Consider the following statements: Statement I: Studies indicate that carbon dioxide emissions from cement industry account for more than 5% of global carbon emissions. Statement II: Silica-bearing clay is mixed with limestone while manufacturing cement. Statement III: Limestone is converted into lime during clinker production for cement manufacturing. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

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Accepted Answer

The correct answer is option A. Statement I is correct: The cement industry is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, accounting for approximately 8% of anthropogenic CO2, which is indeed more than 5%. Statement II is correct: Silica-bearing clay is mixed with limestone as raw materials in cement manufacturing. This process, along with the energy required, contributes to CO2 emissions. Statement III is correct: During clinker production, limestone (calcium carbonate) undergoes calcination at high temperatures, converting it into lime (calcium oxide) and releasing a significant amount of CO2. Both the chemical process (calcination of limestone) and the energy-intensive heating of raw materials like silica-bearing clay contribute substantially to the cement industry's high CO2 emissions, thus explaining Statement I. The environmental impact of industrial processes and strategies for decarbonization are crucial topics for UPSC.

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