March 6, 2026
272
It is a well-established fact that cement production represents a global environmental puzzle—one that often seems impossible to solve in favor of both nature and humanity. Nevertheless, for many years, scientists have been working to find ways to mitigate and reduce the harmful environmental consequences of such production. This research is conducted at the Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry of the Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan. Rejepnur Nurberdiyev—Doctor of Technical Sciences, head of the laboratory, and lead co-author of a domestic innovative model for producing a more environmentally friendly Portland cement with mineral additives—explained:
"The raw materials and fuel-energy resources consumed in cement production are primarily associated with obtaining the base of this valuable construction material: cement clinker. This process involves the firing (calcination) of a carefully selected raw mix consisting of three-quarters limestone, as well as clay and other components such as quartz sand and iron ore."The mineral component is added during the clinker grinding process along with gypsum—the final stage of cement production. By reducing the amount of clinker and replacing a portion of it with minerals, it is possible to lower the consumption of material resources, raw materials, and energy, as well as mitigate the environmental impact of the cement industry. Currently, an innovative Portland cement containing 20% active mineral additives is already being produced in Turkmenistan. The core of the developed technological support ensures that the quality of the cement remains uncompromised, which is essential for the strength of the resulting concrete. Scientists have now decided to go further; based on their research, they have proposed a significantly higher use of mineral components—up to 35%.
Chemical technology experts have presented a new, enhanced technology that once again yielded positive results: the concrete met all specified parameters. The methodology is eco-friendly, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions per ton of cement by utilizing a smaller proportion of clinker.
The scientific work focused on preserving the properties of mineral-enriched cements through the dispersion method (fine grinding). For instance, while coarse-grained cement has limited strength, reducing its components to nanoscale particles enhances its durability by increasing the contact surface area of the particles. This improves the bonding of the cement paste, transforming it into an efficient structural framework. To clarify, the process of concrete formation produces calcium hydroxide, which reacts actively with aggressive environmental components. The inclusion of a mineral component in the concrete prevents these chemical reactions, neutralizing the concrete’s "sensitivity" to various corrosive environments and providing further environmental benefits. Furthermore, research revealed that the final product's resistance to aggressive natural or anthropogenic environments is increased. Enhancing the eco-friendliness of Turkmen cements is a promising and high-impact solution, especially in light of global climate trends. The mineral materials added to the cement are primarily pozzolans containing active silicon dioxide; this substance, which is also present in basalts, acts as a neutralizing agent for chemical reactions. Pozzolans are extracted from a local mineral found within Turkmenistan—opoka (siliceous earth)—which served as the basis for studying the core characteristics of cement with varying mineral content. It was demonstrated that by using this mineral with appropriate processing, even at a 35% concentration of neutralizing mineral components, the quality of the resulting reinforced concrete meets all specified requirements.
A group of researchers from the Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the State Energy Institute of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan collaborated on this technology. The authors presented their innovation in a joint publication in an international peer-reviewed journal: the Scientific Bulletin of Syktyvkar University (Russian Federation), within the "Natural Sciences" series focusing on "green" technologies. Thus, the discovery by Turkmen chemists has received formal scientific validation.
The production of this essential construction mixture typically involves high fuel consumption and is characterized by significant heat generation and substantial gas and dust emissions. Production improvements are proposed by enhancing the operational and performance indicators of the rotary kilns. This results in reduced fuel consumption, which in Turkmenistan's cement plants is primarily natural gas. By optimizing the kiln's performance, the quality of the resulting clinker is significantly improved. Consequently, reducing the clinker content in the final cement mixture serves as an additional pathway toward achieving higher energy efficiency. On average, producing one ton of cement (or 950 kg of clinker) requires 96 cubic meters of "blue fuel" (natural gas). By incorporating the proposed 35% mineral additives, the clinker savings per ton of finished cement amount to more than 300 kg. The resulting savings in natural gas consumption are equally substantial. The approach to developing products and processes that reduce the use or generation of hazardous substances, minimize waste while ensuring its proper disposal, and promote technologies safe for both human health and the environment is known as "Green Chemistry."Unlike environmental chemistry, which focuses on studying the movement of substances in nature and the distribution and impact of pollutants, "green" chemistry seeks to create safe alternatives to maximize the yield of primary products while minimizing by-products, such as waste, emissions, and effluents. Today, such an approach is practiced across the aerospace, automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries. Based on this principle, domestic cement production was evaluated, and corresponding research was conducted. Looking ahead, chemists intend to further investigate the incorporation of mineral additives into cement and conduct comprehensive research on the quality of the resulting products. Currently, five cement plants operate in the country: two in Baherden, two in Koytendag, and one in Jebel. All these facilities are located far from residential areas, recreational zones, and agricultural lands. Their total annual production volume of Grade 500, Grade 400, and other cement varieties exceeds 3.5 million tons. Turkmenistan possesses significant reserves of the raw materials necessary for the production of this valuable construction material.
By ELENA DOLGOVA, "NT" (Neutral Turkmenistan)