An Experiment and Study of M30 Grade of Concrete by Partially Replacing Fine Aggregate with Marble Dust Powder and Phosphogypsum in Rigid Pavement

The Project is to study about M30 grade of concrete by adding waste materials. Marble dust powder and phosphogypsum which is easily available marble which are standard among the most imperative materials, utilized as a part of the development business. Marble dust is a waste material from the construction site is mixed with concrete as a replacement material. Marble dust powder is acquired from sawing and moulding of marble rock. Phosphogypsum is produced as an outgrowth of the production of fertilizer from phosphate rock. There is a high gypsum content and gypsum is a widely used material in constructions. It is weakly radioactive in nature because it is a by-product of phosphate fertilizers. In the M30 grade of concrete fine aggregate is partially replaced by marble dust powder and phosphosgypsum in some proportions. The fine aggregate is replaced by 10%, 20% and 30% in which marble dust powder and phosphogypsum and are added in an equal proportion. Keywords: Marble dust powder, phosphogypsum, grade of concrete, rigid pavement, green concrete.

Sorghum Agronomic Performance and Soil Chemical and Microbiological Properties as Influenced by Burkina Faso Phosphate Rock-Enriched Composts

Purpose The low availability of phosphorus (P) severely limits crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated phosphate rock-enriched composts on soil properties and sorghum growth for use as environment-friendly fertilizers. Methods Treatments were sorghum straw, compost (Comp), Phosphate Rock (BPR), BPR-enriched compost (P-Comp), BPR-soil-enriched compost (P-Comp-Soil), nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK, 60-90-30), and control without phosphorus and organic material (CT). Sorgum straw and composts were applied at 1.34 tons ha-1. The amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in treatments, except in CT, were adjusted to 60, 90, 30 kg ha-1, with urea, BPR, and KCl, respectively. Sorghum vr. Kapelga was cultivated and soil samples were collected on days 52, 93, and 115 (harvest) for analysis. Results NPK and P-Comp-Soil provided the best sorghum yields. Soil available P was less in these treatments. P-Comp-Soil-amended soils recorded higher populations of bacteria (16S rRNA), acid phosphatase (aphA), phosphonatase (phnX), glucose dehydrogenase (gcd) and its cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone (pqqE) genes. Phosphate-specific transporter (pstS) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundances were generally higher in P-Comp-Soil soils, especially at the early growth stage. This active microbial activity in the P-Comp-Soil added to its initially higher available P justified a better nutrient uptake and yields comparable to NPK. Multivariate analysis also revealed the contribution of nitrogen, carbon, and exchangeable cations in sorghum growth. Conclusion This study demonstrated that direct phosphate rock application is not effective in sub-Saharan African upland cultivation. Alternative to chemical fertilizers, soils may be amended with phosphate rock-enriched composts, a niche of beneficial microbes improving soil health.

Appropriate Use of Local Phosphate Rock Increases Phosphorus Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Sorghum and Cowpea in the Sudan Savanna

Development of local P fertilizers using low-grade phosphate rock (PR) is expected to overcome the low-stagnated crop yield in Sub-Saharan Africa. Calcination and partial acidulation methods have been proposed to increase the phosphate (P) solubility of PRs. However, the effects of fertilization with calcinated PR (CPR) and partially acidulated PR (PAPR) on sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)] and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cultivation are poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a 2-year field experiment in Burkina Faso to identify the differences in sorghum and cowpea responses to CPR and PAPR application. The following eight treatments were applied with six replicates using a complete randomized block design: control without P fertilization, two types of CP (CPs), triple superphosphate (TSP) as a positive control for CPs, three types of PAPR with different degrees of acidulation (PAPRs), and single superphosphate (SSP) as a positive control for PAPRs. SSP mostly comprised of water-soluble P fraction (WP), TSP and PAPRs of WP and alkaline ammonium citrate-soluble P fraction (SP), and CPRs of SP and 2% citric acid-soluble P fraction (CP). Their solubility was in the order WP > SP > CP. The fertilization effects were evaluated by P use efficiency (PUE). In 2019, the biomass and P uptake of sorghum was decreased by the low available soil water at the early growth stage. On the contrary, cowpea survived the low available soil water because of its shorter growing period compared to sorghum. P fertilization significantly increased the grain yields. However, the effect size differed according to the crop and fertilizer types. The SP, along with WP, significantly contributed to the PUE and grain yield of sorghum, whereas only WP contributed to the PUE of cowpea. Therefore, CPs, mainly consisting of SP and CP, had a disadvantage compared to TSP, especially for cowpea. We thus concluded that PAPRs are effective for sorghum and would be effective for cowpea when the acidulation level is sufficiently high. We also conclude that the long growing period of sorghum is favorable for absorbing slow-release P, but is unfavorable for the variable rainfall often observed in this region.

