Application of yellow phosphorus slag in resource recovery and environmental remediation: A review

Yellow phosphorus slag (YPS) is a byproduct in the production of yellow phosphorus, which contains several harmful components, such as phosphorus and fluorine. Approximately 8–12 tons of YPS are produced for each ton of yellow phosphorus. The accumulation of YPS causes serious environmental pollution problems with the development of the phosphorus industry. Various methods of utilizing YPS for high-value products and environmental remediation have been developed. The silicon, calcium and rare earth metals (REMs) contained in YPS can be extracted to produce high-value products. YPS, as an environmental remediation material, is generally used in wastewater treatment, soil remediation and carbon capture and utilization and is a promising method for solid waste treatment. This paper describes the physical and chemical properties of YPS. The recovery methods and mechanisms of waste heat, silicon, calcium and REMs in YPS are summarized and evaluated, and the application of YPS as an environmental remediation material is also described. Moreover, the currently existing problems of YPS treatment are discussed, and some suggestions for future research are provided.