Potential of Reducing CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions in Cement Production through Altering Clinker Compositions
Franco Williams, Aidong Yang
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide This study assessed seven cases of distinct raw material compositions with the aid of process simulation using Aspen Plus V12.1, focusing on reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions and energy demands from clinker production. Material and energy flows for the raw meal mixes were simulated in a natural gas-fueled plant. The results indicated up to 45.5% energy and 35.1% CO 2 reduction using alternative clinkers compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) clinker. Calcium silicate cement (CSC) clinker had the lowest energy consumption and CO 2 emissions, resulting from raw meal limestone reduction and a lower sintering temperature. Partially replacing OPC clinker with a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) from CO 2 mineralization reduced CO 2 emissions by ∼45% compared to OPC. Location-dependent CO 2 emission analysis revealed that Brazil yielded the least emissions compared to the United States and China. These findings underscore the imperative for cement industries to adopt alternative clinkers, coupled with SCMs, as decarbonization measures.