Mannok look to shale in new cement research project

Mannok, Sweden-based minerals company Boliden and the South Eastern Applied Materials (SEAM) research centre at South East Technological University have launched a 30-month project to reduce embodied CO2 emissions in cement.

The project will investigate possible uses of shale as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in cement production and the CO2 curing of cement paste-based mine backfill.

Enterprise Ireland has supplied funding worth €700,000 for the collaboration.

Mannok operations director Kevin Lunney said: "We are delighted to be working with SEAM and Boliden on this critical research for the cement sector, which could have many far-reaching benefits for the construction sector more generally. Finding local, viable, low-carbon solutions for the industry can make a major contribution to lowering emissions in Ireland."

Boliden specialist development engineer Adam McElroy and section-mill process head Colum Burns added: "This project will greatly enhance our knowledge and understanding of the potential for developing low carbon cement for mine backfill purposes and for utilising backfill systems as a carbon sink."

He said the project will also investigate "synergies between the cement manufacturing and mining industries that could enhance the sustainability of both industries."