Cement production is responsible for a significant share of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, largely due to limestone calcination, and is projected to remain a major emitter through mid-century. Identifying materials that could reduce reliance on limestone-based cement therefore remains an important research objective. Here we evaluate a magnesium silicate binder produced from thermally activated serpentinite and examine its technical performance alongside an assessment of raw-material availability. A prospective life-cycle analysis for the European cement sector indicates that replacing or retrofitting existing cement plants to produce this binder could substantially reduce emissions by 2050, depending on future energy systems. Modelled resource estimates suggest that suitable ultramafic rocks are widespread, though data availability varies by region. These findings illustrate the potential of magnesium-silicate-based binders as a prospective lower-carbon pathway for cement production.
Naber C., Majzlan J., Moosdorf N., Neubauer J., Wagner D. and Bellmann F. (2026) Magnesium silicate binder shows potential as a carbon-neutral route for cement manufacture. Communications Sustainability 1(1): 79. 10.1038/s44458-026-00085-z
@article{Naber2026,
Title = {Magnesium silicate binder shows potential as a carbon-neutral route for cement manufacture},
Author = {Naber, Christoph and Majzlan, Juraj and Moosdorf, Nils and Neubauer, Jürgen and Wagner, Daniel and Bellmann, Frank},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Communications Sustainability},
Year = {2026},
Pages = {79},
Volume = {1},
Doi = {10.1038/s44458-026-00085-z},
Abstract = {Cement production is responsible for a significant share of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, largely due to limestone calcination, and is projected to remain a major emitter through mid-century. Identifying materials that could reduce reliance on limestone-based cement therefore remains an important research objective. Here we evaluate a magnesium silicate binder produced from thermally activated serpentinite and examine its technical performance alongside an assessment of raw-material availability. A prospective life-cycle analysis for the European cement sector indicates that replacing or retrofitting existing cement plants to produce this binder could substantially reduce emissions by 2050, depending on future energy systems. Modelled resource estimates suggest that suitable ultramafic rocks are widespread, though data availability varies by region. These findings illustrate the potential of magnesium-silicate-based binders as a prospective lower-carbon pathway for cement production.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Naber, Christoph
AU - Majzlan, Juraj
AU - Moosdorf, Nils
AU - Neubauer, Jürgen
AU - Wagner, Daniel
AU - Bellmann, Frank
TI - Magnesium silicate binder shows potential as a carbon-neutral route for cement manufacture
T2 - Communications Sustainability
PY - 2026
SP - 79
VL - 1
DO - 10.1038/s44458-026-00085-z
AB - Cement production is responsible for a significant share of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, largely due to limestone calcination, and is projected to remain a major emitter through mid-century. Identifying materials that could reduce reliance on limestone-based cement therefore remains an important research objective. Here we evaluate a magnesium silicate binder produced from thermally activated serpentinite and examine its technical performance alongside an assessment of raw-material availability. A prospective life-cycle analysis for the European cement sector indicates that replacing or retrofitting existing cement plants to produce this binder could substantially reduce emissions by 2050, depending on future energy systems. Modelled resource estimates suggest that suitable ultramafic rocks are widespread, though data availability varies by region. These findings illustrate the potential of magnesium-silicate-based binders as a prospective lower-carbon pathway for cement production.
ER -
