Valorization of kaolin mining waste from the Amazon region (Brazil) for the low-carbon cement production

Decarbonization of energy-intensive systems (e.g., heat and power generation, iron, and steel production, petrochemical processes, cement production, etc.) is an important task for the development of a low carbon economy. In this respect, carbon capture technologies will play an important role in the decarbonization of fossil-based industrial processes. The most significant techno-economic and environmental performance indicators of various fossil-based industrial applications decarbonized by two reactive gas-liquid (chemical scrubbing) and gas-solid CO2 capture systems are calculated, compared, and discussed in the present work. As decarbonization technologies, the gas-liquid chemical absorption and more innovative calcium looping systems were employed. The integrated assessment uses various elements, e.g., conceptual design of decarbonized plants, computer-aided tools for process design and integration, evaluation of main plant performance indexes based on industrial and simulation results, etc. The overall decarbonization rate for various assessed applications (e.g., power generation, steel, and cement production, chemicals) was set to 90% in line with the current state of the art in the field. Similar non-carbon capture plants are also assessed to quantify the various penalties imposed by decarbonization (e.g., increasing energy consumption, reducing efficiency, economic impact, etc.). The integrated evaluations exhibit that the integration of decarbonization technologies (especially chemical looping systems) into key energy-intensive industrial processes have significant advantages for cutting the carbon footprint (60–90% specific CO2 emission reduction), improving the energy conversion yields and reducing CO2 capture penalties.

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Thermoactivated Recycled Cement

10.5772/intechopen.98488 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

José Alexandre Bogas ◽

Ana Carriço ◽

Sofia Real

Keyword(s):

Ordinary Portland Cement ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Resource Depletion ◽

Cement Industry ◽

Future Perspective ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Cement Production ◽

Waste Concrete ◽

Cement Based Materials ◽

Main Production

The cement industry is currently faced by the great challenge of reducing its vast carbon footprint, due to being the second highest industrial greenhouse gases (GHG) emitter. This value is expected to further increase, since cement production is foreseen to rise by about 20% until 2050. Therefore, more eco-efficient alternatives to ordinary Portland cement have been developed towards a sustainable concrete industry. This chapter presents some of the latest advances in low-carbon thermoactivated recycled cements (RC) obtained from old waste concrete, leading to a significant reduction of the GHG emissions, while also encouraging the valorization reuse of waste materials and the reduction of natural resource depletion. The manufacture and general performance of RC, including the main production issues, rehydration behavior and phase and microstructure development, as well as its incorporation in cement-based materials are discussed. Some of the most recent research, main challenges and future perspective of RC are addressed.

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Low-Carbon and Fundamental Properties of Eco-Efficient Mortar with Recycled Powders

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14247503 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (24) ◽

pp. 7503

Author(s):

Chang Sun ◽

Lulu Chen ◽

Jianzhuang Xiao ◽

Qiong Liu ◽

Junqing Zuo

Keyword(s):

Carbon Emission ◽

Recycled Concrete ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Replacement Ratio ◽

Cement Production ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Fundamental Properties ◽

Chloride Resistance ◽

Grinding Time

Using recycled powders from solid waste is accepted as an effective strategy to realize the sustainable development of the construction industry. In our study, the cement was substituted by two kinds of recycled powders, i.e., spontaneous combustion gangue powder (SCGP) and recycled concrete powder (RCP), with a certain replacement ratio of 30%. The experimental variables were mainly the type of replacement powder (e.g., SCGP, RCP, and SCGP + RCP) and the grinding time of RCP (e.g., 25 min, 50 min, and 75 min). The fundamental properties, including mechanical properties, long-term properties, and carbon emission, were analyzed for all the mortar mixtures. Experimental results indicate that incorporation of RCP contributes to enhancing the toughness and dry shrinkage resistance of eco-efficient mortar, while SCGP positively affects the compressive strength and chloride resistance. The grinding process improves the activity of RCP to a certain extent, while a long grinding time leads to fusion and aggregation between powders. Investigation on CO2 emission demonstrates that carbon emission from cement production accounts for the largest proportion, 80~95%, in the total emission from mortar production. Combined with the AHP model, eco-efficient mortar containing 15% RCP ground for 50 min and 15% SCGP displays optimal fundamental properties.

