Continuous biological sulfate reduction from phosphogypsum waste leachate

Abstract

This work explores the possibility to utilize biological sulfate reduction in the treatment of phosphogypsum leachate, with a simultaneous removal of sulfate and phosphorus in continuous flow bioreactors. An efficient sulfate reduction was achieved and proof of elemental removal was acquired. The method described in this work is suggested to be applied as a passive type of installment with environmental pollution control as the primary target. In addition to sulfate reduction, rare earth elements (REE) were monitored during the process, as these valuable elements are commonly found in phosphogypsum waste.