COSOFE (Desenvolupament de ciments sostenibles per fomentar l’economia circular)

This Industrial Doctorate is a collaboration between IQS and the company Ciments Molins.

Thus, the research project will be conducted using the facilities of both institutions, sharing knowledge among the industry and the academic sector. The main objective of this Industrial Doctorate project is to develop new sustainable types of cement with reduced clinker content and a high amount of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to commercialize a product for several applications. The reason for reducing clinker content (raw materials, such as limestone, clay and silica) is that it is energy-intensive, involving a chemical transformation known as calcination, and in this process, in which limestone is broken down into lime (calcium oxide) and carbon dioxide (CO2), is a significant source of CO2 emissions in cement manufacturing, accounting for approximately 60-70 of the emissions. With the goal of net zero emissions established for 2050, decarbonization of cement is one of the main challenges, hence the importance of this project. The SCMs used in this project will come from industrial byproducts and recycled materials, as a way to prioritize and promote circular economy and the preservation of natural resources. The result of this research project is to be able to develop products for diverse applications; among these, low-carbon materials (mortars and concretes) for marine environments and 3D printing applications are identified as priorities. The sustainability of the new cements will be evaluated following a life cycle assessment (LCA).
This Industrial Doctorate collaborates with the company Ciments Molins.