A sustainability impact assessment of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), in a project supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, shows about 40 percent CO2 emissions to produce and 20 percent less energy to produce than normal Portland cement .
At the same time, research conducted by UCLV (Central University “Marta Abru” of Las Vilas) and EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of India) at IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, Tara (Development Alternatives) New Delhi, Cuba technology Lausanne) in Switzerland, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, India has shown that concrete produced from this cement exhibits excellent strength and durability characteristics.
low emission
Globally, technologists have recognized that one of the primary means of reducing the net carbon impact of concrete manufacturing would be the use of less cement clinker in concrete, judicious use of by-product materials from mining, agriculture and industry, and reducing wastage. through better manufacturing techniques.
Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) is a composite cement consisting of Portland cement clinker, calcined kaolinitic clay and limestone in combination with gypsum. The range of cement clinker is limited to only 50 percent, which means a major reduction in CO2 emissions because the production of clinker involves the burning of limestone.
The clay used in LC3 is typically a non-ceramic grade raw material extracted from clay mines in China, including overburden, while the limestone used in the mix may be from low-grade sources Not suitable for cement manufacturing.
The Sustainability Impact Assessment has clearly demonstrated an approximately 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions and about 20 percent less energy to produce LC3 than normal Portland cement.
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LC3 is a general purpose cement and does not require setting up of a green area unit for its production. It can be easily integrated into the existing production system. Due to the low energy requirement, it is also about 25% cheaper to produce depending on the availability of soil. With a clear impact on the environment, society and economy, LC3 concrete is set to enhance the sustainability of construction.
Speaking about the results of the recently concluded long-term research on LC3, Manu Santhanam, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras said, “The inter-university research spanning several years and carried out at different scales is clearly visible. give better signals. The performance of this cement in coastal areas, which combined with the major impact on CO2 and energy, could set the standard for the production of sustainable concrete. In addition, the work at IIT Madras has also resulted in a sustainability framework that can be used to assess the impact of such new cement in construction. ,
On the need for sustainable building materials like LC3, Dr. Soumen Maiti from Tara New Delhi said, “With the shift in the government’s priority for renewable energy, the availability of fly ash is going to be disrupted. LC3 or Limestone Calcined Clay Cement existing cement production Provides a profitable and technically viable option of reducing carbon emissions in the U.S. It can be easily integrated into the existing production system thereby reducing the need for high capex. Helping to initiate the transition to more sustainable cement production.
Highlighting the importance of collaborative research and its impact, Shashank Bishnoi of IIT Delhi said, “LC3 is a perfect example of how international collaboration can bring increasingly sustainable technologies from laboratory to market. The synergy created by the diverse expertise of team members allowed for a deeper understanding of LC3 than many of the cements we are already using.”
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