Chemical Plant Supplying Gypsum for Residue Area Amelioration at Alumina Refinery

Summary

CSBP produced gypsum, calcium sulphate, as a by-product of the manufacture of phosphoric acid. This material was stockpiled at one of the CSBP’s sites during the 1980s. Even though this practice has ended long ago, there remains a stockpile of some 1.3 million tonnes of gypsum. CSBP has extensively reviewed reuse options for this material including the use in plasterboard, sale to farmers, and use in soil amendment. During this research process, it was determined that some of the material could be utilised by the Alcoa’s Kwinana alumina refinery to assist in plant growth and soil stability in their residue areas. Alcoa takes this material on an ongoing basis, approximately 10,000 tonnes each year.

Industry

Industry Sector	Specific Industry
chemical industry	producer of industrial chemicals and fertilisers
mining industry	alumina refinery

Region

Kwinana Industrial Area, Kwinana, Western Australia

Applied Technologies

None.

Triple Bottom Line Aspects (direct at operational level)

Economic	low cost gypsum for alumina refinery reduced costs to manage gypsum stockpile
Environment	reduction of stockpiled gypsum on-site at chemical plant increased soil stability and plant growth at residue area of alumina refinery
Social	employment

Additional Comments

None.

References

• van Beers, D, Bossilkov, A and van Berkel, R (2005) “Capturing Regional Synergies in the Kwinana Industrial Area – 2005 Status Report”, CSRP Report (for Project 3B1), August 2005

Last Update

23 November 2005