GipsRec2.0

Brief Description

The energy transition in Germany is leading to a critical supply gap in gypsum: FGD gypsum is a technically produced gypsum that occurs as a by-product in flue gas desulphurisation plants of coal-fired power stations when sulphur dioxide is bound with lime from the exhaust gases. Due to the shutdown of coal-fired power stations, FGD gypsum, which previously covered more than 50% of German gypsum demand, will no longer be available in the future. As the development of new natural gypsum deposits is becoming increasingly difficult, alternative gypsum sources are urgently needed.

GipsRec2.0 investigated promising secondary raw material sources, particularly end-of-life gypsum fibre boards. While established recycling processes already exist for gypsum plasterboard, technologies for processing gypsum fibre boards, which consist of natural gypsum and paper fibres, have been lacking until now.

The project consortium successfully developed a mechanical processing method for gypsum fibre boards. This enables:

• the separation into a high-quality gypsum fraction (>80% purity) and paper wool
• economically viable implementation in combination with existing gypsum plasterboard recycling facilities and thus the development of a new secondary raw material stream for the gypsum industry

The results show that the developed process can make an important contribution to closing material cycles and to future gypsum supply.

Further Informationen

• Project description on the ReMin funding measure website (only in German)
• Project Description on the Öko-Institut website

About recyling of gypsum at MUEG and in Germany

• Hoffmann, B. (2023). MUEG Mitteldeutsche Umwelt und Entsorgung GmbH Grosspösna gypsum recycling plant. Reportage in: AT Minerals Processing.
   
• Bunzel, J.-M. u. Patrick Farago (2023): Technical and Logistic Concepts for Recycling of Plasterboard, in: Mineralische Abfälle und Nebenprodukte, Bd. 10, S. 62 - 72, Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH, Neuruppin (German but English abstract)
   
• Bunzel, J. M. (2022, Mai 5-6). Gipsrückgewinnung aus gebrauchten Bauprodukten (Gypsum from used construction products) [Conference Presentation]. Innovationsforum 2022 Recyclingregion Harz, Deutschland (only in German)
   
• German Environment Agency. (2019). Factsheet Gips (Gypsum Factsheet): Developed in the project „Kartierung des Anthropogenen Lagers III – Etablierung eines Stoffstrommanagements unter Integration von Verwertungsketten zur qualitativen und quantitativen Steigerung des Recyclings von Metallen und mineralischen Baustoffen" (FKZ 3716 35 3230). Dessau-Roßlau, Germany (only in German)
   
• German Environment Agency.. (2017). Ökobilanzielle Betrachtung des Recyclings von Gipskartonplatten (Life Cycle Assessment of Plasterboard Recycling). Texte 33/2017. Dessau-Roßlau, Germany (only in German)
• Bunzel, J.-M (2016).: Gipsrecycling aus technischer, ökologischer und ökonomischer Sicht (Industrial Recycling of Gypsum-containing Waste), in: Mineralische Nebenprodukte und Abfälle, Bd. 3, S. 487-498, TK Verlag Karl Thomé-Kozmiensky, Neuruppin