The invention relates to a method of producing a binder comprising the steps of preparing (20) a residual material comprising amorphous alumina-rich and/or aluminium hydroxide-rich constituents, heating (30) the residual material to produce a fired material, the heating (30) of the residual material being at a temperature of >800 C.

The present invention relates to a novel cementitious product produced from steelworks slag additivation to obtain material having properties suitable for use in the partial or total clinker replacement for the production of different types of cement. The process, which is also object of this invention, aims to adapt the properties of steelworks slag, by means of thermochemical treatment, including and preferably, but not only, still in the liquid steelworks slag pot, taking advantage of the thermal input of steel processing, to form a greater amount of alite (essential compound to increase pozzolanicity), under controlled conditions. After additivation, preferably, but not exclusively, the additivated steelworks slag is subjected to quenching, comminution and concentration to stabilize the alite fraction, to release the present phases and to remove any excess contaminants, such as metallic iron.

The present invention relates to a novel cementitious product produced from steelworks slag additivation to obtain material having properties suitable for use in the partial or total clinker replacement for the production of different types of cement. The process, which is also object of this invention, aims to adapt the properties of steelworks slag, by means of thermochemical treatment, including and preferably, but not only, still in the liquid steelworks slag pot, taking advantage of the thermal input of steel processing, to form a greater amount of alite (essential compound to increase pozzolanicity), under controlled conditions. After additivation, preferably, but not exclusively, the additivated steelworks slag is subjected to quenching, comminution and concentration to stabilize the alite fraction, to release the present phases and to remove any excess contaminants, such as metallic iron.

A process for activating clays having high residual moisture by: feeding wet clay into a device for drying, comminuting the previously dried clay in a device for comminuting, thermally activating the comminuted clay in an entrained flow reactor or in a fluidized bed reactor in which the comminuted clay is in suspension in a hot gas, removing the gas from the entrained flow reactor or the fluidized bed reactor in a device for removing, and cooling the thermally activated clay in a device for cooling with a cooling gas, and to a corresponding plant. The cooling gas, heated after cooling the thermally activated clay, is combined with the gas from the reactor, and the combined gases are introduced into the drying device. The drying air is filtered after drying, and clay removed by filtration is unified with the dried clay.

A process for activating clays having high residual moisture by: feeding wet clay into a device for drying, comminuting the previously dried clay in a device for comminuting, thermally activating the comminuted clay in an entrained flow reactor or in a fluidized bed reactor in which the comminuted clay is in suspension in a hot gas, removing the gas from the entrained flow reactor or the fluidized bed reactor in a device for removing, and cooling the thermally activated clay in a device for cooling with a cooling gas, and to a corresponding plant. The cooling gas, heated after cooling the thermally activated clay, is combined with the gas from the reactor, and the combined gases are introduced into the drying device. The drying air is filtered after drying, and clay removed by filtration is unified with the dried clay.

A method for the manufacture of a high alumina hydraulic binder comprising hydrating a source of aluminium ions with a source of calcium ions in the presence of water to form mineral hydrates and subsequently heating said mineral hydrates to form said high alumina hydraulic binder.

A method for the manufacture of a high alumina hydraulic binder comprising hydrating a source of aluminium ions with a source of calcium ions in the presence of water to form mineral hydrates and subsequently heating said mineral hydrates to form said high alumina hydraulic binder.

A method for the manufacture of a high alumina hydraulic binder comprising hydrating a source of aluminium ions with a source of calcium ions in the presence of water to form mineral hydrates and subsequently heating said mineral hydrates to form said high alumina hydraulic binder.

A method for treating limestone comprising raw meal in a cement clinker plant can be improved by first reacting the raw meal with a carboxylic acid (ROOH), thereby producing at least Ca(RCOO).sub.2, wherein the symbol R represents an organic group and subsequently converting the such obtained Ca(ROO).sub.2 into calcined raw meal by thermally decomposing the produced Ca(RCOO).sub.2 and/or Ca(RSO2O).sub.2 to thereby obtain at least CaO, CO.sub.2 and RCOH and/or RCOR.

A method for treating limestone comprising raw meal in a cement clinker plant can be improved by first reacting the raw meal with a carboxylic acid (ROOH), thereby producing at least Ca(RCOO).sub.2, wherein the symbol R represents an organic group and subsequently converting the such obtained Ca(ROO).sub.2 into calcined raw meal by thermally decomposing the produced Ca(RCOO).sub.2 and/or Ca(RSO2O).sub.2 to thereby obtain at least CaO, CO.sub.2 and RCOH and/or RCOR.