Solar synthesis of calcium aluminates

•We investigated the synthesis of calcium aluminate compounds by using concentrated solar energy.•CaO·2Al2O3 and CaO·6Al2O3 were the main phases in the calcium aluminate cement.•Economic and environmental improvements are derived from the concentrated solar energy process. The production of high alumina refractory cements (>75% Al2O3) is traditionally carried out in furnaces heated with both electric power (submerged arc furnaces) and fossil fuels (coke, natural gas). This heating system has several disadvantages: electricity price, contamination of the cement or greenhouse gases emissions. Solar energy, when properly concentrated, offers a great potential in high temperature applications, as those required in the manufacture of refractory and ceramic materials. In this paper we propose the synthesis of calcium aluminate compounds using concentrated solar energy. The results obtained prove the feasibility of the solar obtaining of the calcium aluminate compounds and could be useful for future development of this solar process in a larger scale.