Improving the strength of recycled gypsum from calcium oxalate produced by bioprecipitation

Abstract

The reuse and reincorporation of gypsum has been a challenge for the construction sector that has generated research processes in recent years, obtaining results that allow partial recovery of this material; However, the minimum resistance of the material has not been adequate. It is for this reason that the Center for the Development of Habitat and Construction has generated a closure to the gypsum recovery process within academic activities and an alternative for gypsum recovery is proposed, improving its mechanical properties from biomineralization. , which is an alternative in which the fungus Aspergillus Niger participates as a producer of calcium oxalate under controlled cultivation conditions with dosages of recycled gypsum as a source of calcium in a range of 0.06 g to 1g. The calcium oxalate produced was visualized by optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy in which it was possible to affirm the formation of crystals containing calcium with the characteristic morphology of different forms of calcium oxalate reported in other works. Furthermore, it was possible to demonstrate resistance to mechanical failure of the gypsum dosed with calcium oxalate of 2.1 MPa