Environmental sustainability in cement industry: An integrated approach for green and economical cement production
Lochana Poudyal, Kushal Adhikari
Abstract
The carbon footprint of cement industries has been a major environmental issue in recent decades. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), use of Supplementary Cementing Materials (SCMs) as partial replacement to cement, and use of nanotechnology are some approaches that are being tested and practiced for reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the cement industries. Each of these approaches, however, comes with their own limitations and the implementation in real industrial scenarios is yet a concern. This paper proposes an integrated approach where CO2 captured from cement plant will be utilized within the plant for producing nano calcium carbonate (CaCO3) for use in cement manufacturing process. This technology incorporates all the above three approaches and help cement industries produce sustainable, durable, and economical cement while reducing the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere: thus, leading towards green infrastructure and global environmental sustainability. Additionally, adoption of this technology ensures proper dispersion of nano materials thereby improving the performance of concrete. Further, this technology is economically attractive to cement industries as they will have a new product (nano CaCO3) with much higher cost than cement with potential of additional economic revenues.