Phosphogypsum Recycling: A Review of Environmental Issues, Current Trends, and Prospects

Abstract

The problem of recycling and storage of phosphogypsum is topical for many countries around the world, as it is associated with environmental problems of pollution of water bodies, land, and atmosphere. Therefore, this paper analyzes the directions of phosphogypsum recycling and possible alternatives to its use. The main disadvantages of the existing methods of phosphogypsum processing were identified and trends in this waste management were also considered. Through the VOSviewer programme, a visualization of cluster interconnections was carried out in research publications of various fields of phosphogypsum utilization. Five clusters were formed: a red cluster—phosphogypsum recycling in the construction industry; green cluster—radiation pollution problem of phosphogypsum and phosphate fertilizers; yellow cluster—monitoring migration of phosphogypsum components in the ecosystem, with the mobile forms of heavy metals and their inflow into aquifers from phosphogypsum dumps; blue cluster—use of phosphogypsum in agriculture as an ameliorant and a component of fertilizer; and a purple cluster—the impact of phosphogypsum on microorganisms, particularly in bioremediation processes. Under the proposed integrated biochemical approach, the use of various bioprocesses of phosphogypsum recovery from waste dumps and implementation of new biotechnological solutions for processing phosphorus raw materials are presented.

Lime activated flyash-phosphogypsum blend as a low-cost alternative binder

“…The OPC-free mortar proposed in this study has the potential to increase the utilization of wastes like FA and PG, thereby reducing problems of dumping. This is especially useful for a waste like PG whose global utilization levels in building materials are only around 15% of the generation levels (Rashad 2017 ; Chernysh et al 2021 ). Based on the development of strength of the binder mortar, it can be safely stated that this alternative blended mortar can have practical applications and eventually can replace OPC mortars.…”

“…The worldwide PG production is estimated to be in the range of 200–250 million tonnes per year (Saadaoui et al 2017 ). The worldwide utilization of PG as building materials is around 15% (Rashad 2017 ; Chernysh et al 2021 ). In India, the annual production of PG is 12 million tonnes of which around 40–45% of the waste is reused in the manufacture of building materials (Havanagi et al 2018 ).…”

Integration of Processes of Radionuclide-Contaminated Territories Decontamination in the Framework of Their Ecological-Socio-Economic Rehabilitation

“…This is mainly the territory of the Zone and the Temporary Localization of radioactive waste. Migration from the largest radionuclide depot to the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (Shelter) was millionths of percent and did not exceed 0.012 TBq/year, while the minimum water removal was defined as approximately 4 TBq/ year [Chernysh et al, 2021].…”

Phosphogypsum-Paraffin Composites for Low Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Applications

“…This practice is highly problematic and potentially hazardous due to the acidic nature of PG as well as the traces of heavy metals and other impurities (i.e., fluorine) present in its structure [10]. Presently, only 15% of the produced PG is utilized [11], mostly in civil engineering applications as a construction and road embankment material and in agricultural applications as a soil improver [10].…”