Shaping a sustainable path: Exploring opportunities and challenges in carbon capture and utilization in cement and concrete industry

Abstract

Portland cement is one of the most used materials in the world. Despite the environmental harm its production causes, it will most likely continue dominating the market, given its remarkable characteristics and widespread use worldwide with high consumer acceptance. Improvements in the energy demand, equipment efficiency, and intensification of alternative materials have been proposed to mitigate the large amount of CO₂ emissions during the clinker process. However, even if applied, only some extent of the CO₂ emitted could be avoided since the most significant portion comes from the limestone decomposition, which cannot be avoided, fitting the cement industry into the list of hard-to-abate industries. In this scenario, new companies are developing and improving indispensable carbon capture technologies and CO₂ reapplication in new processes. With the advance of carbon market regulation, the technologies that prove to be the most efficient will have a competitive advantage in this new economy. This study reviews the current carbon capture scenario in cement and concrete production and highlights the leading companies emerging in this sector, exploring the main aspects of their processes, technology readiness levels (TRL), real-world achievements, scalability, suitability for achieving net-zero emissions, credibility, feasibility, opportunities, and limitations.