Phosphate rock energy storage

Can primary data improve phosphorus management in phosphate rock mining?

To improve the sustainable management of phosphorus, numerous LCA studies, using primary data, have been conducted for phosphorus recovery technologies from wastewater, but not for phosphate rock mining. This article addresses this issue by conducting a cradle to gate assessment of beneficiated phosphate rock production using primary data.

Can phosphate rock be used in electric vehicles?

It is abundant, with global reserves of phosphate rock estimated to be sufficient for over 100 years, before its sudden popularity in LFP traction batteries for EVs. The increased use of LFP batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage will require significantly more purified phosphoric acid (PPA).

How does phosphate rock mining affect phosphorus production?

Achieving the target requires a strong increase in P input, while protecting soils and waterways from excessive P runoff. The marked expansion of phosphate rock mining has allowed for the rapid growth of global phosphorus (P) fertilizer production since the 1950s 1.

Where are phosphate rock reserves located?

Moreover, the global phosphate rock reserves are highly geo-concentrated, mainly in North Africa (Morroco 50 Gt (USGS National Minerals Information Center 2019 ), Tunisia 3.3 Gt (Mining planification direction 2018 ), and Algeria 2.2 Gt (USGS National Minerals Information Center 2019 )), which control 76% of the global reserves.

How much phosphorus is in phosphate rock?

In 2020 alone, about 30 Mt of phosphorus (223 Mt of phosphate rock) was mined from finite phosphate rock reserves estimated at 71,000 Mt 3. This estimate assumes that 30% of the weight of phosphate rock is P 2 O 5 (calculated as a global average).

How much electricity does phosphate mining use?

The mining operations require an average of 0.174 MJ final energy per kg of crude phosphate rock (0.725 MJ per kg P 2 O 5) as diesel burned in the machinery. The electricity used during the mining operations is marginal (5.95E-04 MJ per kg of crude phosphate rock and 2.5E-03 MJ per kg P 2 O 5 ).