Phosphogypsum Processing into Innovative Products of High Added Value

The paper presents a comprehensive study of the processing possibilities for phosphogypsum, a large-tonnage chemical industry waste, into highly sought-after products, such as ultraviolet pigments, and alkalizing reagents for the preparation of organomineral fertilizers. The materials obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that the phosphogypsum thermal treatment process in the presence of a reducing agent (charcoal, sunflower husk) allowed us to obtain new products with a high added value. For the first time, the possibility of obtaining various products by varying process conditions was established. The process of thermal reduction of phosphogypsum in the presence of charcoal at temperatures of 800–900 °C and an isothermal holding time of 60 min resulted in us obtaining samples capable of glowing when irradiated with ultraviolet light. This effect is due to the formation of a composite material based on calcium sulfide and calcium sulfate in the system. The process of the regenerative heat treatment of phosphogypsum at temperatures of 1000–1200 °C resulted in us obtaining a composite material consisting of calcium oxide and sulfate, which can be used for fractionating liquid waste from livestock farming and to obtain organomineral fertilizer. The technological methods developed allow the usage of chemical industrial waste and agricultural waste in secondary processing to produce highly innovative products that will contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals, in particular, “Ensuring rational consumption and production patterns”.