Environmental and exergetic impacts of cement production: A case study

Cement manufacture is a considerable industrial activity in terms of its volumes and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This study apprises the environmental impact of the clinker and Portland cement production in Iran, using life cycle impact assessment. Data used in the cement manufacture life cycle inventory are based on site surveys of energy consumption, raw material use, and transportation distances. Emissions were estimated based on U. S. EPA emission factors. Most of these pollutants were belong to kiln, preheater and diesel fuel, respectively. To a comprehensive impact assessment, some impact and damage categories based on CML baseline, Pfister et al 2009, IMPACT 2002+, cumulative exergy demand (CExD), and Eco-indicator 99 methods were investigated. Environmental hotspots in all categories were detected. Production process was identified as a substantial contributor in most of the categories, such as global warming impact category and damage to human health. Electricity was the other main contributor. It had the highest share in the total of CExD indictor. Iron ore had the enormous contribution in the impact categories of mineral extraction. In this article, water scarcity footprint for cement manufacture was also investigated. It was concluded that diesel is the main impact categories related to water scarcity indicator. (c) 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1901-1907, 2018