Sheffield sets sights on sustainable steel and cement

Cement and steel are the most manufactured commodities in the UK by mass, however both sectors are under pressure to help the UK meet its carbon targets. The steel sector in particular is struggling to reduce the cost of its overheads to be competitive in the global market, and is considered a priority for the UK government.

The cement industry is responsible for the extraction of more than 12 million tonnes per year of UK natural virgin resources. Meanwhile, the steel industry produces large amounts of waste, much of which isn’t utilised, and that which is utilised finds its way into low value products.

Researchers from Sheffield University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering are developing processes and technologies for incorporating iron-rich by-products from the steel industry and utilising them in cement processing.

Current cement processing uses a significant amount of calcium in the form of limestone. When these calcareous (or chalky) materials are processed, almost half of the mass is released as CO2. If this bulk material could be substituted for an alternative, this could significantly reduce cement’s environmental impact.