Thermal treatment of moroccan phosphogypsum

Abstract

Phosphogypsum (PG) is produced as a by-product during treatment of phosphate rock with sulphuric acid to produce phosphoric acid according to the following simplified reaction: 70 à 80°C Ca10(PO 2)6F2 + 10H2SO4 + 20H2O → 6H3PO4 + 2HF + 10(CaSO 4.2H2O) Minerai Phosphogypse PG is mainly CaSO 4·2H2O but also contains impurities such as free phosphoric acid, phosphates, fluorides and organic matter that adhere to the surface of the gypsum crystals. Phosphogypsum is discharged directly to the Sea or into the natural evaporation ponds. Previous studies have focused on reducing impurity levels in PG. Phosphogypsum impurities can be removed by simple techniques. Washing with water removes the soluble impurities. By cons, other contaminants (radioactive elements, heavy metals ⋯) a specific treatment method required a complex technique where the treatment is likely to be expensive. In this study, we studied purification of phosphogypsum using water and the thermal behavior of the natural gypsum and Moroccan phosphogypsum to calculation of parameters for drying and dehydration reactions. Also, the effects of different heating temperature on the course of dehydration are investigated. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2013.