Preparation of Multifunctional β-hemihydrate Gypsum using Oyster Shell Powder as the Partial Replacement of Ag/TiO2 Particle

This work aimed to use oyster shell powder (OSP) as the partial replacement of Ag/TiO2 particle to obtain multifunctional β-hemihydrate gypsum.Thus,the β-hemihydrate gypsum was mixed with different contents of OSP and Ag/TiO2 particle.Antibacterial and MB removal experiments were conducted to assess the antibacterial characteristic and photocatalytic activity of β-hemihydrate gypsum with Ag/TiO2 particle and OSP.Besides,the formaldehyde degradation test was carried out to evaluate its formaldehyde removal ratio.Moreover,their setting times,compressive and flexural strengths at 1,3,and 28 days were comparatively analyzed.The experimental results prove that the composite use of OSP and Ag/TiO2 particle provide feasible multifunction for the β-hemihydrate gypsum.They can further improve the bactericidal rates and exhibit extra MB removal ratios compared with the gypsum plasters with single Ag/TiO2 particle.Besides,they can increase the formaldehyde degradation ratios,and this promotion is related to the introduction of Ag/TiO2 particle.However,OSP delays the initial setting time but promotes the final setting time of β-hemihydrate gypsum,and Ag/TiO2 particle hardly affects the setting times.Furthermore,OSP reduces the strengths of plasters at 1,3,and 28 days.But in general,the composite addition of OSP and Ag/TiO2 particle increase the compressive and flexural strengths of gypsum plasters at 1,3,and 28 days.These results provide theoretical guidance for the recycling of OSP and the preparation of gypsum-based products with antibacterial and formaldehyde degradation capabilities.

Deep decalcification of factory-provided freezing acidolysis solution to achieveα-high-strength gypsum

The freezing acidolysis solution of the nitric acid-phosphate fertilizer process has a high calcium content,which makes it difficult to produce fine phosphate and high water-soluble phosphate fertilizer products.Here,based on the potential crystallization principle of calcium sulfate in NH_(4)NO_(3)-H_(3)PO_(4)-H_(2)O,the deep decalcification(i.e.calcium removal)technology to achieveα-high-strength gypsum originated from freezing acidolysis-solutions has been firstly proposed and investigated.Typically,calcium can be removed from the factory-provided freezing acidolysis-solution by neutralizing it with ammonia,followed by the addition of ammonium sulfate solution.As a result,the formation of calcium sulfate in the reaction system undergoes the nucleation and growth of CaSO_(4)·2H_(2)O(DH),as well as its dissolution and crystallization into short columnarα-CaSO_(4)·0.5H_(2)O(α-HH).Remarkably,with the molar ratio of SO_(4)^(2-)/Ca^(2+)at 1.8,the degree of neutralization(NH_(3)/HNO_(3) molar ratio)at 1.7,the reaction temperature of 94℃,and the reaction time of 300 min,the decalcification rate can reach 86.89%,of which the high-strengthα-CaSO_(4)·0.5H_(2)O(α-HH)will be obtained.Noteworthy,the deep decalcification product meets the standards for the production of fine phosphates and highly water-soluble phosphate fertilizers.Consequently,the 2 h flexural strength ofα-HH is 5.3 MPa and the dry compressive strength is 36.8 MPa,which is up to the standard of commercialα-HH.