Making cement from other types of rock can clean the air

Those steps (along with the subsequent effects to recover the acid or other chemicals to be usable) obviously add to the cost and energy consumption. By comparing the energy to do all this using conventional methods, the researchers found that you need to use more than twice as much energy as natural resources from limestone.

What is interesting is that, according to thermodynamics, the conversion of basalt minerals into calcium oxide only takes about half of the conversion of limestone. The problem is that our methods of supporting drug change are ineffective, so we don’t come close to what we can say.

Good choices?

The researchers note that there are other well-known lab methods that could improve our technology if they could be used on a large scale, but even if we used twice as much energy, making Portland cement from basalt would significantly reduce CO.₂ air. It is because the direct release of CO₂ from the limestone is removed and because the whole process can run electricity.

Assuming you use electricity from a fuel-powered grid, it is estimated that emissions can be reduced by about 30 percent. Using unsanitary electricity can eliminate many residual gases.

The trade-off, obviously, will be the price, which wins the stability of the residence.

But there is another interesting thing about this idea: Some parts of basalt also have benefits. Iron, magnesium, and aluminum can also be separated and recycled, and the remaining silicate material can be used as an additive to Portland cement instead of coal ash. So if these things are done together, the project would be financially viable.

That’s a lot of ifs and buts, but this simple analysis can point to what should have been done to make this happen. And since cement is one of the toughest nuts in the fight to reduce global warming, concrete solutions are recommended.

Communications Sustainability, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s44458-026-00056-4 (About DOIs).