Coal-burning Byproduct Competes with Recycled Gypsum

The production of flue gas desulpherization (FGD) material from coal-burning power plants is expected to double in the next 10 years and will require more disposal options, including land applications, instead of current options of disposal and the production of new wallboard.

That was the conclusion of Dr. George Offen of the Electric Power Research Institute, speaking at the Beneficial Use Summit held recently in San Francisco. More than 7 million tons of FGD material are produced today, and 77.4 percent of that goes into new wallboard, as the material has the same chemical composition as natural gypsum. This also makes it ideal for land applications, further crowding the limited markets currently available for recycled gypsum.