Construction and demolition waste as clinker raw material
The concept of the circular economy encourages the reuse of waste products as raw materials in the production of cement. Arthur Harrisson looks at the use of construction and demolition waste as a raw material for clinker.
Initial crushing of concrete produces aggregate containing a significant proportion of mortar
Carbon dioxide is produced during cement clinker manufacture from two sources. Firstly, the primary raw material for clinker is limestone, which is predominantly calcium carbonate, CaCO3. CaCO3 comprises lime (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). While clinker requires a large amount of CaO, it does not require CO2. Therefore, during the clinkering process the CO2 is driven off and unless some means of capturing is available, it is emitted to the atmosphere.
