Decarbonizing Cement Production with Advanced Carbon Capture Technologies.
By Magnus Bach
Emerging carbon capture systems relying on nano-engineered reticular materials offer a transformative solution to the decarbonization challenges facing the cement industry.
Cement plant flue gases present unique obstacles for carbon capture. Beyond high CO₂ volumes and temperatures, these exhaust streams are often laden with acidic pollutants like sulfur oxides (SOₓ) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), substances that degrade many conventional sorbents and lead to rapid performance loss. Existing materials often struggle to maintain effectiveness under these harsh, chemically aggressive conditions.
Reticular materials, however, exhibit exceptional chemical stability. Materials such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) are built from robust chemical bonds that allow them to maintain structural integrity even when exposed to moisture and reactive gases. Their resilience to flue gas contaminants minimizes the need for extensive gas pre-treatment, lowering both cost and complexity for capturing carbon in cement factories.
Another significant hurdle in cement carbon capture is the energy intensity of sorbent regeneration. Conventional sorbents require regeneration temperatures between 70° to 120°C or higher, demanding large amounts of high-quality waste heat – something that’s costly and often unavailable without disrupting cement plant energy flows.
Reticular materials can overcome this through low-temperature regeneration, achievable at just 40° to 60°C. This allows for regeneration using low-grade waste heat already present (but largely underutilized) in cement facilities, avoiding the need for new energy inputs. As a result, these materials dramatically improve the energy efficiency and economics of the capture process.
In cement operations, space constraints and the need for minimal operational disruption also pose barriers to carbon capture retrofits. Existing plants were never designed with capture systems in mind, and large-scale retrofits will threaten uptime and revenue.
Capture systems based on reticular materials, however, can be modular and scalable, enabling custom configurations tailored to individual plant layouts. Their compact design and flexible deployment make them ideal for integration into tight spaces and phased implementation strategies – a major advantage for low-margin industries where continuous operation is paramount.
Lastly, the selectivity and capacity of the sorbent under realistic operating conditions is critical. Cement flue gas compositions fluctuate, and high humidity often reduces sorbent performance.
Custom-developed reticular materials can offer outstanding CO₂ selectivity and capacity, even under humid, high-temperature exhaust conditions. Their highly tunable frameworks, adjustable at the atomic level, can be engineered for optimal CO₂ uptake in variable environments, ensuring consistent performance across different plant scenarios.
By addressing real-world cement plant challenges – chemical harshness, high regeneration energy, spatial limitations and flue gas variability – nano-engineered reticular materials don’t just offer theoretical promise. They deliver practical, cost-effective solutions aligned with the complex realities of cement production.
A Path Forward for Cement Decarbonization
At times, traditional carbon capture technologies have struggled with the cement industry’s unique challenges: high process emissions, extreme temperatures, moisture-laden flue gases, and the economic constraints of retrofitting aging plants. However, innovations and advancements in chemistry and material science now present a compelling path forward.
By lowering energy consumption, eliminating costly pre-treatment steps, and enabling flexible, modular deployment, these advanced materials overcome the historical barriers to post-combustion carbon capture.
Their durability and efficiency make large-scale, economically viable carbon capture a realistic goal for cement producers worldwide. As global decarbonization targets tighten and the pressure to innovate intensifies, carbon capture systems built on novel reticular materials offer the cement sector not just a means of compliance but a strategic advantage in building a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Magnus Bach is vice president, business development at Atoco. Bach has more than 20 years of experience from international B2B, managing senior commercial roles within the areas of sales, marketing, segment management, commercial planning and market intelligence. In 2004, Magnus joined the Danish Trade Council at the Danish Embassy in Beijing, China. In 2005, he joined Emborg as chief representative and head of sales in Shanghai, heading import, export, and retail activities in Mainland China. Then in 2007, he entered the emerging renewables sector, when joining Vestas, the world’s largest wind energy turbine OEM. At Vestas, Magnus has managed a variety of commercial roles, most recently – from 2017-22 – heading the group marketing function as vice president, marketing. Bach has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from ESCP Business School in Paris and a Master of Arts from University of Copenhagen. During his career, he has been stationed in the United States, China, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and now Dubai, UAE.
