Initial search for low grade clay in Pakistan for producing LC3 ecofriendly cement

Abstract

Industrialization has though brought comfort to our daily lives, but it has placed a lot of pressure on the planet’s natural resources, subsequently, it has adversely affected the environment. As the need for cement in the construction sector has grown, it has climbed dramatically globally. Around the world, more than 10 billion cubic meters of concrete are produced each year; it is doubtful that this volume will decrease. A significant expected rise in CO2 emissions is caused by increased cement demand. According to the UN Environment Program, buildings are responsible for up to 41% of global anthropogenic carbon emissions. The primary source of greenhouse gases utilized in the manufacturing of cement is clinker. Due to the unsustainable supply of fly ash, calcined clay appears to be a better Supplemental Cementitious Material (SCMs). Kaolin clay is widely available in Pakistan. The purpose of this investigation is to describe the mineral and thermal characteristics of Pakistani clays by examining their geographic distribution. Clay samples were gathered from 39 different places throughout Pakistan during a field investigation program. X-ray diffraction, X-ray Fluorescence, Reactivity, and thermogravimetric analyses were used to analyze the clay samples’ mineral content and thermal characteristics. This study demonstrates that Pakistan has a substantial amount of kaolin clay reserves close to existing groups of cement plants. Pakistani clays can be utilized as SCM in the production of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) due to the country’s vast kaolin clay reserves. This study further supports the viability of producing LC3 in the nation by providing a thorough analysis of the cement business, known deposits of qualifying clay, and the country’s cement production process.