Many parts of the industry produce emissions that are either extremely expensive or logistically challenging to abate. Cement is a case in point. During calcination in the kiln for the process of making clinker, a powder used to make cement, CO2 is released from raw materials. This process accounts for **approximately two-thirds of cement emissions**. Alternative cement-binding materials (or “clinkers”) can eliminate these emissions, but there’s currently no mature alternative clinker that can significantly reduce emissions at an affordable cost. There are many possible permutations for such a product, but testing by trial and error is time-consuming and costly. Quantum computing can help to simulate theoretical material combinations to find one that overcomes today’s challenges—durability, availability of raw materials and efflorescence (in the case of alkali-activated binders). This would have an estimated additional impact of 1 gigaton a year by 2035. ### Research Ideas 1. **Quantum Simulations for Alternative Clinkers**: - Use quantum computing to simulate various material combinations to identify effective and affordable alternative clinkers. - Research focus: durability, raw material availability, and efflorescence in alkali-activated binders. 2. **Carbon Capture and Utilization in Cement Production**: - Develop quantum algorithms to optimize carbon capture technologies integrated into cement kilns. - Explore the use of captured CO2 in creating new building materials. - Ref: [[Quantum x Carbon Capture]] [[Carbon Capture Use & Storage (CCUS) MOC]] 3. **Hybrid Clinker Development**: - Investigate combining traditional clinkers with innovative materials discovered through quantum simulations. - Aim to reduce overall CO2 emissions while maintaining performance standards. ### Potential Research Paper Ideas 1. **"Quantum Algorithms for Sustainable Material Discovery in Cement Production"**: - Detailed exploration of quantum computational methods for identifying alternative clinkers. 2. **"Integrating Carbon Capture with Quantum-Enhanced Cement Production"**: - Study on combining carbon capture technology with quantum-driven material innovations. 3. **"Lifecycle Assessment of Quantum-Derived Sustainable Cements"**: - Evaluation of the environmental and economic impacts of new cement formulations. ### Interested Companies 1. **Cement and Construction Giants**: - **LafargeHolcim**, **HeidelbergCement**, **CEMEX** - These companies are actively seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional cement production. 2. **Sustainability-Focused Startups**: - **CarbonCure Technologies**, **Solidia Technologies** - Startups dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint of construction materials. ## 🌐 Sources 1. [weforum.org - The cement industry in the net-zero transition](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/10/new-technologies-decarbonizing-cement-production/) 2. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Alternative Clinker Technologies for Reducing Carbon ...](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8746203/) 3. [imperial.ac.uk - Best ways to cut carbon emissions from the cement ...](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/221654/best-ways-carbon-emissions-from-cement/) 4. [mckinsey.com - Decarbonizing cement and concrete value chains](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/engineering-construction-and-building-materials/our-insights/decarbonizing-cement-and-concrete-value-chains-takeaways-from-davos) 5. [mdpi.com - Recent Progress in Green Cement Technology Utilizing ...](https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/2/537) 6. [azobuild.com - New Advancements in Sustainable Cement Production](https://www.azobuild.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8636)