Xifeng promotes high-value utilization of phosphogypsum

Xifeng county has been promoting collaboration between enterprises, universities, and research institutes, as it seeks to advance the development of technologies facilitating the high-value utilization of phosphogypsum. Recycled phosphogypsum powder is now being used to produce environmentally friendly packaging boxes, resin film bags, and building materials. In 2025, the comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum in the county exceeded 1.6 million tons.

As an important phosphorus chemical industry base in Guizhou, Xifeng county generates large amounts of phosphogypsum each year as a by-product of phosphoric acid production. In the past, phosphogypsum was mainly stockpiled, which occupied large areas of land and was prone to leakage and pollution, constraining the green development of the phosphorus chemical industry.

Employees conduct a water immersion test on the packaging boxes to check for any leaks. [Photo/xifeng.gov.cn]

According to staff members from Guizhou Phosphate Chemical Group Green Environmental Protection Industry Co, anhydrous gypsum is mixed with polypropylene resin and processed through multiple steps, including sheet extrusion, printing, die-cutting, and stapling, to produce cartons. The cartons can bear the weight of a person without deforming, and show no signs of leakage after being immersed in water.

In the production workshop, phosphogypsum cartons of various specifications are neatly stacked and ready for shipment to domestic and international markets. For every metric ton of anhydrous gypsum packaging produced, approximately 0.8 to 1.1 tons of wood are saved.

The company has also made progress in using phosphogypsum by developing a core process to produce recrystallized calcium for resin film bags. The technology has passed internal evaluation and is expected to be applied to the production of agricultural mulch films and plastic bags within the province and in regions such as Shandong.

Building materials produced from phosphogypsum powder are stored at the Guizhou Jiezhongsen Building Materials Co. [Photo/xifeng.gov.cn]

At the production workshop of Guizhou Jiezhongsen Building Materials Co, phosphogypsum powder is processed into environmentally friendly building materials, with more than 30 customized products developed and sold to markets including Yunnan, Hunan, and Chongqing.