Abstract
Phosphogypsum (PG) accumulates during wet-phosphoric acid production for fertilizers. In the Philippines, PG is partly (40%) utilized to produce gypsum walls and cement. This work assesses the radiological risks and resource opportunities associated with PG stacks in the Philippines. The conducted in situ radiometric survey measured the activity concentrations of 40K, 238U, and 232Th at 270 locations. Besides, another 120 surface samples were collected. Pure PG exceeds the recommended radiation limits, but simple dilution with conventional materials can make PG available as an inexpensive secondary raw material for construction. PG further contains relevant concentrations of rare earths and Y (195 ppm).
Highlights
More than three quarters of phosphate fertilizers produced globally are produced from phosphate rock (PR) using phosphoric acid (PA) as an intermediate product, leaving 4–6 t low-radioactive phosphogypsum (PG) per t P 2O5 produced, as relevant and potentially hazardous by-product/waste behind [1, 2]
About 85% of the 5.6–7.0 billion t PG produced globally over the lifetime of the phosphate industry are disposed of in stacks in more than 50 countries worldwide. 3–4 billion t are accessible for recovery worldwide [3] while some fresh 100–280 million t PG are added to existing stacks every year [4,5,6]
This study aims to assess the potential risks associated with the radionuclides and heavy metals in Philippine PG through a combination of an in situ ground radiometric survey and chemical analysis
Summary
More than three quarters of phosphate fertilizers produced globally are produced from phosphate rock (PR) using phosphoric acid (PA) as an intermediate product, leaving 4–6 t low-radioactive phosphogypsum (PG) per t P 2O5 produced, as relevant and potentially hazardous by-product/waste behind [1, 2]. About 85% of the 5.6–7.0 billion t PG produced globally over the lifetime of the phosphate industry are disposed of in stacks in more than 50 countries worldwide. Hakkar et al [25] estimated that REEs associated with PR production from Morocco alone could substitute some 7–15% of the global REE demand while mitigating adverse Numerous studies have reported elevated concentrations of heavy metals [21, 22] and REEs [23, 24] in PG.
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