CO2 abatement during production of low carbon cement

Abstract

In order to reduce the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the cement industry, the percentage of clinker in cement blends can be reduced by using various other materials, such as calcined clay, low grade (dolomitic/siliceous) limestone, which are often available at the cement manufacturing site itself. The present study focuses on direct or indirect impacts on CO2 emission by reducing the use of high temperature clinker by low grade limestone during the production of low carbon cement. Implementing raw material substitution is fairly simple technically and requires comparable capital investments but the application is subject to the availability of the substituting materials. They offer opportunities to significantly reduce CO2 emissions arising from cement production. The production of limestone calcined clay cement has strong positive environmental credentials. It has substantial potential of CO2 abatement which is mainly achieved due to conserving fast depleting cement grade limestone reserves, utilizing unused low grade limestone not suitable for conventional cement manufacturing and reducing energy consumption, leading to emission reductions during finished grinding (low grade limestone being softer to grind compared to clinker).