From waste stream to raw material: DESOTEC and Etex commit to circular collaboration
Roeselare (Belgium), September 23rd, 2025 – DESOTEC, European market leader in mobile filtration solutions, and Etex, global player in construction solutions, announce a strategic partnership whereby the gypsum produced as a by-product of DESOTEC's circular filtration process will be given a new lease of life in Etex products. The first fully loaded barge carrying gypsum departed from Roeselare and was successfully delivered to the Etex’ Promat factory in Tisselt (Belgium).
World premier: from waste stream to raw material
DESOTEC offers mobile, circular filtration solutions to industrial customers, including those in the biogas sector. Until recently, the residue from biogas filtration was usually disposed of as waste, but DESOTEC has developed a unique, circular solution to make use of it. With the commissioning of its latest, state-of-the-art facility, such filtration residue can also be purified, prepared for reuse, and any remaining contaminants can be safely neutralized.
During this purification process, a residual product in the form of gypsum is created by a chemical reaction between calcium and sulfur components. This gypsum is of sufficient quality to be used as raw material and is ready for a second life in industrial applications.
« What starts as purification for green energy production results in the creation of no less than two reusable products: on the one hand, purified filter contents ready for reuse, and on the other hand, a gypsum stream that can be reintroduced to the market » says Johan Craeye, CTO at DESOTEC. « It is an example of smart use of raw materials and fits in perfectly with our mission: creating a cleaner, greener world. »
Sustainable partnership
With Etex Building Performance, an Etex division, as a partner, DESOTEC's gypsum effectively gets a second life as a raw material. It is used in the production of new building materials that contribute to the fire safety of buildings. This creates a circular chain: industrial purification converts a waste stream into a usable product. Thanks to this partnership, up to 30,000 tons of gypsum per year could be reused as a raw material.
The impact on surrounding communities is also limited. The gypsum is transported domestically by inland waterway, with Transferium in Roeselare serving as a multimodal link between road and water. This means less traffic pressure on the surrounding area and a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions. By valorizing waste streams into high-quality raw materials and at the same time focusing on emission-free transport, environmental gains are being made on several fronts.
Meanwhile, the first fully loaded barge, carrying around 1,200 tons of gypsum, has successfully arrived at Etex’ Promat BeNeLux in Tisselt (Belgium).