Cement recycling can reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent
Published: Tuesday, Jul 16th 2024, 10:40
العودة إلى البث المباشر
Researchers at Empa cite the recycling of cement paste as an efficient way of reducing CO2 emissions. A study has shown that CO2 mineralization could reduce emissions by 15 percent.
During the process, the CO2 is reduced by absorbing it in concrete or bricks, Empa announced on Tuesday. Recycled cement paste usually comes from old infrastructure such as demolished buildings.
The study, led by Imperial College London, examined ten technologies for CO2 mineralization. Only two were found to be effective and economical. For most of the other technologies, there was little or only limited evidence that they can reduce CO2 emissions in practice, although the companies claim that they are effective.
The research team also found that economical technologies based on CO2 mineralization are about two to five times cheaper than carbon capture and storage technologies that store atmospheric carbon underground.
Demands on politics
Construction materials are responsible for around 13 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the production and use of concrete and steel. It was only in April that the Holcim Group announced its intention to reduce the environmental impact of production at its plant in Eclépens VD.
The researchers are now calling on politicians and other decision-makers to develop strategies to support cement recycling. They should focus on competitive technologies and provide investors with a clear comparison between the technologies.
Researchers from EPF Lausanne were also involved in the study, which was published in the journal PNAS.
©كيستون/إسدا
Arabic 
English 
German 
French 
Spanish