A process for synthesis of a waste-derived CO.sub.2-activated clinker, which comprises firing nodules at temperatures between 1000-1100? C. for a time sufficient to obtain CO.sub.2-reactive clinker phases within the nodules, cooling the clinker nodules, and reducing to powder to obtain a clinker powder; wherein the nodules are agglomerates of a stoichiometric mix of uniformly-sized powders of municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration residues; wherein the stoichiometric mix respects the primary compositional requisite of containing Ca, Al, and Si in their oxide forms within the ranges of 35-45 wt. % CaO, 2-8 wt. % AI.sub.2O.sub.3, and 12-20 wt. % SiO.sub.2; wherein the final stoichiometric mix has a total-sulfur content of 1 to 10 wt. %, total-carbon content of 2 to 20 wt. %, and a total-chlorine content of 2 to 15 wt. %.

A process for synthesis of a waste-derived CO.sub.2-activated clinker, which comprises firing nodules at temperatures between 1000-1100? C. for a time sufficient to obtain CO.sub.2-reactive clinker phases within the nodules, cooling the clinker nodules, and reducing to powder to obtain a clinker powder; wherein the nodules are agglomerates of a stoichiometric mix of uniformly-sized powders of municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration residues; wherein the stoichiometric mix respects the primary compositional requisite of containing Ca, Al, and Si in their oxide forms within the ranges of 35-45 wt. % CaO, 2-8 wt. % AI.sub.2O.sub.3, and 12-20 wt. % SiO.sub.2; wherein the final stoichiometric mix has a total-sulfur content of 1 to 10 wt. %, total-carbon content of 2 to 20 wt. %, and a total-chlorine content of 2 to 15 wt. %.

A method can be used to cool bulk material in a fine material cooler. The method may involve admitting bulk material to be cooled into the fine material cooler through a material inlet, conveying the coarse material with a first mechanical or pneumatic conveying unit, and conveying the fine material with a second conveying unit in a conveying direction through the fine material cooler to a material outlet. The bulk material may have a fine material proportion of 70% to 95% and a coarse material proportion of 5% to 30%. The fine material may have a grain size of 10-5 mm to 4 mm, and the coarse material may have a grain size of 4 mm to 100 mm.

A method can be used to cool bulk material in a fine material cooler. The method may involve admitting bulk material to be cooled into the fine material cooler through a material inlet, conveying the coarse material with a first mechanical or pneumatic conveying unit, and conveying the fine material with a second conveying unit in a conveying direction through the fine material cooler to a material outlet. The bulk material may have a fine material proportion of 70% to 95% and a coarse material proportion of 5% to 30%. The fine material may have a grain size of 10-5 mm to 4 mm, and the coarse material may have a grain size of 4 mm to 100 mm.

A clinker inlet distribution grate for feeding a conveyor grate with clinker, previously discharged from a kiln onto the clinker inlet distribution grate wherein the clinker inlet distribution grate comprises at least a chute with at least two grate elements being arranged one besides the other providing a chute enables to easily remove clinker agglomerations, so called snowmen if at least a first of said at least two grate elements is static and that at least a second of said at least two grate elements is movable orthogonally to the cross direction of the chute.

A clinker inlet distribution grate for feeding a conveyor grate with clinker, previously discharged from a kiln onto the clinker inlet distribution grate wherein the clinker inlet distribution grate comprises at least a chute with at least two grate elements being arranged one besides the other providing a chute enables to easily remove clinker agglomerations, so called snowmen if at least a first of said at least two grate elements is static and that at least a second of said at least two grate elements is movable orthogonally to the cross direction of the chute.

A method can be used to cool bulk material in a fine material cooler. The method may involve admitting bulk material to be cooled into the fine material cooler through a material inlet, conveying the coarse material with a first mechanical or pneumatic conveying unit, and conveying the fine material with a second conveying unit in a conveying direction through the fine material cooler to a material outlet. The bulk material may have a fine material proportion of 70% to 95% and a coarse material proportion of 5% to 30%. The fine material may have a grain size of 10-5 mm to 4 mm, and the coarse material may have a grain size of 4 mm to 100 mm.

A method can be used to cool bulk material in a fine material cooler. The method may involve admitting bulk material to be cooled into the fine material cooler through a material inlet, conveying the coarse material with a first mechanical or pneumatic conveying unit, and conveying the fine material with a second conveying unit in a conveying direction through the fine material cooler to a material outlet. The bulk material may have a fine material proportion of 70% to 95% and a coarse material proportion of 5% to 30%. The fine material may have a grain size of 10-5 mm to 4 mm, and the coarse material may have a grain size of 4 mm to 100 mm.

A clinker for use in cement manufacturing includes a cement clinker mixture having crystals of an element that is less electronegative than carbon and carbon bonded to at least a portion of the crystals.

A clinker inlet distribution grate for feeding a conveyor grate with clinker, previously discharged from a kiln onto the clinker inlet distribution grate wherein the clinker inlet distribution grate comprises at least a chute with at least two grate elements being arranged one besides the other providing a chute enables to easily remove clinker agglomerations, so called snowmen if at least a first of said at least two grate elements is static and that at least a second of said at least two grate elements is movable orthogonally to the cross direction of the chute.