Methods of Processing Gypsum

Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral found in deposits throughout the

world. Composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, gypsum offers a variety of useful
characteristics that lend it to a multitude of products. The are many methods on
processing gypsum as a tool with different uses and here are some of them:
a. Gypsum process Plant (Dry Calcining Gypsum Process)
-type gypsum production process generally is: ore storagecrushing
uniform calcined and dehydratedaginggrinding and mixturepackaging, first
milling then calcination in the calcination process.
Dry calcining gypsum process is: run-of-mind gypsum transported from the
stope, then stored and selected to ensure continuously feeding and stable quality.
The gypsum are fed into primary crusher(jaw crusher) and is crushed into the
diameter shorter than 8cm,and then crushed by the secondary crusher(hammer
crusher) become the diameter shorter than 2cm. and then delivered by the bucket
elevator to the calcining kiln for calcination. By controlling the temperature of the
kiln can separately produce -hemihydrate gypsum, anhydrite gypsum and burnt
gypsum.
-type gypsum wet calcination process generally is : gypsum raw materials bin
screening autoclaving and drying grinding unifrom &gypsum mixture
packaging and transporting. Hot water production method processing: run-of-mine
orecrushinggrindingreacting
caldron
(water
and
pharmaceutical)
washingdryingpackaging.
b. Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) This process resulted in a by-product that people
soon discovered could be manufactured into a pure, synthetic gypsum. Today,
synthetic gypsum has replaced natural gypsum in many applications.
c. Fertilization and Soil Conditioning In the late 18th and early 19th centuries,
Nova Scotia gypsum, often referred to as plaster, was a highly sought fertilizer for
wheat fields in the United States. It is also used in ameliorating high-sodium soils.
d. Cultivation Used in mushroom cultivation to stop grains from clumping together.
e. Plastering (Gypsum Board) this is the way of coating walls and ceilings. It is
manufactured as a dry powder and is mixed with water to form a paste when used.
The reaction with water liberates heat through crystallization and the hydrated
plaster then hardens. Plaster can be relatively easily worked with metal tools or
even sandpaper. These characteristics make plaster suitable for a finishing, rather
than a load- bearing material. The term plaster can refer to gypsum plaster (also
known as plaster of Paris), lime plaster, or cement plaster.

f. Orthopedic cast (Medicine) Plaster is widely used as a support for broken bones;
a bandage impregnated with plaster is moistened and then wrapped around the
damaged limb, setting into a close-fitting yet easily removed tube, known as an
orthopedic cast.
g. Hardening gypsum adds hardness to water used for brewing.
h. Sculpting As alabaster, a material for sculpture, it was used especially in the
ancient world before steel was developed, when its relative softness made it much
easier to carve.
i. Baking Used in baking as a dough conditioner, reducing stickiness, and as a
baked-goods source of dietary calcium. The primary component of mineral yeast
food.
j. Wood Substitution A wood substitute in the ancient world: For example, when
wood became scarce due to deforestation on Bronze Age Crete, gypsum was
employed in building construction at locations where wood was previously used.
Sources:

Material Characteristics to Consider when Processing Gypsum (Feeco

International Inc.)
http://feeco.com/material-characteristics-processing-gypsum/

Gypsum (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsum

Plaster (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaster

Gypsum processing plant (Gypsum Beneficiation and processing methods,

Gypsum process, Gypsum beneficiation and processing pla)
http://www.miningcrushing.com/mineral/gypsum-processing-plant.html