Innovative technology recycling phosphogypsum

1. ESTAGEOLLC TEPLOENERGETIK LLC Innovative technology recycling phosphogypsum T. Bashlikova, E.V. Adamov, M. Gusakov

2. Apatite concentrate Apatit JSC Phosphogypsum is product of processing apatito-nepheline ore. Large apatite deposits are well-known and are mined in the following countries: Brazil (2,0 billion tones), South Africa (1,0 billiontones) и Finland (1,5 billiontones). Total world reserves of apatite ore is 23,3 billion tones.

3. PhosphogypsumDumps In general, Russia has already accumulated approximately 200 million tons phosphogypsum (annual creation of the material in RF is approximately 10–11 million tons).

4. The urgency of the problem • Solving ecological issues • Development of rare-earth elements from dumps • Increase in demand and cost of rare-earth elements in the world • Depletion of natural resources of gypsum and economic feasibility of receipt from phosphogypsum dumps

5. Global consumption of rare-earth elements in 2010

6. Consumption of rare-earth elements

7. The need for search of the new recycling technology of phosphogypsum • In European countries • fix tax for the phosphogypsum dumps is equal 30 euro per ton • In Russia • fix tax for the phosphogypsum dumps is equal 8 USD per ton • Waste of 2-4-th class of danger • Waste of 4-th class of danger

8. Well-known processes recycling phosphogypsum Well-known processes recycling phosphogypsum and extraction of REM are labour-intensive and require significant enough cost of capital construction and organizing of additional production, and sometimes rather environmentally dangerous.

9. Bioleaching Technology Leaching agent in the technology is a selective association of microorganisms.

10. Bioleaching Technology Biocoenosis Phosphogypsum Strain-1 Strain-2 Selective association of microorganisms …………… ……... Strain-n

11. Research Data • Bioleaching technology result to: • Rare-earth metals are extracted in this process into solution (REM is 55–70% [this study] and can be increased to 85–90% with intensification process) • The bioleaching discharge of sulphuric acid is 5.5 times lower than discharge in sulphuric-acid hydrometallurgical process • At the end of this process on the future of hydrometallurgical processing is the cleared material without any phosphoric and fluoric compounds • A simplification, intensification and less expensive method of phosphogypsum processing, more favourable ecological conditions

12. Economic Impact In half Russian reserves phosphogypsum the rare-earth metals only are estimate at 55 billion USD!