Tandem electrocatalysis for continuous production of zero-carbon cement clinker precursor and formate

Abstract

The cement industry faces a critical challenge in decarbonization, as conventional production processes contribute significantly to global CO2 emissions through both fossil fuel combustion and limestone calcination. This study presents an innovative electrochemical tandem system designed to address these twin carbon challenges simultaneously. Our system achieves fossilfree clinker precursor synthesis, while simultaneously converting limestone-derived CO 2 into valuable formate through direct electrochemical processes, creating a sustainable cement production pathway. The engineered three-chamber flow reactor architecture demonstrates exceptional operational stability exceeding 100 hours achieved through strategic compartmentalization and optimized operational parameters. Comprehensive techno-economic analysis confirms the system's viability as a transformative paradigm, offering both environmental and economic benefits compared to traditional cement production methods.