The Construction and Ceramics Industry Waste Gypsum Valorization Possibilities

Abstract

The construction work and ceramic materials industry debris is an important source of waste that ends up unused and disposed on municipal solid waste landfills. Besides concrete and clay based materials, gypsum waste is one of the larger contributors to the building and industry byproducts production chain. The possibilities of waste gypsum revitalization and reutilization in the ceramic industry and civil engineering are investigated in this paper. The gypsum in its dihydrate form is used for moulds in the production of ceramic cast materials. The interest in recovering gypsum waste is increasing as the demand for sustainable production grows. Before secondary gypsum is reapplied, its properties and the recycling process have to be technically and environmentally evaluated. By recycling gypsum waste, natural gypsum deposits are being preserved. Furthermore, large percentage of this byproduct achieves its reutilization potential. In this context, this paper investigates physical properties, the chemical composition and the thermal behavior of the waste gypsum. The goal is to assess the feasibility of using waste gypsum and to evaluate the viability of the recycling process. The results indicate that the reutilization of gypsum waste might provide a viable substitute for clay in the ceramics industry. Reapplication of the revitalized secondary gypsum is approved from both economical and environmental aspect.