Fine-grained reservoir sediments: an interesting alternative raw material for Portland cement clinker production

Abstract

The paper reports investigation results on the use of fine sediments to replace a part of the raw materials in Portland cement (PC) clinker. Representative samples of sediments from three different French dam reservoirs are studied. These materials have a mineral composition that includes some of oxides components essential to cement manufacturing, such as SiO₂, CaO, Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃. Their potential for use as replacement of clays in cement industry was considered. Nine mixes of PC clinkers were synthesised with feedstock mixtures containing between 20.6 and 31.1% of sediments according to their chemical composition. In all cases studied, usual clay materials are completely substituted by dam sediments. Clinkers were characterised using ICP-AES, XRD and optical microscopy. Results showed that synthesised clinkers have similar chemical and mineralogical composition than ordinary PC clinker. Finally fine-grained sediments might be considered as natural resource, they are an interesting alternative raw material for PC clinker production.

Keywords:

• Alternative raw material
• clinker
• clay replacement
• fine sediment
• dredged material