Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods makes use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods make use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

The invention provides a process for producing a cement clinker comprising: (i) mixing one or more starting materials providing each at least one or more of CaO, SiO.sub.2, AI.sub.2O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; and, optionally, SO.sub.3, to form a raw meal comprising CaO, SiO.sub.2, AI.sub.2O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; and, optionally, SO.sub.3, wherein the molar ratios among the aforementioned oxides is given by Formula I: S(CaO).sub.1(SiO.sub.2).sub.a(Al.sub.2O.sub.3).sub.b(Fe.sub.2O.sub.3).sub.c(SO.sub.3).sub.d, wherein: a is comprised from 0.05 to 1, b is comprised from 0.1 to 0.6, c is comprised from 0.001 to 0.25, and d is comprised from 0 to 0.3 and wherein at least 35% (p/p) of the starting materials of the raw meal have a critical microwaves absorbance temperature (Tc) comprised from 15 to 650 C. and a critical microwaves absorbance time (tc) comprised from 1 min to 1 h; (ii) heating the raw meal by irradiating with microwaves during 15 min to 3 h to reach a sintering temperature comprised from 300 to 950 C.; (iii) maintaining the microwave sintering temperature of step (ii) during 1 min to 3 h by further irradiating with microwaves; and (iv) cooling the clinker obtained in step (iii).

The invention provides a process for producing a cement clinker comprising: (i) mixing one or more starting materials providing each at least one or more of CaO, SiO.sub.2, AI.sub.2O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; and, optionally, SO.sub.3, to form a raw meal comprising CaO, SiO.sub.2, AI.sub.2O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; and, optionally, SO.sub.3, wherein the molar ratios among the aforementioned oxides is given by Formula I: S(CaO).sub.1(SiO.sub.2).sub.a(Al.sub.2O.sub.3).sub.b(Fe.sub.2O.sub.3).sub.c(SO.sub.3).sub.d, wherein: a is comprised from 0.05 to 1, b is comprised from 0.1 to 0.6, c is comprised from 0.001 to 0.25, and d is comprised from 0 to 0.3 and wherein at least 35% (p/p) of the starting materials of the raw meal have a critical microwaves absorbance temperature (Tc) comprised from 15 to 650 C. and a critical microwaves absorbance time (tc) comprised from 1 min to 1 h; (ii) heating the raw meal by irradiating with microwaves during 15 min to 3 h to reach a sintering temperature comprised from 300 to 950 C.; (iii) maintaining the microwave sintering temperature of step (ii) during 1 min to 3 h by further irradiating with microwaves; and (iv) cooling the clinker obtained in step (iii).

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods make use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods makes use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods makes use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods make use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods makes use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods makes use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.