Starting point for the project is a new type of hydraulic binding agent called "Celitement®". The BMBF is sponsoring accompanying research for the further development of the building material and its production process, with the objective of increasing the ma-terial and energy efficiency of cement production. Cement production is responsible for five to seven per cent of CO2 emissions worldwide. The different types of Celitement can replace traditional cements, whereby the lower amounts of limestone in the initial raw material composition and (considerably) lower process temperatures of the innovative Celitement manufacturing process can potentially result in up to 50 per cent savings in CO2 emissions.

The project combines the capabilities of the Celitement GmbH, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as a national laboratory of the Helmholtz association and SCHWENK Zement KG from Ulm as a renowned German building materials manufacturer. Celitement GmbH is a spin-off set up by scientists from KIT and Schwenk KG as the partner from industry. It was founded to drive forward research into and development of this new bonding agent. The project promoted here covers the accompanying research on Celitement, especially the process optimization of the pilot plant presently under construction with a daily capacity of approx. 100 kg of binder per day. For this, energy-efficient de-acidification of various raw materials is being tested on laboratory scale and a control system based on Raman or NIR spectroscopy is being developed to monitor the two essential process steps: the hydrothermal system and the milling process. This should then be implemented at the pilot plant, which simultaneously supplies the material to develop different applications and to conduct application tests with respect to durability issues and material properties necessary for the official approval to put such a material on the market. Further research addresses the material and energy optimization in the manufacturing process.

The project structure is directed towards implementing the results in a marketable product and a market-ready technology in the foreseeable future. Based on the results, a first industrial plant with an annual production of 30,000 t should go into production around 2017. Subsequently, Celitement should be licensed worldwide to binding agent manufacturers and plant construction companies. Refiners and users of Portland cement will receive a product similar to Portland cement which can be similarly processed for example into specialty building materials, such as plaster/ rendering, mortar and adhesive applications, taking advantage of greater strength, increased durability and less complex interaction with the various additions present in such systems.

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