UCLA researchers have developed a method that could eliminate almost all of the carbon dioxide emitted during the cement-making process, according to a UCLA press release.

Currently, cement production involves heating limestone in a furnace powered by dirty energy that warms the planet such as oil or coal. This produces one kilogram of carbon dioxide for every kilogram of cement created, according to the release. In fact, cement production represents about 8% of the world’s carbon pollution. Of these emissions, 60% come from the limestone itself being heated and broken down into lime, while 40% comes from the fuels used to power the kilns. Additionally, creating one metric ton of lime (more than 2,200 pounds) requires enough energy to power an average American home for a month, all according to UCLA.

Instead, the researchers proposed using calcium hydroxide, which produces only water when heated, to create lime. They placed limestone in a water-based solution containing a common industrial acid and used membrane nanofiltration to separate the calcium from the limestone. They then used an electrochemical process to create calcium hydroxide.

This process generates hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate, oxygen and hydrogen. The researchers proposed that hydrogen could be used to power kilns to create cement. All of this combines to eliminate about 98% of the carbon pollution from the lime-making process.

“The ZeroCAL approach offers an elegant solution for eliminating the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the cement manufacturing process,” said Gaurav Sant, director of the Institute for Carbon Management and UCLA’s Pritzker Professor of Sustainability.

Although the process requires more energy than traditional cement production, the researchers hope that further research will reduce this burden.

Cement manufacturers have been looking for some time to switch to greener processes. Some of the largest in the world have invest $75 million in greener manufacturing practices. Meanwhile, scientists have discovery a means of creating a type of cement that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere.

For their part, the UCLA researchers believe their nearly carbon-free procedure shows real promise.

“It became clear that mitigation climate change requires urgent, paradigm-shifting action in many areas to decarbonize our society,” said study co-author Fabian Rosner, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at UCLA. “We believe the ZeroCAL process offers a unique path to enable access and rapid scalable decarbonization of cement production in a way we haven’t considered before.”

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