Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum

Phosphogypsum (PG), a by-product of phosphoric acid production, contains high levels of fluorine and phosphorus impurities, which negatively impact the strength and setting time of PG-based cement materials and pose environmental risks. This study explores a dual approach combining physical adsorpti...

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Main Authors: Junsheng Zhou, Yue Yang, Huiquan Li, Ganyu Zhu, Haoqi Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/780
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author Junsheng Zhou
Yue Yang
Huiquan Li
Ganyu Zhu
Haoqi Yang
author_facet Junsheng Zhou
Yue Yang
Huiquan Li
Ganyu Zhu
Haoqi Yang
author_sort Junsheng Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Phosphogypsum (PG), a by-product of phosphoric acid production, contains high levels of fluorine and phosphorus impurities, which negatively impact the strength and setting time of PG-based cement materials and pose environmental risks. This study explores a dual approach combining physical adsorption using zeolite powder and chemical modification with quicklime (CaO) to immobilize these impurities. The composition of 90 wt.% PG, 5 wt.% zeolite powder, and 5 wt.% quicklime reduces the soluble phosphorus to below the detection limits and significantly lowers the free water content in the PG. Through SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses, it was found that zeolite powder adsorbs fluorine and phosphorus through encapsulation, while quicklime chemically reacts to form insoluble calcium phosphate and calcium fluoride. This transformation decreases the solubility, mitigating potential environmental contamination. The combination of physical adsorption and chemical conversion provides a sustainable strategy to reduce environmental hazards and enhance PG’s suitability for cement-based materials. The findings from this research offer a promising pathway for the sustainable utilization of PG, providing a mechanism for its safe incorporation into building materials, while addressing both environmental and material performance concerns.
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spelling doaj-art-aaed535430d840f2bbae714c532c42132025-01-24T13:20:47ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-0115278010.3390/app15020780Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in PhosphogypsumJunsheng Zhou0Yue Yang1Huiquan Li2Ganyu Zhu3Haoqi Yang4CAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, ChinaPhosphogypsum (PG), a by-product of phosphoric acid production, contains high levels of fluorine and phosphorus impurities, which negatively impact the strength and setting time of PG-based cement materials and pose environmental risks. This study explores a dual approach combining physical adsorption using zeolite powder and chemical modification with quicklime (CaO) to immobilize these impurities. The composition of 90 wt.% PG, 5 wt.% zeolite powder, and 5 wt.% quicklime reduces the soluble phosphorus to below the detection limits and significantly lowers the free water content in the PG. Through SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses, it was found that zeolite powder adsorbs fluorine and phosphorus through encapsulation, while quicklime chemically reacts to form insoluble calcium phosphate and calcium fluoride. This transformation decreases the solubility, mitigating potential environmental contamination. The combination of physical adsorption and chemical conversion provides a sustainable strategy to reduce environmental hazards and enhance PG’s suitability for cement-based materials. The findings from this research offer a promising pathway for the sustainable utilization of PG, providing a mechanism for its safe incorporation into building materials, while addressing both environmental and material performance concerns.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/780phosphogypsumphysical adsorptionchemical modificationfluorine/phosphorus curingcuring mechanism
spellingShingle Junsheng Zhou
Yue Yang
Huiquan Li
Ganyu Zhu
Haoqi Yang
Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum
Applied Sciences
phosphogypsum
physical adsorption
chemical modification
fluorine/phosphorus curing
curing mechanism
title Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum
title_full Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum
title_fullStr Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum
title_full_unstemmed Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum
title_short Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum
title_sort synergistic chemical modification and physical adsorption for the efficient curing of soluble phosphorus fluorine in phosphogypsum
topic phosphogypsum
physical adsorption
chemical modification
fluorine/phosphorus curing
curing mechanism
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/2/780
work_keys_str_mv AT junshengzhou synergisticchemicalmodificationandphysicaladsorptionfortheefficientcuringofsolublephosphorusfluorineinphosphogypsum
AT yueyang synergisticchemicalmodificationandphysicaladsorptionfortheefficientcuringofsolublephosphorusfluorineinphosphogypsum
AT huiquanli synergisticchemicalmodificationandphysicaladsorptionfortheefficientcuringofsolublephosphorusfluorineinphosphogypsum
AT ganyuzhu synergisticchemicalmodificationandphysicaladsorptionfortheefficientcuringofsolublephosphorusfluorineinphosphogypsum
AT haoqiyang synergisticchemicalmodificationandphysicaladsorptionfortheefficientcuringofsolublephosphorusfluorineinphosphogypsum