Losses and use efficiencies along the phosphorus cycle. Part 1: Dilemmata and losses in the mines and other nodes of the supply chain

Scholz, Roland; Wellmer, Friedrich‐Wilhelm

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.09.020

Cited by 38 publications

(41 citation statements)

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“…The rate of depth penetration for larger mines should not exceed 30-40 m/year [8,22]. [6,7] and real lifetime of copper deposits [26]. (published from [8] with permission of the Springer Publishing Company, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany, New York, USA).…”

Section: Taylor's Rulementioning

confidence: 99%

“…He wanted to know whether any possible extensions to the lifetime of a mine due to future exploration successes should be taken into account at the planning stage ( Figure 5). [6,7] and real lifetime of copper deposits [26]. (published from [8] with permission of the Springer Publishing Company, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany, New York, NY, USA).…”

Section: Should Learning Effects Influence Mine Capacity?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the last century, the average copper grade declined from about 2% to 1% without an increase in the Cu price in real terms [40,41]. One of the lowest grade successfully mined today is from the Aitik Mine in Sweden, with a head grade of 0.22% Cu [7]. However, it must be taken into account that normally copper mines have by-product credits.…”

Section: Principal Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, it is useful to study strategies of mineral economics and mine planning to maximize the recovery in the first stage of the circular economy, mining. How fast and at what cut-off grade a reserve is mined or a resource depleted is a question of efficiency and effectivenessand these influence the lifetime and capacity of a mine [7]. We will examine methods and rules for determining the lifetime of both types of phosphate deposits: stratiform normally quite uniform sedimentary seam deposits that can be extrapolated over large distances and lens-like much more irregular magmatic deposits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What Is the Optimal and Sustainable Lifetime of a Mine?

Wellmer

Scholz

2018

Sustainability

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Abstract:The first stage of the circular economy, mining, is examined from the perspective of sustainability. The authors discuss how to maximize the use of phosphate rock, a primary commodity. To attract investment capital in a market economy system, a mine has to operate profitably, i.e., its lifetime must be optimized under economic conditions, for example, according to Taylor's Rule. From a sustainability perspective, however, the lifetime should extend as long as possible and the grades mined be as low as possible. The authors examine methods for optimizing a mine's lifetime under economic conditions according to practical experience and learning effects to optimize exploration and exploitation. With the condition of sustainability, a recently developed concept of cut-off grade for a layered phosphate deposit is examined and considerations for prolonging a mine's lifetime are discussed. As there are big losses from the current and potential future value chains above and below the current cut-off grade, we argue that the losses and use efficiency of phosphorus are key parts of a circular economy.

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Section: Taylor's Rulementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Should Learning Effects Influence Mine Capacity?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Principal Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What Is the Optimal and Sustainable Lifetime of a Mine?

Wellmer

Scholz

2018

Sustainability

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“…The recycling of phosphorus from wastewater may provide only 5-12% of the current total consumption of phosphate rock (if all sewage were to be processed in high-technology sewage plants [70]. The largest losses of high-grade phosphate-rock-based phosphorus takes place in today's industrialized agriculture system by runoffs, erosion, leaching, etc., and losses of phosphorus in sewage and animal carcasses [71,72].…”

Section: A New Hierarchy Of Natural Resources As a Consequence Of Thementioning

confidence: 99%

Putting Phosphorus First: The Need to Know and Right to Know Call for a Revised Hierarchy of Natural Resources

