Waste Clay and Brick in Cement Production Could Help Cut Emissions

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• Waste Clay and Brick in Cement Production Could Help Cut Emissions

05 September 2024

A new study suggests that using waste brick and clay in cement production could reduce the embodied carbon of cement by up to 30 per cent.

UK reclaimed clays and finely ground brick powder can be used as calcined clays in cement and concrete manufacturing to deliver lower emissions compared to CEM 1 cement. This also has the potential to divert 1.4 million tonnes of material from potential waste streams if the materials were adopted by the UK construction industry. 

In 2018, UK carbon dioxide emissions from concrete and cement were 7.3 million tonnes, approximately 1.5 per cent of UK greenhouse gas emissions. 

Clay is a natural alternative to industrial by-products such as ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly-ash. 

The study, led by the Mineral Products Association with funding from Innovate UK, is the first time calcined clays have been tested as a secondary cementitious material in the UK. Using rotary kilns and flash heating to prepare the clay for use, the experiment showed the ability to produce high-quality calcined clays.

Dr Diana Casey, Executive Director of Energy and Climate Change at the Mineral Products Association said: “Using brick waste and reclaimed clays will not only lower carbon and reduce waste but has the potential to create a whole new market if these clays become widely used in the construction industry, helping to retain economic value in the UK, secure jobs and attract investment.”

Picture: a photograph showing a pile of concrete bricks. Image Credit: Pixabay

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 05 September 2024

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