High Efficiency Stabilization of Lead in Contaminated Soil by Thermal-organic Acid Activated Phosphate Rock

Phosphate rock powder (PR) has been shown to possess the potential to stabilize lead (Pb) in soil. Most of the phosphorus (P) minerals in the world are low-grade ores, which makes it difficult to achieve the expected stabilization effect on heavy metals. This study compared the changes in the phase composition and structure of PR and three kinds of activated phosphate rock powder (APR) (organic acid activated PR, thermal activated PR, and thermal-acid activated PR), and used APR for the stabilization of Pb-contaminated soil. PR/APR was characterized by different methods. The stabilization effectiveness of APR on Pb-contaminated soil was evaluated by toxicity leaching procedure, the Pb products adsorbed on APR and stabilization mechanism of APR on Pb were analyzed. The results showed that the crystallinity of fluorapatite phase decreased after all the activation treatments. The APR showed decreased crystallinity and 3.4-fold increase in specific surface area, and a 53.07% and 49.32% increase in soluble P content in oxalic acid activated PR and citric acid activated PR, respectively, when compared with those of PR. These changes improved the stabilization effect of APR on Pb-contaminated soil, and the stabilization effectiveness was as follows: thermal-acid activated PR > organic acid activated PR > thermal activated PR. In particular, oxalic acid-600℃ activated PR showed the best effect, presenting 94.0%-99.8% reduction in Pb leaching concentration following addition of 2%-10% modifier. Product characterization after Pb adsorption on APR showed that Pb was adsorbed onto APR by forming pyromorphite precipitation with APR.

Flow of simple superphosphate using two-stage decomposition of phosphorite

The methods for producing simple superphosphate by two-stage sulfuric acid decomposition of natural phosphates are analyzed. For the first stage, the process of decomposition of high-carbonate powdered phosphorite is studied depending on the rate of sulfuric acid from stoichiometry to the formation of H3PO4, its concentration and the reaction time of the starting components. For the second stage, the process of neutralization of phosphoric acid is studied, depending on the norm of phosphate rock for the formation of Ca(H2PO4)2. The drying process of superphosphate is carried out, in which granular superphosphate is obtained, and P2O5total. - 12%, P2O5free. - 4.6%, P2O5dig : P2O5total = 90%, P2O5 water : P2O5total = 79%.

Towards Zero Solid Waste in the Sedimentary Phosphate Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

The phosphate industry produces huge volumes of waste (hundred million tons per year). These wastes are generally surface landfilled, leading to significant environmental impacts and a large footprint. The current practices of phosphate waste management, the typology of the waste streams and their characteristics, and finally their potential applications are reviewed. All the waste streams generated during the life cycle of phosphoric acid production going from the extraction of phosphate rock to its enrichment and transformation are considered. Great circularity opportunities have been identified and they aim (i) to recover the residual phosphorus and other critical minerals and metals, and (ii) to consider phosphate wastes as alternative resources in the civil engineering and building sectors. The purpose is to shift from linear thinking to circular thinking where synergy between different mining and other industries is highly encouraged. By doing so, opportunities to safeguard natural resources and to minimize the environmental and societal impacts are limitless. However, many challenges are still limiting this shift: economic and technical constraints, societal and policy-makers’ awareness, regulation harmonization and finally knowledge gaps. More efforts and investment in research and development are still required to reach the zero-waste target.