Wellmer

Scholz

2017

Resources

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Abstract:The aim of this paper is to develop two concepts regarding phosphorus that will serve as a contribution fulfilling the call for intergenerational equity: to improve knowledge of future resources and to develop a framework by setting priorities for maximizing availability with a hierarchy of natural resources. The increasing human demand for minerals and metals is causing persistent concern about long-term supply security. This holds true particularly for phosphorus. Phosphorus is bioessential; it cannot be substituted. There are no unlimited resources for phosphorus. The question of how large the reserves are and the potential for finding additional reserves and resources for a long-term supply are, therefore, of interest to numerous stakeholders, from governments to individuals. We examine governments' needs and individuals' rights to know private exploration data. Because of the essential nature of phosphorus, we emphasize the public's special right to know as much as possible about phosphate reserves, resources and the geopotential for new discoveries, based upon the basic human right to feed oneself in dignity. To fulfill the call for intergenerational equity, however, knowledge alone is not enough; guidelines for management have to follow. This can be achieved by defining a hierarchy of natural resources for setting priorities. For humankind's technological and cultural development, a sufficient supply of energy resources must be considered the key element; therefore, efforts to maximize information that will enable best decisions to be made have been the strongest. A hierarchy of natural resources with fossil and nuclear energies at the top was proposed. However, with the new development of renewable forms of energy and the decreasing role of fossil-fuel energy, the hierarchy of natural resources that defines priorities must be revised. We propose a hierarchy that replaces fossil-fuel energy at the top with phosphorus.

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Sustainable Phosphorus

Beijer¹,

Slootweg²

2021

Encyclopedia of Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry

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Phosphorus is a critical element, fulfilling important roles in bio‐, organic‐, and inorganic chemistry. Due to its versatile chemistry, phosphorus‐based chemicals have a wide array of applications in society. Most importantly, phosphorus is an irreplaceable and limiting building block for life. As such, the natural phosphorus cycle has historically set the pace for all life on earth. This all changed with the discovery of phosphorus‐based fertilizer, which has been largely responsible for the spectacular population growth over the previous century. Consequently, society has become highly dependent on these fertilizers for global food security. This comes with two major problems. Phosphate rock, the primary phosphorus resource, is finite and dwindling. While shortages are not imminent, continuation of current practices will eventually make them an inevitability. More pressing, however, is the problem of waste. Much of the phosphorus we use ends up in the environment, which has serious deleterious effects on biodiversity. Anthropogenic activity has thus disrupted the natural phosphorus cycle to such an extent that the word “cycle” is hardly applicable anymore. Clearly, there is pressing need for more sustainable practices. This article provides a holistic view on this important topic. The phosphorus industry relies on two phosphate rock‐processing pathways, based on either elemental white phosphorus or phosphoric acid as primary intermediate. Most fine chemical production relies on white phosphorus, accounting for a few percent of the market. As this process requires high energy investments, it is ideally omitted entirely. Novel synthetic pathways based on phosphoric acid are therefore needed, and notable examples are discussed, more in line with the principles of Green Chemistry. Ideally, chemicals are retained in near‐indefinite closed loops, using waste as resource as advocated by the Circular Economy and Circular Chemistry principles. Hazardous chemicals risking emission to the environment should be substituted where possible, or redesigned to alleviate their potential for harm. The vast majority of phosphate rock is processed to phosphoric acid, easily derivatized, and mostly reserved for the agri‐food sector as fertilizer or animal feed. This sector is highly inefficient, with major losses attributable to agriculture, food production, and consumption, as well as prior mining. Excess phosphorus intake due to animal product consumption exacerbates the problem. To address these issues, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary, involving legislation, education, and international cooperation between the many stakeholders. To truly close the phosphorus cycle, however, phosphorus needs to be recycled from human and animal waste. Many processes based on precipitation, wet and thermochemical treatment have been developed for phosphorus recovery, but value chains are necessary to bridge the gap between recovery and recycling. This requires alignment across stakeholders, favorable economics, and facilitative legislation.

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Losses and use efficiencies along the phosphorus cycle. Part 1: Dilemmata and losses in the mines and other nodes of the supply chain

Cited by 38 publications

References 40 publications

What Is the Optimal and Sustainable Lifetime of a Mine?

What Is the Optimal and Sustainable Lifetime of a Mine?

Putting Phosphorus First: The Need to Know and Right to Know Call for a Revised Hierarchy of Natural Resources

Sustainable Phosphorus

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