World’s First ‘Electric Cement

News: Scientists from Cambridge University have found a way to recycle cement from demolished buildings.

Cement & Carbon emissions

• Cement is the most common construction material. It binds sand and aggregate in concrete.
• It is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. If cement were a country, it would be the third largest
emitter after China and the US. Cement production accounts for 7.5% of human-made CO2.
• Heating limestone to high temperatures with fossil fuels causes emissions.

About recycled cement

• The scientists found that they can reactivate used cement by heating it again. They are calling it “electric
cement”. This can be done using heat from steel recycling.
• Steel recycling uses chemicals to create slag. Used cement has a similar composition to slag.

Significance

• It can decarbonise the entire cement-making process. Also reduces pollution in steel recycling.
• Electric cement may be cheaper due to waste heat usage from steel recycling.