Phosphogypsum (PG) is an industrial hazardous waste product
discharged
during wet-process phosphoric acid production. Once crystallized,
the byproduct PG is filtered and separated from the liquid-phase product
and sluiced to the disposal area near the production site for storage,
seriously threatening the harmonious symbiosis between humans and
nature. Therefore, devising effective solid waste management and cleaner
production programs to contain and eliminate PG is of interest to
researchers. In this study, the utilization status of PG is comprehensively
reviewed, and a feasibility pathway for resourceful recovery of PG
is proposed. The key challenges and countermeasures for the high-temperature
calcination and decomposition of PG are analyzed and discussed. The
visualization analysis based on bibliometrics reveals that the maximum
recovery of abundant calcium (as CaO) and sulfur (as SO2) in PG and their utilization for the copreparation of calcium-based
materials and sulfuric acid are the most suitable solutions for the
large-scale application of PG. Five challenges that restrict the commercial
promotion of PG calcination and decomposition processes are perfecting
the calcium–sulfur conversion mechanism, establishing a process
strengthening strategy, developing value-added technology routes,
mastering unit scale-up regularity, and conducting sustainable performance
assessment. Industrial applications are expected within 10–15
years.