A new approach to cement production: chemical engineer Isabella and thyssenkrupp Polysius set standards for a climate-neutral future

thyssenkrupp is actively shaping the transition to a climate-neutral industrial economy with the Decarbon Technologies segment. Decarbonisation will generally be achieved through leading global key technologies in the hydrogen, ammonia, cement and lime, polymers and renewable energies sectors. People like engineer Isabella Franco Ramirez are driving the future of sustainable cement production with commitment, a spirit of innovation and increasing expertise.

Isabella developed her skills in analytical thinking, mathematics, physics and chemistry at an early age. This enthusiasm led her to engineering: “a discipline,” says this native of Colombia, “that enables me to approach real challenges and actively shape them through creative solutions.” She is particularly fascinated by continuous innovation, whether through the improvement of existing technologies and the creation of new, sustainable solutions.

Isabella’s passion led her to thyssenkrupp Polysius

Isabella's passion for engineering and sustainability led her to thyssenkrupp Polysius, a leading company in the cement and lime industry. This global industrial company is not only been a specialist in the traditional planning and manufacture of plant and machinery for the cement sector. thyssenkrupp Polysius is also part of thyssenkrupp's Decarbon Technologies segment and a leader in research into more sustainable cement production where new processes and materials are an increasingly crucial factor. Isabella first completed her Bachelor thesis here at Polysius, and subsequently gained her Master thesis as part of her studies at the Münster University of Applied Sciences.

The young engineer can now look back on an impressive academic career: following an honorary scholarship from the Colombian Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Isabella was awarded the VDI (Association of German Engineers) award in 2023 for her outstanding engineering thesis.

As a project manager in the Grey2Green Development department, the chemical engineer is now working with thyssenkrupp Polysius to revolutionise the cement industry and to conduct research into more sustainable cement production. She has already achieved some success: the company has constructed and maintained high-performance cement plants and has been setting standards for many years in the climate-neutral transition of the sector around this important building material.

A new approach to cement production

This is a massive task: “The cement industry is responsible for approx. 8% of global CO₂ emissions,” says Isabella. "The emissions are not only the result of the combustion of fossil fuels, but mainly arise from the chemical process of calcination, in which limestone is converted into calcium oxide and CO₂ in an energy-intensive process. Calcium oxide is one of the main components in the mix of raw materials from which cement is subsequently produced.”

The innovative polysius® pure oxyfuel technology is key to decarbonising the cement sector. The process replaces air with pure oxygen and up to 95% of the CO₂ in the exhaust gas that is detrimental to the climate can be captured in concentrated form. The separated carbon dioxide is not released into the atmosphere but is first cleaned and liquefied before it is either stored or used in other industries. CO₂ can also be used as a replacement for fossil carbon and therefore as a raw material to produce “refuels” and other carbon products.

“Thermally activated clays can also serve as a partial replacement for clinker to reduce the carbon footprint of cement production and represents a particularly innovative and sustainable project to reduce the carbon footprint in cement production,” says Isabella. The clays are heated in special facilities to create a material that replaces a significant part of the clinker, which remains the core component of cement. “This process can replace 30-40% of conventional cement clinker (which is an energy-intense procedure) and can thus significantly lower CO₂ emissions.” Another advantage is the sparing use of resources, as Isabella states: “The use of clay, which is abundant in many regions, conserves natural resources, generates no CO₂ during production and minimises dependence on the limestone required to produce clinker.”

Isabella is an ambitious engineer whose work combines pioneering technical objectives with a significant commitment to greater sustainability. Making the world a better place is also something close to Isabella's heart, and not just in terms of ​​cement production. “My personal feeling is that sustainability means using our resources responsibly to meet the needs of today's generation without compromising the needs of future generations,” she says. “We must balance ecological, social and economic aspects to ensure a future that is worth living for everyone.”

A market for clean technologies

Increasing environmental awareness and the global effort to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future can also create great economic opportunities for companies. The market for clean technologies is currently experiencing extraordinary growth; experts predict an average annual growth rate of over 20% in the years to 2030. Companies like thyssenkrupp Polysius are pioneers in this sector and offer motivated professionals the opportunity to contribute to the development of more sustainable technologies. If you would like to make a difference in this exciting future, please send us your application!