Integrating a high-energy activation method for the sustainable treatment of iron smelting slag, phosphogypsum, and arsenic-contaminated water

Metallurgy is one of the pillar industries in China, but metallurgy inevitably produces a large amount of industrial solid waste and heavy metal pollution. Phosphogypsum (PG) is a by-product of the production of wet- process phosphoric acid, and after the preliminary fieldwork, there is a very small amount of arsenic [As(V)] in some of the phosphorus ores, and there is a risk of heavy metal pollution. In the present study, the preparation of arsenic adsorbent (PG/IS) by doping iron smelting slag (IS) with PG as a base material was proposed and the preparation conditions were optimized by Response Surface Methodology. PG/IS was systematically characterized and its adsorption properties were investigated with respect to a variety of factors. PG/IS exhibits spontaneous endothermic chemical adsorption characteristics for As(V),its adsorption process is more consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Coordination complexation and chemical precipitation are the primary mechanisms by which PG/IS removes As(V). This study provides a new approach for phosphorus chemical enterprises to achieve green development and reduce industrial solid waste and As(V) emissions.