Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cement, Britain and India jointly develop revolutionary new cement

For every tonne of cement produced, one tonne of carbon dioxide gas is produced. Now, in an effort to tackle climate change, researchers are developing a revolutionary new cement made from rice husks and coal ash.

As part of the UK-India Teaching and Research Initiative, Indian and UK scientists are hoping to reduce the carbon footprint of cement, which accounts for 5% of global CO2 emissions, by collaborating on the project.

Portland cement, the main component of concrete, is made by heating limestone and clay at high temperatures. In addition to making concrete, cement is an essential component of mortar, plaster, and most commonly, grout.

Dr Kevin Paine, who worked on the study, said: "Concrete is the second most used material in the world after water, so reducing its CO2 emissions will make a real difference to climate change."

Researchers at the University of Dundee and the University of Bath in the United Kingdom have found ways to reduce the carbon footprint of cement by replacing some of the raw materials used to produce ordinary cement with waste materials such as coal ash from burning coal, slag from steelmaking, and even rice husks.

Dr Kevin Paine, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, said, "India's infrastructure is developing rapidly and India is the second largest cement producer in the world after China.". Therefore, this cooperation with Indian research institutes is to develop new technologies in the countries that need them most.

"There is no single best alternative to Portland cement," says Paine. "We are looking at a number of'green 'cements that use different waste materials available locally. In India, for example, you can mix silica from burning rice husks with cement. In Britain, you can use the coal ash from burning coal.

Dr Moray Newlands, of the University of Dundee's Concrete Science and Technology Group, said: "The problems faced by India and the UK in infrastructure development mean that multi-agency collaboration is the only way we can achieve our goals.". We must join together to consider environmental challenges in order to make a meaningful impact.

The Concrete Science and Technology Group at the University of Dundee says fundamental and applicable multidisciplinary research is being carried out to assist the concrete construction industry, which is becoming more innovative, competitive and environmentally sustainable.

Next, scientists from the two countries will continue to work together to study the strength of concrete made of different cements under a range of environmental conditions, as well as the replacement of cement with waste materials in concrete and the long-term durability of infrastructure.

(Please indicate the source for reprinting on China Concrete and Cement Products Website)

All can be viewed after purchase