Optimization of the clinker production process in a Spanish cement factory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2026.422625Keywords:
Clinker, Alite, Rietveld method, DMAICAbstract
With the aim of manufacturing a clinker that reduces the energy consumption in its grinding, without substantially modifying the behavior of the cement manufactured with it, a characterization methodology based on the Rietveld method has been developed. From this study we have deduced that one of the most influential factors in the specific consumption of the cement mill is the C3S_M1 phase. Therefore, efforts will be focused on promoting its formation in the clinker by controlling the MgO content in the kiln feed and the alumina modulus in the clinker.
Downloads
References
Bogue RH. 1929. Industrial & engineering chemistry analytical edition. Ind Eng Chem Anal Ed.
Le Chatelier H. 1887. Recherches expérimentales sur la constitution des mortiers hydrauliques. Paris.
Taylor HFW. 2008. Cement chemistry. Chem Eng.:387-433.
Jeffery JW. 1952. The crystal structure of tricalcium silicate. Acta Crystallogr. 5(1):26-35.
Golovastikov NI, Matveeva RG, Belov NV. 1975. Crystal structure of the tricalcium silicate 3CaO·SiO2 = C3S. Sov Phys Crystallogr.:441-445.
Courtial M, de Noirfontaine MN, Dunstetter F, Gasecki G, Signes-Frehel M. 2003. Polymorphism of tricalcium silicate in Portland cement: a fast visual identification of structure and superstructure. Powder Diffr. 18(1):7-15.
Li X, Xu W, Wang S, Tang M, Shen X. 2014. Effect of SO3 and MgO on Portland cement clinker: formation of clinker phases and alite polymorphism. Constr Build Mater. 58:182-192.
Zhou H, et al. 2018. Research on the formation of M1-type alite doped with MgO and SO3—A route to improve the quality of cement clinker with a high content of MgO. Constr Build Mater. 182:156-166.
Bigare M, et al. 1967. Polymorphism of tricalcium silicate and its solid solutions. J Am Ceram Soc. 50(11):609-619.
Staněk T, Sulovský P. 2002. The influence of the alite polymorphism on the strength of the Portland cement. Cem Concr Res. 32(7):1169-1175.
Rossetto CM, Carezzatto GL, Martinez LG, Pecchio M, Turrillas X. 2023. Mineralogical analysis of Brazilian Portland cements by the Rietveld method with emphasis on polymorphs M1 and M3 of alite. Bol Soc Esp Ceram Vidr. 62(5):402-417.
Serrano-González K, Reyes-Valdez A, Chowaniec O. 2017. Impact of the use of alternative fuels on clinker reactivity. Mater Constr. 67(326):e120.
Ludwig HM, Zhang W. 2015. Research review of cement clinker chemistry. Cem Concr Res. 78:24-37.
Uda S, Asakura E, Nagashima M. 2005. Influence of SO3 on the phase relationship in the system CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–Fe2O3. J Am Ceram Soc. 81(3):725-729.
Li X, Huang H, Xu J, Ma S, Shen X. 2012. Statistical research on phase formation and modification of alite polymorphs in cement clinker with SO3 and MgO. Constr Build Mater. 37:548-555.
Gharibi E, Jabri M, Ramdani A. 2017. The effect of magnesium on the alite phase structural stability and its hydration process. J Mater Environ Sci. 8(4):1312-1319. [Internet]. Available from: https://www.jmaterenvironsci.com/Document/vol8/vol8_N4/139-JMES-2932-Jabri.pdf
Maki I, Goto K. 1982. Factors influencing the phase constitution of alite. Cem. 12(3):301-308.
Her S, et al. 2025. Synthesis and characterization of MgO- and SrO-doped cement: mineralogical composition and polymorphism of cement clinker phases. Constr Build Mater. 487:141994.
Liu X, Li Y. 2005. Effect of MgO on the composition and properties of alite-sulphoaluminate cement. Cem Concr Res. 35(9):1685-1687.
Altun IA. 1999. Effect of CaF2 and MgO on sintering of cement clinker. Cem Concr Res. 29(11):1847-1850.
Katyal NK, Ahluwalia SC, Parkash R, Sharma RN. 1998. Rapid estimation of free magnesia in OPC clinker and 3CaO:1SiO2 system by complexometry. Cem Concr Res. 28(4):481-485.
Ren X, Zhang W, Ye J. 2012. Effect of multiple foreign ions doping on hydration reactivity of alite. J Chin Ceram Soc. 40(5):664-670.
Segata M, et al. 2019. The effects of MgO, Na2O and SO3 on industrial clinkering process: phase composition, polymorphism, microstructure and hydration using a multidisciplinary approach. Mater Charact. 155:109809.
Kang R, et al. 2021. The effect of gaseous SO2 secondary sintering on the cement composition and crystal structure. Constr Build Mater. 285:122872.
Andrade Neto JS, Carvalho IC, Monteiro PJM, Matos PR, Kirchheim AP. 2025. Unveiling the key factors for clinker reactivity and cement performance: a physic-chemical and performance investigation of 40 industrial clinkers. Cem Concr Res. 187:107717.
Andrade Neto JS, De la Torre AG, Kirchheim AP. 2021. Effects of sulfates on the hydration of Portland cement – a review. Constr Build Mater. 279:122428.
Zhou H, et al. 2021. Research on structure modulation of alite and its effect on the mechanical properties of cement clinker. Constr Build Mater. 303:124511.
Roderick JH. 1993. The Rietveld method. IUCr Monogr Crystallogr. Oxford Univ Press.
Castañón García A. 2011. Optimización del proceso de producción de clínker. Aplicación a la factoría de Tudela Veguín. Univ León. [Internet]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10612/12265
AENOR. 2011. Cemento – parte 1: composición, especificaciones y criterios de conformidad de los cementos comunes. UNE-EN 197-1. Madrid.
Pande PS, Neuman RP, Cavanagh RR. 2000. The six sigma way. McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing.
American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. 2026. [Internet]. Available from: https://www.rruff.net/amcsd/
Koya BP. 2021. Comparison of different machine learning algorithms to predict mechanical properties of concrete. University of Victoria.
Minitab. 2023. Tabla de coeficientes para ajustar modelo de regresión. [Internet]. Available from: https://support.minitab.com/es-mx/minitab/help-and-how-to/statistical-modeling/regression/how-to/fitregression-model/interpret-the-results/all-statistics-and-graphs/coefficients-table/
AENOR. 2018. UNE-EN ISO 50001:2018 sistemas de gestión de la energía. Requisitos con orientación para su uso. Madrid.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the print and online versions of this journal are the property of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. You may read the basic information and the legal text of the licence. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 licence must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the final version of the work produced by the publisher, is not allowed.
