TITLE:
The Feasibility of a Proposed Plant Design of Sheep Wool Insulation Material in Jordan to Eliminate the Negative Environmental Impact of Wasted Sheep Wool
AUTHORS:
Khalid M. Al-Malah, Mais R. Al-Khalafat, Nataly A. Al-Zayadeen, Aseel S. Al Mfalfal, Bahieh M. Alma’atah, Taha M. Alkhamis
KEYWORDS:
Sheep Wool, Solid Waste, Plant Design, Insulation Materials, Jordan
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: This applied research seeks to explore feasible plant design for manufacturing insulation materials for construction projects using waste sheep fleece to address environmental issues related to wasted sheep wool and enhance the gross national product. The process starts by collecting low-cost sheep fleece from farms and processed via a production line, including scouring, plucking, carding, thermal bonding, and packing. The design process involves determining an optimal location, infrastructure, staffing, machinery, environmental impact, and utilities. A final economic analysis is undertaken to estimate the product’s cost, selling price, and break-even point based on the anticipated capital and operational costs. The plant is intended to process 6778 tons of sheep wool annually. The study suggests that Mafraq Industrial City is a perfect location for the plant, and purchasing land and structures is the optimal option. The projected capital cost is 1,416,679 USD, while the anticipated operational costs amount to 3,206,275 USD. Insulation material production is estimated to be 114,756 m3 annually. The material may be manufactured into 1 m wide, 0.05 m thick sheets for 2.02 USD per square meter. Thus, for a 10-year plant, a 2.47 USD/m2 selling price breaks even in one year.