Better filterability and reduced radioactivity of phosphogypsum during phosphoric acid production in Morocco using a fly ash waste and pure silica additive

Abstract Reactive silica additives, such as clays, can increase the filterability of phosphogypsum (PG) during wet phosphoric acid production from phosphate rock (PR). In this study, effect adding inexpensive fly ash waste (34 kg per t PR) together with lower quantities pure (8.5 on radioactivity PG was investigated. The addition waste/pure reduced radiological activity by roughly 30%. reduction attributed to decreased activities 238 U (60% reduction) and 226 Ra (30% in PG. Besides, P 2 O 5 losses were slightly decreased.