Energy neutral phosphate fertilizer production using high temperature reactors

Abstract

Increasing global phosphorus (P) needs and energy demands makes an efficient utilization of finite resources such as phosphate rock (PR) obligatory. The anticipated growth in nuclear energy may require the use of uranium (U) from unconventional resources such as PR as future raw material for nuclear reactor fuel. In parallel, increasing amounts of energy will be needed to process lower grade PR resources in order to satisfy rising phosphate fertilizer requirements for global food production. This work assesses the possibility of using the new generation of high temperature reactors (HTRs) for future energy neutral phosphate fertilizer production. Although advantages from an environmental and resource conserving point of view are obvious, challenges associated with the technical implementation and economic feasibility need to be addressed before implementation.