Study of the carbon footprint in a ceramic production process in the metropolitan area of Cucuta Estudio de la huella de carbón en un proceso productivo cerámico en el área metropolitana de Cúcuta

Abstract

The experimental process was proposed in order to establish the viability of substituting part of the mineral fraction used at present (clayey material) by residues of combustion processes (ashes) of coal in thermoelectric, as an element to reduce the carbon footprint of the process of production of ceramic products, without altering the quality, properties and functionality of the final product. The study focuses on the specific case of a brick-making company in the metropolitan area of Cúcuta, and on the substitution of 10% of the raw material (clay) for ashes from the thermoelectric plant, for the production of ceramic blocks. The analyses carried out establish an energy saving derived from the use of 10% fly ash equivalent to 997.12Kg of Norte de Santander coal per burn. The results determine that, in the case of brick production, the annual reduction of emissions associated with the production process, with the use of ashes from the thermoelectric, would be 849.48 tons of CO₂. Thus, the carbon footprint is reduced by 16.39kgCO₂equiv/t finished product, which represents a decrease of 5.99% of the carbon footprint compared to the conventional process.