Development of innovative phosphogypsum processing technologies as a factor of import substitution in the rare-earth metal market

Abstract

An innovative method for the differentiated processing of the phosphogypsum chemical production is proposed. It consists in the simultaneous paving materials production in the form of paving slabs and a concentrate of non-radioactive rare earth metals. Russia currently does not perform large-scale mining of rare-earth metals; its share in the world market is a little over 1%. Today, China is the undisputed world leader in rare earth metals trading. Therefore, production of these necessary for high-tech industries elements of phosphogypsum waste allows the most important current tasks solution, the problem of import phaseout. The experimental studies have shown that the profitability index of the proposed innovative technology production will be more than 50%, which suggests its high economic efficiency. All manufacturers using new technologies and materials in their activities are concerned about the risks. In the studied case, the technology is so low-cost and highly profitable that the impact of risks is almost completely leveled. The technology developed by the authors is based on the formation of the regulation and self-organization principles in the phosphoric acid and mineral fertilizers production. This scientific research contributes to the efficiency improvement of the corporate mechanism used in the innovative technology for phosphogypsum waste processing.