Opening Letter of RILEM TC UMW: Upcycling Powder Mineral Wastes into Cement Matrices — Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The cement and concrete industries are currently facing the urgent and arduous challenge of decarbonisation and material circularisation for improved resource efficiency. The pursuit of new raw materials and binders that will improve sustainability is urgent, especially as end-of-pipe carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have not yet been scaled up economically even after five decades of research and large investments. On the other hand, society is facing the colossal issue of managing mineral wastes which are produced in several Gts per year globally, posing a massive environmental and societal liability. Many of these mineral wastes have elemental and mineralogical profiles that make them good candidates for use as clinker raw feed or supplementary cementitious materials. Although the published research on the topic is extensive, it is not organised, lacking a systematic comprehensive approach, making valorisation challenging. RILEM TC UMW was developed to address this gap and create a framework for realising the potential of upcycling mineral wastes focusing on using powders as either clinker raw feed or other binder applications while excluding discussion on calcined clays and mineral carbonation.