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Characterization of Drywall Products for Assessing Impacts Associated with End-of-Life Management
Citation:
Huang, X. AND T. Tolaymat. Characterization of Drywall Products for Assessing Impacts Associated with End-of-Life Management. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-20/286, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
Drywall, also known as plasterboard, wallboard, sheetrock, and gypsum board, is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It is one of the major types of construction and demolition debris in modern society. An estimated 3.9×109 m2 drywall is used per year in North America, representing approximately 50% of the world’s use. In recent years, the generation of drywall waste has been on the rise in North America, and most of this waste results from both construction and demolition projects. The disposal of drywall waste in landfills is common, but this can potentially lead to environmental concerns such as hydrogen sulfide gas generation and chemical leaching. Given the potential concerns associated with drywall disposal in landfills, a scientific study is needed to better understand the chemical composition of drywall products and how chemical constituents may leach from these products upon contact with water.
Description:
Given the potential concerns associated with drywall disposal in landfills, a scientific study is needed to better understand the chemical composition of drywall products and how chemical constituents may leach from these products upon contact with water. To produce such data, ten drywall samples from the U.S. marketplace (produced by two different manufacturers) were collected, representing a variety of different drywall products (e.g., regular, fire-resistant, and mold-resistant). Drywall product characteristics examined in this study included mineral analysis, moisture content, total sulfur, metal composition, water-soluble sulfur and metal concentrations, trace organic chemical analysis, and two different leaching tests (M1315, and M1316). The results also provide methodological insights related to the evaluation of solid wastes and similar materials with high calcium sulfate content.