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Sequestration of solid carbon in concrete: A large-scale enabler of lower-carbon intensity hydrogen from natural gas

MRS Bulletin ◽

10.1557/s43577-021-00118-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jiaqi Li ◽

Leonardo Spanu ◽

Jeffrey Heo ◽

Wenxin Zhang ◽

David W. Gardner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Compressive Strength ◽

Portland Cement ◽

Value Added ◽

Industrial Wastes ◽

Carbon Intensity ◽

Solid Carbon ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Cement Production ◽

Methane Pyrolysis ◽

Lower Carbon

Abstract Methane pyrolysis is an emerging technology to produce lower-carbon intensity hydrogen at scale, as long as the co-produced solid carbon is permanently captured. Partially replacing Portland cement with pyrolytic carbon would allow the sequestration at a scale that matches the needs of the H2 industry. Our results suggest that compressive strength, the most critical mechanical property, of blended cement could even be improved while the cement manufacture, which contributes to ~ 9% global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, can be decarbonized. A CO2 abatement up to 10% of cement production could be achieved with the inclusion of selected carbon morphologies, without the need of significant capital investment and radical modification of current production processes. The use of solid carbon could have a higher CO2 abatement potential than the incorporation of conventional industrial wastes used in concrete at the same replacement level. With this approach, the concrete industry could become an enabler for manufacturing a lower-carbon intensity hydrogen in a win–win solution. Impact Methane pyrolysis is an up-scalable technology that produces hydrogen as a lower carbon-intensity energy carrier and industrial feedstock. This technology can attract more investment for lower-carbon intensity hydrogen if co-produced solid carbon (potentially hundreds of million tons per year) has value-added applications. The solid carbon can be permanently stored in concrete, the second most used commodity worldwide. To understand the feasibility of this carbon storage strategy, up to 10 wt% of Portland cement is replaced with disk-like or fibrillar carbon in our study. The incorporation of 5% and 10% fibrillar carbons increase the compressive strength of the cement-based materials by at least 20% and 16%, respectively, while disk-like carbons have little beneficial effects on the compressive strength. Our life-cycle assessment in climate change category results suggest that the 10% cement replacement with the solid carbon can lower ~10% of greenhouse gas emissions of cement production, which is currently the second-largest industrial emitter in the world. The use of solid carbon in concrete can supplement the enormous demand for cement substitute for low-carbon concrete and lower the cost of the low-carbon hydrogen production. This massively available low-cost solid carbon would create numerous new opportunities in concrete research and the industrial applications.

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Raw Material Mapping in Selected Areas of Rajasthan and West Bengal and Their Suitability for Use in Low Carbon Cement Production

RILEM Bookseries - Calcined Clays for Sustainable Concrete ◽

10.1007/978-94-017-9939-3_55 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 443-449

Author(s):

Soumen Maity ◽

Shashank Bishnoi

Keyword(s):

West Bengal ◽

Raw Material ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Cement Production

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Research Progress on Low-Carbon Technologies and Assessment Methods in Cement Industry

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.1035.933 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1035 ◽

pp. 933-943

Author(s):

Hai Tao Zhao ◽

Yu Liu ◽

Xiao Qing Li ◽

Li Wei Hao

Keyword(s):

Ghg Emissions ◽

Assessment Methods ◽

Cement Industry ◽

Research Progress ◽

Main Trend ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Cement Production ◽

Technology And Assessment ◽

Manufacturing Technologies ◽

Low Carbon Technologies

As one of the pillar industries for social development and economic construction, cement manufacture is energy and carbon-intensive, whose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions account for more than 6% of total global man-made GHG emission annually. With the growing attention on the problem of global warming, researching and promoting low-carbon manufacturing technologies to reduce GHG emissions have become the main trend in the development of cement industry under the new era. This article sorted out the low-carbon technologies for cement production reported in recent years, introduced the mainstream methods of GHG accounting and assessment such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint analysis (CFA), meanwhile reviewed the articles in the field of low-carbon technology and assessment methods in cement production, moreover, discussed the merits and demerits of various assessment methods and applicable fields, in order to provide suggestions and supports for low-carbon transformation of cement industry.

