The cement industry, which is an energy-intensive and high carbon dioxide emission industry, requires strategy for carbon neutrality and sustainable development. Most domestic cement companies are generating electricity by waste heat recovery system to improve energy efficiency during cement processes; however, few studies exist on recycling of energy related to this. Certain countries with high cement production researched on modifying the conventional waste heat recovery system to maximize waste heat recovery using various methods such as applying the Rankine cycle depending on the temperature, comparing working fluids, applying two or more Rankine cycles, and combining with other industries. In this study, we reviewed the research direction for energy efficiency improvement by summarizing waste heat recovery and utilization methods in the domestic and overseas cement industries.

Domestic limestone industries need to prepare for the introduction of a paid allocation according to The 4th emission trading system. The limestone industry must reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through process improvements (such as fuel conversion and increase in kiln efficiency) and system improvements (such as reflecting purity of raw materials and lime kiln dust factors). In addition, the limestone industry is currently classified within the same category as the cement industry. Therefore, when allocating emission allowances for greenhouse gas, it is possible that a low adjustment factor will be applied for the limestone industry due to differences in the industrial scale, raw materials, and product characteristics. The limestone and cement industries should thus be classified as two separate industries. Since unslaked lime and light-burnt dolomite are essential materials in a number of domestic industries, governmental support is essential to become a carbon-neutral and sustainable industry.

In this study, soda lime was prepared from slaked lime to expand the scope of limestone use. To evaluate carbon dioxide absorption, an extruder-type and disc-type pelletizers were used to make the soda lime using bentonite as an additive. Regardless of the pelletizing process, the peak of CaCO 3 was confirmed in soda lime due to its reaction with carbon dioxide. Furthermore, it was confirmed that both calcite and aragonite were present together. The soda lime prepared using the disc-type pelletizer showed a larger specific surface area than that prepared using the extruder-type pelletizer did, and the specific surface area improved on adding bentonite. The carbon dioxide absorption rate increased under the sample condition with an enhanced specific surface area.

Limestone is the largest mineral resource in South Korea and is used in various industries, particularly as a primary raw material in the cement and iron industries. However, research on the utilization of limestone in fields such as agriculture, powder, and green chemistry is severely lacking. In this review, studies concerning the crop antibacterial industry using unslaked or slaked lime produced from limestone were analyzed. Reports regarding lime bordeaux mixture were also considered. By compiling research results, processing technologies for improving the antibacterial efficiency of lime bordeaux mixture are discussed. In addition, plans for the revitalization of research on crop antibacterial agents through the limestone processing industry were summarized.