Plasterboard Waste Processing for Gypsum and Cardboard Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for recycling plasterboard waste do not effectively address the recycling of gypsum and often result in environmental risks due to improper disposal of contaminated waste, with a lack of efficient processing for the gypsum component.

Innovation Solution

A process involving pre-shredding, impact crushing with variable gap widths, and separation into coarse and fine fractions, allowing for the effective separation and recycling of gypsum and cardboard, with the fine fraction suitable for gypsum products and the coarse fraction usable as a substitute fuel or bedding material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If plasterboard waste is disposed of in landfills, then disposal is simple, but environmental risks increase due to sulfate leaching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisposal simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful waste material containing sulfates into beneficial recycled products. By processing plasterboard waste through shredding, screening, and separation, the gypsum is recovered and reused in new plasterboard production, while cardboard is separated for other uses, thereby eliminating the environmental hazard of landfill disposal and sulfate leaching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Device complexity

If conventional crushing methods are used, then processing is simple, but separation of gypsum and cardboard is ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidseparation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the waste processing into distinct stages: pre-shredding to reduce size, screening to separate by size fractions, and magnetic separation to separate materials by properties. This multi-stage segmentation enables effective separation of gypsum and cardboard that cannot be achieved with simple conventional crushing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If plasterboard waste is not processed, then processing costs are low, but recycling potential is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycling quantityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action through pre-shredding of the plasterboard waste before main processing. This preliminary size reduction facilitates more efficient subsequent screening and separation operations, thereby improving overall processing efficiency while maximizing the quantity of recyclable materials recovered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This process enables the efficient recycling of gypsum and cardboard from plasterboard waste, reducing environmental impact by utilizing the gypsum in various applications and converting waste into valuable products, while minimizing contamination and moisture content.

Implementation Method 1

The pre-shredded waste is then crushed on an impact crusher

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

which can easily be separated into gypsum and cardboard using conventional screening systems

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScreening separation: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2030693B1Processing of plasterboard waste for premium reutilisation of the individual components plaster and cardboard
Publication Date: 2011.10.19 GFR GES FUR DIE AUFBEREITUNG & VERWERTUNG VON RESTSTOFFEN MBH

AI summary

Method for processing gypsum plasterboard and gypsum plasterboard-containing construction waste comprising the following steps: a) Pre-shredding to ≤ 1,000 mm edge length b) Crushing on an impact crushing device with variable gap widths c) Separation into a coarse fraction with a grain size of > 20 mm and a remaining fine fraction.