Life cycle assessment of belitic clinkers with ornamental rocks processing sludge and calcium carbonate sludge

Abstract This article aims to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of using mud from processing ornamental rocks and calcium carbonate sludge in producing belitic clinkers on a laboratory scale. The functional unit considered was 396 grams of wet pellet produced in cycle 1 of each formulation. Potential environmental impacts were assessed with a midpoint scope, attributional approach, for the categories covered by the EF 3.0 method. The SimaPro Expert 9.1.1.1 software was used for modelling, with the Ecoinvent 3.6 database. Belitic clinkers with residues showed environmental gains in the climate change impact and resource use categories compared to the reference clinker. The main contributors to environmental impacts are transportation and the electrical energy consumed by the muffle furnace in the clinkerization stage. Thus, it was possible to conclude the technical and environmental feasibility of producing more sustainable binders using entirely industrial solid waste.