Towards solution-driven recycling of gypsum

  • Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) is a crucial mineral across sectors such as construction, agriculture, and biomedicine. Despite its potentially full recyclability, a shortage looms due to limited mining in Europe and decreasing production of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, a byproduct of coal power plants. With current EU consumption at 24 MT/a (17 MT mined, 7 MT FGD), a deficit of 10-35 MT/a is projected by the 2030s as CaSO₄ becomes a critical raw material [1]. Meanwhile, substantial CaSO₄ waste is produced in various industries (e.g., phosphogypsum, red gypsum), but its recycling remains limited (10% in Germany, 5% in the EU) due to contamination and separation challenges. This contribution introduces a sustainable, efficient wet-chemical method for converting gypsum to bassanite (CaSO₄·0.5H₂O), and thus recycling gypsum, under mild conditions (T < 100 °C) using reusable high-salinity aqueous solutions (brines with c[NaCl] > 4 M) [2]. The optimal conversion conditions (T > 80°C,Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) is a crucial mineral across sectors such as construction, agriculture, and biomedicine. Despite its potentially full recyclability, a shortage looms due to limited mining in Europe and decreasing production of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, a byproduct of coal power plants. With current EU consumption at 24 MT/a (17 MT mined, 7 MT FGD), a deficit of 10-35 MT/a is projected by the 2030s as CaSO₄ becomes a critical raw material [1]. Meanwhile, substantial CaSO₄ waste is produced in various industries (e.g., phosphogypsum, red gypsum), but its recycling remains limited (10% in Germany, 5% in the EU) due to contamination and separation challenges. This contribution introduces a sustainable, efficient wet-chemical method for converting gypsum to bassanite (CaSO₄·0.5H₂O), and thus recycling gypsum, under mild conditions (T < 100 °C) using reusable high-salinity aqueous solutions (brines with c[NaCl] > 4 M) [2]. The optimal conversion conditions (T > 80°C, c[NaCl] > 4 M) enable rapid (<5 min) and reversible transformation. Upon cooling, gypsum re-forms, offering a temperature-dependent control over phase transition. Unlike conventional thermal dehydration (150-200 °C), this approach promotes the dissolution of gypsum, allowing contaminants to be separated via selective precipitation or adsorption. Additionally, the wet-chemical process facilitates the physical removal of impurities from gypsum matrices, making it advantageous for recycling gypsum waste from sources such as demolition or urban mining, where it is often mixed with other materials.zeige mehrzeige weniger

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Metadaten
Autor*innen:Tomasz Stawski
Koautor*innen:Alexander Van Driessche, Tom Ryll, Matthias Kellermeier
Dokumenttyp:Vortrag
Veröffentlichungsform:Präsentation
Sprache:Englisch
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung:2025
Organisationseinheit der BAM:6 Materialchemie
6 Materialchemie / 6.3 Strukturanalytik
DDC-Klassifikation:Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften und zugeordnete Tätigkeiten
Freie Schlagwörter:Calcium sulfate; Gypsum
Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM:Material
Material / Materialdesign
Umwelt
Umwelt / Circular Economy
Veranstaltung:Geo4Göttingen 2025
Veranstaltungsort:Göttingen, Germany
Beginndatum der Veranstaltung:14.09.2025
Enddatum der Veranstaltung:18.09.2025
DOI:10.48380/fhck-bv98
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments:Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access")
Datum der Freischaltung:13.11.2025
Referierte Publikation:Nein
Eingeladener Vortrag (wissenschaftliche Konferenzen):Nein
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