Tallinn University of Technology, School of Engineering, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology offers a 4-year PhD position in the field of chemical, materials and energy technology.
Proposed doctoral thesis topic: "Innovative technologies for processing phosphate rock and accompanying minerals".
Supervisor: Professor Andres Trikkel and Senior Researcher Kaia Tõnsuaadu
Abstract
The project is aimed at solving vital environmental and economical issues – developing phosphate rock processing technologies. The most promising and environmentally least harmful methods for phosphate rock valorization are elaborated, focusing also on the extraction possibilities of valuable rare earth elements (REEs). The world's population is growing and needs more food. This means increased demand for phosphorus fertilizers. To do this, better technologies must be applied. The Green Turn means significant increase in the demand of different electric devices - from electric cars to wind turbines and batteries. Without rare earth elements this is not possible. So, finding possibilities for waste-free phosphate rock processing that enables to separate also REEs is a key to a better future.
Description
Estonia has large unexploited phosphate rock reserves, the total amount being about 700 million tons of P2O5. Currently, the reserves are not used due to concerns about social and ecological impact of phosphate rock mining and processing. At the same time the European Commission has defined phosphorite ore as a critical raw material with significant supply risk. In addition, Estonian phosphorite contains valuable rare earth elements, also belonging to the list of critical raw materials being necessary for future electronic applications and for switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
Therefore, phosphorite is of great economic importance, both locally and in the EU context. So, the novelty and actuality of these studies is clearly seen. The current PhD studies will be focused on studying and developing zero-waste phosphorite ore beneficiation and processing methods, which enable to minimize the related environmental impact, but also considers the trace element composition of Estonian phosphorite in the view of possible recovery.
Responsibilities and (foreseen) tasks
- Studying the specifics and proposing suitable and environmentally least harmful technologies for the production of phosphoric acid and/or mineral phosphate fertilizers by applying near zero-waste approach;
- Estimating the formation, behaviour and possibilities for reuse of the possible hazardous by-products related to phosphorite processing (e.g. fluorine compounds and solid wastes) and filling the gaps of necessary know-how for diminishing their environmental impact;
- Characterisation of potentially harmful (Cd, Pb, U, Th) and/or beneficiary trace elements (several REEs) in phosphorite;
- Elaborating possibilities for the recovery of rare earths elements from phosphate rock.
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