Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Cement Industry: A Critical Review

Antunes, Mónica; Santos, Rodrigo Lino; Pereira, João; Rocha, Paulo; Horta, Ricardo Bayão; Colaço, Rogério

doi:10.3390/ma15010209

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Cement Industry: A Critical Review

by

Mónica Antunes

¹,

Rodrigo Lino Santos

²

,

João Pereira

²,

Paulo Rocha

²,

Ricardo Bayão Horta

³ and

Rogério Colaço

^1,3,*

¹

IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

²

CIMPOR Portugal Holdings, SGPS S.A., Avenida José Malhoa, 22, 1099-020 Lisboa, Portugal

³

Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Materials 2022, 15(1), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010209

Submission received: 21 November 2021 / Revised: 18 December 2021 / Accepted: 24 December 2021 / Published: 28 December 2021

(This article belongs to the Collection Advanced Civil Engineering Materials: From Synthesis to Application)

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Abstract

Currently, the production of one ton of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) releases considerable amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere. As the need and demand for this material grows exponentially, it has become a challenge to increase its production at a time when climate-related problems represent a major global concern. The two main CO₂ contributors in this process are fossil fuel combustion to heat the rotary kiln and the chemical reaction associated with the calcination process, in the production of the clinker, the main component of OPC. The current paper presents a critical review of the existent alternative clinker technologies (ACTs) that are under an investigation trial phase or under restricted use for niche applications and that lead to reduced emissions of CO₂. Also, the possibility of transition of clinker production from traditional rotary kilns based on fuel combustion processes to electrification is discussed, since this may lead to the partial or even complete elimination of the CO₂ combustion-related emissions, arising from the heating of the clinker kiln.

Keywords: alternative clinkers; CO₂ emissions; OPC; process electrification

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MDPI and ACS Style

Antunes, M.; Santos, R.L.; Pereira, J.; Rocha, P.; Horta, R.B.; Colaço, R. Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Cement Industry: A Critical Review. Materials 2022, 15, 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010209

AMA Style

Antunes M, Santos RL, Pereira J, Rocha P, Horta RB, Colaço R. Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Cement Industry: A Critical Review. Materials. 2022; 15(1):209. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010209

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antunes, Mónica, Rodrigo Lino Santos, João Pereira, Paulo Rocha, Ricardo Bayão Horta, and Rogério Colaço. 2022. "Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Cement Industry: A Critical Review" Materials 15, no. 1: 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010209

APA Style

Antunes, M., Santos, R. L., Pereira, J., Rocha, P., Horta, R. B., & Colaço, R. (2022). Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Cement Industry: A Critical Review. Materials, 15(1), 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010209

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Cement Industry: A Critical Review

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