| Cement production is an intense energy process. The average thermal energy heeded to produce one ton of clinker is approximately 800.000 kilocalories. This much energy is equivalent to that of burning 100 kilograms of carbon.
This industry constantly looks for new options. Since the 1970’s the United States and Europe realized that waste with high energy and low chlorine and metal content could be used as alternative energy sources in the cement industry.
Not only the United States has experience in thermodestruction. Other countries such as Switzerland, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, Japan and Belgium do too.
Using alternative energy sources in cement ovens implies substituting traditional energy sources (natural gas, fuel, oil, coke or coal) by an energy source that is the result of various waste products, urban and industrial. These are prepared physically and chemically by a Blending process. They are then loaded in the cement oven under strictly controlled conditions.
The cement oven allows the waste to be destroyed in a secure and controlled fashion. The energy is taken advantage of and used in the cement making process. This is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States.
MINETTI SA produces and commercializes cement, lime and ground stone, concrete blocks and chemical products for construction and forms part of the largest cement gropu in the world, HOLDERBANK. Their operations in Argentina date back to 1917.
HOLDERBANK is a Swiss group with activities throughout the world that produces construction materials, especially cement, premixed concrete, lime and ground stone. It works supporting over 80 factories in 35 different countries (including Argentina) and over 35,000 people work for the group.
DESLER S.A. y ECOBLEND S.A., part of Grupo Minetti, work as strategic allies in managing waste to be used in the Blending process. Desler provides Ecoblend with waste that is eliminated in cement ovens. That is, there is a secure integration of the waste in the cement elaboration process.
The cement circuit has four distinct characteristics that make it effective and secure for incinerating waste. These characteristics are:
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