived from the mixed waste slag of marble waste powder (MWP) and rare earth polishing powder wet slag (REPP), are prepared by a simultaneous hydrating and calcining process. The cyclic CO2 capture is explored by a thermogravimetric analyzer, and the promotion mechanism is investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, CO2 temperature-programmed desorption, and reaction kinetics fitting. Results indicate that the multicomponent promoters from the REPP, including CeO2, Ca12Al14O33, and LaPO4, enhance the carbonation cyclic activity of CaO from MWP. The best-performing MWP-REPP sorbent with 15 wt% REPP shows less than a 10 % drop decay and the CO2 carbonation conversion remains at 75 % (0.46 g CO2/g sorbent) after 50 repeated cycles. The excellent cyclic capture performance is attributed to the synergistic interaction between the promoters and CaO, where the CeO2 promoter owns abundant oxygen vacancies, and the Ca12Al14O33 and LaPO4 promoters provide the blocked effect, thus facilitating the CO2 sorption and inhibiting the CaO from sintering. This work presents useful guidance for improving the cyclic sorption stability of CO2 from waste slags.