A Simple and Efficient Method for Preparing High-Purity alpha-CaSO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O Whiskers with Phosphogypsum

A simple and efficient approach for the high-purity CaSO4 center dot 2H(2)O (DH) whiskers and alpha-CaSO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O (alpha-HH) whiskers derived from such phosphogypsum (PG) was proposed. The impact of different experimental parameters on supersaturated dissolution-recrystallization and preparation processes of alpha-CaSO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O was elaborated. At 3.5 mol/L HCl concentration, the dissolution temperature and time were 90 degrees C and 20 min, respectively. After eight cycles and 5-8 times cycles, total crystallization amount of CaSO4 center dot 2H(2)O was 21.75 and 9.97 g/100 mL, respectively, from supersaturated HCl solution. The number of cycles affected the shape and amount of the crystal. Higher HCl concentration facilitated CaSO4 center dot 2H(2)O dissolution and created a much higher supersaturation, which acted as a larger driving force for phase transformation of CaSO4 center dot 2H(2)O to alpha-CaSO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O. The HCl solution system's optimum experimental conditions for HH whiskers preparation involved acid leaching of CaSO4 center dot 2H(2)O sample, with HCl concentration 6.0 mol/L, reaction temperature 80 degrees C, and reaction time 30 min-60 min. Under the third cycle conditions, alpha-CaSO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O whiskers were uniform in size, clear, and distinct in edges and angles. The length range of alpha-CaSO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O whiskers was from 106 mu m to 231 mu m and diameter range from 0.43 mu m to 1.35 mu m, while the longest diameter ratio was 231. Purity of alpha-CaSO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O whiskers was approximately 100%, where whiteness reached 98.6%. The reuse of the solution enables the process to discharge no waste liquid. It provides a new reference direction for green production technology of phosphogypsum.