Environmental impacts of thermally activated clays for low carbon cement production
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Basavaraj, Anusha S
Georgiades, Maria
Sánchez Berriel, Sofía
Pol Segura, Isabel
Martirena, Fernando
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The environmental impacts of activated clay produced using a wide range of clay mineralogy (with varying carbonate content), fuels (including alternative fuels), and thermal activation technologies were assessed using the life cycle assessment methodology. Global warming potential (GWP) values for thermally activated clays produced using the four different technologies and six fuel use scenarios ranged from 186 to 360 kg CO2-eq. per tonne of activated clay. Depending on the fuel type, thermally activated clay can have a non-biogenic GWP of 103–360 kg CO2 eq. per tonne, biogenic GWP of 29–94 kg CO2 eq. per tonne. Changing the fuel type can decrease GWP by up to 30% (both biogenic and non-biogenic) and 43% (only non-biogenic), whereas changing technology can decrease GWP by up to 28%. The variability in the GWP of LC3 containing 50%, 35%, and 25% Portland clinker was assessed, where activated clay contributed 6–14%, 9–22% and 14%–30% of the GWP, respectively.
Date Issued
2026-08-01
Date Acceptance
2026-05-03
Citation
Cement and Concrete Research, 2026, 206
ISSN
0008-8846
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Cement and Concrete Research
Volume
206
Copyright Statement
© 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
108267
Date Publish Online
2026-05-08