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Nephrite-Bearing Mining Waste As a Promising Mineral Additive in the Production of New Cement Types

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min10050394 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 394 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Liudmila I. Khudyakova ◽

Evgeniy V. Kislov ◽

Pavel L. Paleev ◽

Irina Yu. Kotova

Keyword(s):

Binary Systems ◽

Building Materials ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Control Sample ◽

Mining Waste ◽

Raw Material ◽

Low Grade ◽

Cement Production ◽

Ornamental Stones ◽

Mineral Additives

A growing demand for products made of jewelry and ornamental stones, including nephrite, requires an increase in mining volume. However, only less than 30% of the extracted raw material is suitable for processing. The rest of the low grade nephrites are substandard and unclaimed, and they negatively affect various life spheres. In this regard, their involvement in industrial turnover is an actual task. One of the directions of mining waste use is production of building materials, in particular, cements. The low grade nephrite can act here as mineral additives. In the course of the research, the optimal amount of low grade nephrite waste additive was determined, which is 30% of the cement mass. The grinding time of a raw mix is 10 min. It was found that introduction of the additive affects the hydration activity of cement compositions. Compressive strength of the mixed cement is 25% higher than that of the control sample. At the same time, new phases in the hydrated cement were not recorded. Good physical and mechanical properties of the obtained cements are achieved when hardening in normal humidity conditions. Heat and humidity treatments do not facilitate the hydration processes in binary systems. The conducted studies have shown that low grade nephrite can be used as mineral additives in cement production. This will allow development of not only a new type of product, but also reduction of the negative impact of cement production on the environment.

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Recent Progress in Green Cement Technology Utilizing Low-Carbon Emission Fuels and Raw Materials: A Review

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11020537 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 537 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Ali Naqi ◽

Jeong Jang

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽

Alternative Fuels ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cement Industry ◽

Industrial Wastes ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Cement Production ◽

Cement Manufacturing

The cement industry is facing numerous challenges in the 21st century due to depleting natural fuel resources, shortage of raw materials, exponentially increasing cement demand and climate linked environmental concerns. Every tonne of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) produced releases an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. In this regard, cement manufactured from locally available minerals and industrial wastes that can be blended with OPC as substitute, or full replacement with novel clinkers to reduce the energy requirements is strongly desirable. Reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions during cement manufacturing can be achieved by introducing alternative cements. The potential of alternative cements as a replacement of conventional OPC can only be fully realized through detailed investigation of binder properties with modern technologies. Seven prominent alternative cement types are considered in this study and their current position compared to OPC has been discussed. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of options for future cements, and an up-to-date summary of the different alternative fuels and binders that can be used in cement production to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, the practicalities and benefits of producing the low-cost materials to meet the increasing cement demand are discussed.

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Global CO<sub>2</sub> uptake of cement in 1930–2019

10.5194/essd-2020-275 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rui Guo ◽

Jiaoyue Wang ◽

Longfei Bing ◽

Dan Tong ◽

Philippe Ciais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Calcium Content ◽

Cement Industry ◽

Cement Kiln ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Uptake Capacity ◽

Cement Production ◽

Dominant Position ◽

High Calcium ◽

Estimation System ◽

Kiln Dust

Abstract. Because of the alkaline nature and high calcium content of cements in general, they serve as a CO2 absorbing agent through carbonation processes, resembling silicate weathering in nature. This carbon uptake capacity of cements could abate some of the CO2 emitted during their production. Given the scale of cement production worldwide (4.10 Gt in 2019), a life-cycle assessment is necessary in determining the actual net carbon impacts of this industry. We adopted a comprehensive analytical model to estimate the amount of CO2 that had been absorbed from 1930 to 2019 in four types of cement materials including concrete, mortar, construction waste and cement kiln dust (CKD). Besides, the process CO2 emission during the same period based on the same datasets was also estimated. The results show that 21.12 Gt CO2 (18.12–24.54 Gt CO2, 95 % CI) had been absorbed in the cements produced from 1930 to 2019, with the 2019 annual figure mounting up to 0.90 Gt CO2 yr−1 (0.76–1.07 Gt CO2, 95 % CI). The cumulative uptake is equivalent to approx. 52 % of the process emission, based on our estimation. In particular, China's dominant position in cement production/consumption in recent decades also gives rise to its uptake being the greatest with a cumulative sink of 6.21 Gt CO2 (4.59–8.32 Gt CO2, 95 % CI) since 1930. Among the four types of cement materials, mortar is estimated to be the greatest contributor (approx. 58 %) to the total uptake. Potentially, our cement emission and uptake estimation system can be updated annually and modified when necessary for future low-carbon transitions in the cement industry. All the data described in this study, including the Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis results, are accessible at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4064803.

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