Mineral formation process and environmental benefits of belite-ye’elimite cement clinker from industrial solid wastes

C.  Yan; C.  Sun; J. Zhang; R. Bai; L.  Jing; T.  Bold

doi:10.3989/mc.2025.395224

Authors

C. Yan College of resources and environmental engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, - Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Engineering Research Center for Eco-Building Materials and Fabricated Structure - The Key Lab. of Green Development for Mineral Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7610-4701
C. Sun College of science, Inner Mongolia University of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0799-4273
J. Zhang Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Engineering Research Center for Eco-Building Materials and Fabricated Structure - The Key Lab. of Green Development for Mineral Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Technology - School of Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6904-9721
R. Bai School of materials science and engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5495-8436
L. Jing College of resources and environmental engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1299-2721
T. Bold School of applied sciences, Mongolian University of science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1469-6080

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2025.395224

Keywords:

Solid waste, Cement clinker, Mineral formation, Environmental assessment

Abstract

To optimize resource utilization of bulk industrial solid waste and promote low-carbon production in the cement industry, the belite-ye’elimite cement (BSAC) clinker was prepared entirely from solid waste materials (carbide ash, coal gangue, steel slag, desulfurization gypsum). The mineral formation process of the clinker was systematically analyzed. Findings reveal that within the temperature range of 700-1100 ºC, the clinker primarily comprises transition minerals such as aluminosilicate, aluminate, calcium sulphosilicate. At 1100-1200 ºC, these phases gradually convert to dicalcium silicate (C₂S) and ye’elimite (C₄A₃Š). Above 1200 ºC, changes in the minerals correlate to the structural and morphological evolution of C₂S and C₄A₃Š crystals. However, beyond 1320 ºC, C₂S exhibit an irregular morphology, and C₄A₃Š decomposes. BSAC prepared at 1260 °C met the mechanical requirements for 52.5 grade sulphoaluminate cement. Environmentally, BSAC clinker reduces energy consumption by 18% and carbon emissions by 65% compared to traditional Portland cement.

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