Research shows the benefits of gypsum
Several university presentations at the 2017 Waste to Worth Conference featured research into ag-related uses for gypsum, including using recycled drywall for dairy barn bedding and livestock housing air filters, and applying gypsum in field buffer strips to reduce phosphorus runoff into streams.
Gypsum is a common mineral mostly used in the United States to make drywall for homes, offices and commercial construction, and worldwide for concrete in highways, bridges and buildings.
Synthetic gypsum (calcium sulfate hydrate) is a byproduct of the coal industry’s process to clean emissions from coal boiler burners.
A main drawback found in the cattle bedding research was a very strong odor during waste hauling when urine-soaked drywall is replaced with fresh bedding.
Penn State University research has documented 50 percent reductions of unpleasant odor emissions when iron oxide (another waste byproduct of the coal industry) is combined with the recycled drywall in a final mix ratio of two parts iron oxide to one part gypsum to one part manure. Read more….