CADMIUM IN PHOSPHOROUS FERTILIZERS: BALANCE AND TRENDS

Abstract

The fertilizer industry is developing its activities by processing and upgrading natural phosphates, for several years that it has been in a conformist dynamic to face environmental, economic, financial, and political constraints. These constraints have incubated a significant industrial evolution in terms of technological progress, product diversification, knowledge, and innovation. Specifically, in wet phosphoric acid manufacturing, the 1980s brought a huge upheaval and changes in terms of strategies and practices following the development of environmental regulations. The environmentalist awareness, linked to the political and community trends, has resulted in the development of regulatory norms, as well as strict market demand for high-quality phosphoric acid and fertilizers products. Thus, cadmium has become an increasing concern to the phosphate industry and is considered one of the most important challenges currently facing the fertilizer industry for continuous market supply and growth. The present article gives an overview of cadmium in terms of market, applications, exposure, mobility, and bioavailability, and discusses balance and figures regarding cadmium in the phosphate and fertilizer industry. The article also outlines the technological aspects of cadmium removal from wet phosphoric acid, considering recent developments and conclusions that still confirm a challenge to find out an economic and available technology. Keywords: Cadmium, Phosphoric Acid, Market, Balance, Phosphate Fertilizers.