Microstructural analyses of phosphogypsum generated by Brazilian fertilizer industries

This paper investigates and contrasts the material properties of phosphogypsum - a waste byproduct of fertilizer production generated in large amounts worldwide and gypsum - a mineral that occurs in nature in the form of calcium sulphate dihydrate. The study is based on tests of characterization that enable physical and chemical analyses of both materials. All tests were conducted in order to evaluate whether or not phosphogypsum is a viable substitute for gypsum in civil construction. By utilizing phosphogypsum (PG), natural deposits of gypsum might be conserved and high amounts of the waste byproduct used in its place by the civil construction industry. The results show that phosphogypsum can be a viable substitute for gypsum after certain beneficiation processes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.