Yichang firm turns hazardous byproduct into valuable construction material
2025-04-29 21:04:08
By Chen Zai.
After more than a decade of research and development efforts, an Yichang-based company has successfully transformed a hazardous byproduct of phosphoric acid production into a new type of cement now widely used in construction projects.
After more than a decade of research and development efforts, an Yichang-based company has successfully transformed a hazardous byproduct of phosphoric acid production into a new type of cement now widely used in construction projects.
Yichang has one of China’s richest reserves of phosphate ore. The chemical industry has been thriving around the production of phosphoric acid and fertilizers. However, for every ton of phosphoric acid produced, 4 to 5 tons of phosphogypsum are generated. Due to its weak radioactivity and presence of heavy metals, phosphogypsum has long been considered globally unusable, posing huge environmental and public safety risks as it accumulated in massive stacks.
In 2013, Hubei Changyao New Materials Co., Ltd. began to research new and safe applications of phosphogypsum. They partnered with several prestigious universities and research institutes, investing nearly 100 million yuan (US$13.89 million). After more than a decade of effort, they finally found a solution.
By combining phosphogypsum with slag, fly ash, and other industrial waste, Changyao created a new type of material: excess-sulphate phosphogypsum slag cement.
The company developed several new types of cement based on this new material which can be widely used in building construction, road pavement, gardening, civil engineering and more.
The company was recently named an innovation practice base by Hubei Province and is leading the compiling of a national standard for lightweight phosphogypsum.
In 2013, Hubei Changyao New Materials Co., Ltd. began to research new and safe applications of phosphogypsum. They partnered with several prestigious universities and research institutes, investing nearly 100 million yuan (US$13.89 million). After more than a decade of effort, they finally found a solution.
By combining phosphogypsum with slag, fly ash, and other industrial waste, Changyao created a new type of material: excess-sulphate phosphogypsum slag cement.
The company developed several new types of cement based on this new material which can be widely used in building construction, road pavement, gardening, civil engineering and more.
The company was recently named an innovation practice base by Hubei Province and is leading the compiling of a national standard for lightweight phosphogypsum.
Hubei Changyao New Materials Co., Ltd. located in Yiling District, Yichang City.
Fence made from phosphogypsum by Changyao New Materials.By replacing crushed stone and gravel with phosphogypsum in the road pavement, each 1 cubic meter of road base material can absorb more than 1 ton of phosphogypsum, effectively alleviating the environmental danger, according to Hu Biao, a researcher at the company.
Paving site using the new phosphogypsum-based material developed by Changyao New Material."From 2022 to the end of 2024, Changyao has applied lightweight phosphogypsum aggregate materials in 106 road projects, utilizing nearly 400,000 tons of phosphogypsum," said Wu Chiqiu, chairman of the company.
