The enduring legacy of limestone: from an ancestral pillar of construction to a modern precursor in synergy with recycled concrete.

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21041/ra.v16i1.838

Keywords:

limestone, Portland cement, recycled concrete, alkali-activated cements, sustainable cements

Abstract

Facing the urgent need to reduce the environmental impact of Portland cement, this review explores the potential of limestone and pulverized recycled concrete (PRC) as pillars for sustainable binders. The historical and current role of limestone is analyzed, from its ancestral use to its application in modern cements, LC3, and, crucially, as a precursor in alkali-activated cements (AACs). PRC as a precursor in AACs is also examined, highlighting its contribution to the circular economy. The environmental and performance advantages of AACs based on these materials are discussed, as well as key challenges, including long-term durability, raw material variability, and the need for standardization. It is concluded that both resources are strategic, requiring focused research for their effective implementation.

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Author Biography

José Iván Escalante Garcí­a, Cinvestav Unidad Saltillo

Investigador Titular 3D, Cinvestav Unidad Saltillo  

Datos Generales

  • Ing. Químico,  UAdeC, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas,  1990
  • Maestro en Ciencias de la Metalurgia: Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo, 1992
  • Doctorado en Ingeniería de Materiales, The University of Sheffield,  1996

Productividad Científica

  • 90  Artículos en revista internacional indizada
  • 8 artículos publicados en revistas no indizadas
  • 72  Artículos en memoria de congreso internacional
  • 4 solicitudes de patente en progreso
    • 1100+ Citas WebofScience (Scholargoogle  1980 citas)
    • Indice H=19  (Scholar Google H=25)

 Distinciones Académicas

  • Miembro del SNI, Nivel III 
  • Miembro de la Academia Mexicana de Ciencias desde 2004
  • Miembro de Comisión Dictaminadora SNI Ãrea VII 2014-2016

 Recursos humanos (graduados, en proceso):       

Doctorado (12,6), Maestría (36,7), Licenciatura (17, 1)

 Participación en Revistas Científicas Internacionales

  • Cuerpo Editorial en Revistas:
    • Materiales de Construcción,  Indizada JCR
    • Advances in Cement Research, Indizada JCR
    • Journal of Sustainable Cement Based Materials, ISSN 2165-0373, indizada CAS
    • Revista Latinoamericana de Control de Calidad, Patología y Recuperación de las Construcciones   ISSN: 2007-6835, Indizada Conacyt, Latindex
  • Cuerpo de Revisores en 8 revistas
    • Journal of the American Ceramic Society
    • Cement and Concrete Composites
    • Construction and Building Materials
    • Conservation and Recycling
    • Journal of Civil Engineering and Management
    • Journal of Hazardous materials
    • Advances in applied Ceramics
    • Ingeniería, Investigación y tecnología UNAM       
    • Materials and Structures

 Intereses de Investigación:

Conversión de desechos inorgánicos en materiales cerámico-cementosos, Materiales y tecnologías sustentables.

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Published

2026-01-01

How to Cite

Escalante Garcí­a, J. I. (2026). The enduring legacy of limestone: from an ancestral pillar of construction to a modern precursor in synergy with recycled concrete. Revista ALCONPAT, 16(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.21041/ra.v16i1.838

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Review

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Copyright (c) 2026 Escalante-García, J. I.

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