Comparative life cycle assessment of sulfoaluminate clinker production derived from industrial solid wastes and conventional raw materials

An environmental impact assessment was obtained for sulfoaluminate clinker preparation from red mud, desulfurization gypsum, and other industrial solid wastes, and the results were compared with a standard production method. A quantitative analysis and prediction of the environmental burden that results from mining/waste utilization, energy consumption, and waste emissions in sulfoaluminate clinker preparations using limestone, gypsum, bauxite and using industrial solid wastes as raw materials was provided. The life cycle theory was used to analyze the different production technologies, and it was found that comprehensive waste utilization to produce sulfoaluminate clinker reduces resource consumption, global warming, chemical oxygen demand, particulate matter, primary energy consumption, acidification, eutrophication, and solid waste generation by 92.89%, 40.95%, 36.48%, 25.25%, 12.6%, 8.3%, 7.91%, and 5.29%, respectively, compared with the conventional preparation of sulfoaluminate clinker. The sulfoaluminate clinker production with comprehensive waste utilization can reduce the total environmental burden by 38.62% compared with the conventional process. Cement manufacturing enterprises should combine power plants and chemical plants for industrial solid waste collection and recycling. Such a production mode would promote a circular economy industry, reduce the consumption of primary energy and natural resources, and reduce global warming. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.