I. Introduction

In the field of building materials, gypsum has always occupied an important position. However, with the increasing global awareness of environmental protection, the gypsum industry is also in a wave of change. From the mining of gypsum to the processing and disposal of waste after use, all aspects are concerned about environmental protection issues.

Second, the environmental protection status of gypsum production

The influence of mining process

Traditional gypsum mining is often accompanied by land destruction, dust pollution and other problems. In some small mines, due to the lack of advanced mining technology and environmental protection equipment, mining operations are easy to lead to the destruction of large areas of surface vegetation, resulting in increased risk of soil erosion. For example, in open-pit mining, the dust raised by the excavation equipment will permeate the surrounding air, not only affecting the quality of life of nearby residents, but also posing a threat to air quality.

Contamination challenges during processing

In the process of processing gypsum into products such as construction gypsum powder, energy consumption is a key environmental issue. Many gypsum processing plants still rely on traditional high-energy calcining equipment, which not only consumes a lot of coal or electricity resources, but also emits greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. At the same time, the use of chemical additives in the processing process, if not strictly controlled, may cause water pollution. Waste water from some processing enterprises is discharged directly into nearby rivers or soil without proper treatment, which contains harmful substances that can negatively affect the ecosystem.

Third, the promotion of environmental protection measures in the gypsum industry

The rise of green mining technology

At present, some large gypsum enterprises have begun to explore green mining technology. For example, the use of underground mining combined with in-situ leaching mining can minimize surface disturbance. By injecting solvent into the underground gypsum layer, the gypsum is extracted after dissolution, which basically does not destroy the surface vegetation, and can effectively control the dust generation. At the same time, the reclamation work of the mining area has also been strengthened. After mining a mining area, the enterprise actively carries out land restoration, plants suitable for local growth, and gradually restores the ecological function of the mining area.

Energy saving and emission reduction in processing

In terms of processing, more and more enterprises have begun to invest in new energy-saving calcining equipment. These devices use advanced heat exchange technology to greatly improve energy utilization efficiency, and can reduce energy consumption by 30%-50% compared to traditional calcining equipment. In addition, for the waste gas generated during the processing process, the enterprise has installed efficient desulfurization and dust removal equipment to ensure that the exhaust gas is discharged up to standard. For wastewater treatment, the use of advanced physico-chemical treatment process, first through precipitation, filtration to remove most of the solid impurities, and then the use of chemical reactions to neutralize the harmful substances in the wastewater, so that the treated wastewater can be recycled, reduce the use of fresh water.

Recycling and reuse of waste contributes to environmental protection

The recycling of gypsum products such as gypsum board after use is also an important environmental protection initiative. Gypsum board waste from demolished buildings used to end up in landfills, taking up a lot of land and potentially causing soil pollution. Now, there are specialized recycling companies to break it, screen it and reprocess it into new gypsum products, such as recycled gypsum board or as a retarder in cement production. This waste recycling mode not only reduces the pressure of waste on the environment, but also saves the amount of raw materials mined to a certain extent.

Fourth, industrial changes and prospects brought about by environmental regulation

Industry reshuffle and integration accelerate

The increasingly strict environmental supervision has prompted the gypsum industry to face a reshuffle. Those small, backward enterprises that cannot meet the environmental requirements are gradually eliminated. Large enterprises rely on their own technological and financial advantages, and actively carry out environmental protection upgrading. This industry integration is conducive to the centralized use of resources and improve the scale and specialization level of the entire gypsum industry.

Innovation opportunities under the trend of sustainable development

In the face of environmental protection requirements, the gypsum industry has also ushered in innovative development opportunities. For example, the development of more environmentally friendly gypsum based composite materials, these materials have better thermal insulation, fire protection and other properties, while having less impact on the environment during the production process. In addition, the application of intelligent technology in the gypsum production process can more accurately control energy consumption, reduce pollution emissions, and promote the continuous development of the gypsum industry in a green and sustainable direction.

Under the general trend of environmental protection, the gypsum industry is undergoing profound changes. Although there are many challenges, through technological innovation, the implementation of environmental protection measures and the strengthening of regulation, the gypsum industry is expected to achieve a green transformation to meet the needs of the construction market while protecting our natural environment.