Valorization of Acid Leaching Post-Consumer Gypsum Purification Wastewater

Miguel Castro-Díaz (), Sergio Cavalaro, Mohamed Osmani, Saeed Morsali, Matyas Gutai, Paul Needham, Bill Parker and Tatiana Lovato
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Miguel Castro-Díaz: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Sergio Cavalaro: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Mohamed Osmani: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Saeed Morsali: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Matyas Gutai: School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Paul Needham: ENVA, Enviro Building, Private Road 4, Colwick Industrial Estate, Nottingham NG4 2JT, UK
Bill Parker: British Gypsum, East Leake, Loughborough LE12 6JT, UK
Tatiana Lovato: British Gypsum, East Leake, Loughborough LE12 6JT, UK

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Industries are required to utilize treatment technologies to reduce contaminants in wastewater prior to discharge and to valorize by-products to increase sustainability and competitiveness. Most acid leaching gypsum purification studies have obviated the treatment of the highly acidic wastewater produced. In this work, acidic wastewater from acid leaching purification of post-consumer gypsum was treated to recover a valuable solid product and reusable water. The main aims of this work were to determine the impact of recirculating acidic and treated wastewaters on the efficiency of the acid leaching purification process and to valorize the impurities in the wastewater. Samples were characterized through X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. SimaPro 9.5 and the ReCiPe 2016 midpoint method were used for the life cycle assessment of three sustainable wastewater management approaches. The reuse of the acidic wastewater did not improve the chemical purity of gypsum. Soluble impurities were precipitated at pH 10.5 as a magnesium-rich gypsum that could be commercialized as fertilizer or soil ameliorant. The alkaline-treated water was reused for six acid leaching purification cycles without impacting the efficiency of the purification process. An acid leaching–neutralization–filtration–precipitation approach demonstrated superior overall environmental performance. Barriers and enabling measures for the implementation of an in-house wastewater treatment were identified.

Keywords: refurbishment plasterboard waste; demolition plasterboard waste; gypsum waste recycling; acid leaching purification; wastewater treatment; wastewater valorization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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