Environment hazard mitigation of waste gypsum and chalk: Use in construction materials

The rapid urbanization and industrialization have resulted in the production of various types of solid, liquid and gaseous wastes which pose serious problems to the environment. The disposal and use of solid industrial wastes like phosphogypsum, fluorogypsum, fly ash, slag, and lime sludge, is significant in view of their availability and potential applications. The paper deals with studies on select wastes like phosphogypsum and chalk for use in value-added building materials. The engineering properties and techno-economics of materials like gypsum plasters, cementitious binders, boards/blocks, masonry cement and flooring tiles produced from phosphogypsum and lime have been detailed. The production and use of building materials from such wastes will protect the environment from degradation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.