Project data

Project name:	Analysis of the utilisation potential of phosphogypsum
Running time:	01/2024 – 12/2025
Project organiser:
Project management:	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Wudtke
Employee:
Project partners:	CASEA GmbH
Funding amount:
Third-party donors:

Project coordination:

• Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, Weinberghof 4,99734 Nordhausen

Network partner:

• Knauf Gips KG, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Claudius Peters Projects GmbH

Summary of the project

Objective of the project:

As part of the PhosphoGypsum project, a concept for the utilisation of phosphogypsum, differentiated according to sedimentary and magmatic phosphogypsum and the underlying production processes, is being developed. The overriding aim is to optimise the production/extraction of gypsum directly as a by-product in the phosphoric acid production process. In the first step, the project is therefore not concerned with phosphogypsum that was formed in the past and is present in stockpiles, but with the fresh gypsum that is produced in the manufacturing process.

At the beginning of the project, the current state of the art on phosphogypsum and its utilisation will be presented and existing knowledge gaps identified. The aim is to achieve a standardised level of knowledge among all project partners. In further steps, the potentials, obstacles and risks of phosphogypsum will be assessed. To this end, various raw phosphate deposits (pollutant inventory) and different phosphogypsum types will be characterised. Existing technologies for handling the various pollutants/impurities will be tested and a decision tree (toolbox) for processing phosphogypsum will be developed.

Using an example, an existing production process (phosphoric acid) is analysed with the aim of developing solutions for adapting the process and improving the quality of the by-product gypsum. Potentially suitable processing steps are defined/evaluated and suggestions for changes/adaptations are made.

The success of the improvements will be evaluated in practical laboratory-scale tests on the use of phosphogypsum in construction products.

Furthermore, economic (catalogue of criteria) and ecological considerations (footprint) of the phosphogypsum as well as the presentation of the legal assessment with regard to obtaining the product status are planned.

Main research areas:

• SP 1: State of the art / utilisation of phosphogypsum
• SP 2: Characterisation of input material phosphoric acid industry / output material phosphogypsum of selected deposits (pollutant inventory)
• SP 3: Overview of existing technologies for dealing with the various pollutants/impurities (keyword: "toolbox")
• SP 4: Concept for adapting the production process (phosphoric acid) to improve the quality of the by-product gypsum
• SP 5: Practical tests on a laboratory scale on the use of phosphogypsum in building products
• SP 6: Sustainability assessment
• SP 7: Summary and evaluation of the results