PROCESSO PARA PRODUCAO DE CIMENTO HIDRAULICO E PRECURSORES DE CIMENTO

Material for the production of hydraulic cements or for pozzolanic materials which develop cementatious characteristics after blending with an activator, is treated in an expanded precessive plasma in a plasma reactor of the type in which at least one plasma gun orbits about a vertical axis and is directed obliquely to said axis towards a counter electrode. The material preferably includes at least a proportion of a naturally occurring carbonaceous material of low calorific value, such as colliery spoil, oil shale or oil sand. In such case, as the material emerges from the plasma it is preferably contacted with air to effect combustion of the combustible material. The thermal energy thus released is recovered by suitable instrumentalities and is preferably converted to electrical energy to power the plasma reactor.