Zero-Emission Construction Materials

Cambridge Electric Cement is a new and much greener way to make concrete. Developed by a team of researchers at the University of Cambridge—Cyrille F. Dunant, Shiju Joseph, Rohit Prajapati, and Julian M. Allwood—this method focuses on recycling old cement from demolished buildings instead of making new cement from scratch. By heating and reactivating the old material, the process avoids the heavy carbon emissions usually caused by traditional cement production.

The team uses electric arc furnaces, commonly found in steel recycling, to heat the used cement. This eliminates the need for high-heat, fuel-burning kilns and significantly lowers emissions. Their breakthrough also shows that recycled cement can replace a key ingredient used in steel recycling, cutting down on waste even more.

Overall, this method allows concrete to be made in a cleaner, more sustainable way—ideal for eco-friendly construction.

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