Recycling phosphogypsum as the sole calcium oxide source in calcium sulfoaluminate cement production and solidification of phosphorus.

Because the disposal of phosphogypsum (PG) can lead to serious contamination of the air, soil, and water, recycling of PG has attracted wide attention. This study investigated the effect and solidification of phosphorus in the production of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement using PG as the sole CaO source. The effects of three phosphorus impurities (Ca3(PO4)2, CaHPO4, Ca(H2PO4)2) on the decomposition of CaSO4, formation of minerals, microstructure of the clinker, and the hydration and mechanical properties of the cement were studied. Experimental results show that Ca3(PO4)2 and Ca(H2PO4)2 promoted the decomposition of CaSO4 and the formation of clinker minerals with the increase in P2O5 content, whereas CaHPO4 showed a promoting effect only when the P2O5 content was more than 1.5 wt%. The increase in phosphorus incorporation in Ca2SiO4 leads to the transformation of ß-Ca2SiO4 to α'-Ca2SiO4 and then to Ca7Si2P2O16. The presence of three phosphates in the clinker enhanced the growth of crystal grains and the generation of a liquid phase. Compared with Ca4Al6SO16 without phosphorus, the hydration reaction of phosphorus-bearing Ca4Al6SO16 started later and ended earlier, and the reaction time was shorter. The presence of phosphorus impurities reduces the 1-day strength of CSA cement but does not affect the development of the 3-day and 28-day strengths. Considering environmental aspects, the solidification of phosphorus in the production of CSA clinker were quantified by measuring the distribution of elements. The results indicated that phosphorus is solidified by Ca4Al6SO16, Ca2SiO4, and Ca4Al2Fe2O10, and Ca2SiO4 has a stronger ability to solidify phosphorus than the other two minerals. Ca3(PO4)2 is more difficult to solidify than CaHPO4 and Ca(H2PO4)2. This study is of great significant to guide the large-scale clean utilization of PG in the production of CSA cement.

Recycling phosphogypsum as a sole calcium oxide source in calcium sulfoaluminate cement and its environmental effects.

As the disposal of phosphogypsum can result in severe contamination of soil and groundwater, several researchers worldwide have devoted efforts toward realizing suitable methods for PG disposal. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using phosphogypsum as the sole CaO source in the preparation of calcium sulfoaluminate cement by considering its mechanical properties and the potential environmental impacts of its large-scale utilization. First, the effects of the alumina/silica ratio on the mineral phase formation, setting time, compressive strength, and microstructure of calcium sulfoaluminate cement were studied. An alumina/silica ratio of 2.0 or 2.5 resulted in satisfactory mineral phase formation and compressive strength; the compressive strength of calcium sulfoaluminate cement reached 63.2, 88.5, and 100.2 MPa after 1, 3, and 28 d of curing, respectively. Second, the environmental behaviors of harmful impurities in the raw materials and calcium sulfoaluminate cement were investigated. In the static leaching and acid leaching tests, the concentrations of harmful elements in the calcium sulfoaluminate cement leachates met the requirements of national standards (GB/T14848-2007). After a period of curing, P and some heavy metals (Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, and As) did not leach from the cement. Finally, a novel process and a system of preparing CSA cement by using phosphogypsum as the sole CaO source are proposed. This novel technology could be employed as a reliable and environment friendly means of recycling phosphogypsum in the large-scale preparation of calcium sulfoaluminate cement.

Population-based sexual behavior surveys in China: Liuzhou compared with other prefectural cities.

Sexual behaviors in China are rapidly changing; simultaneously, sexually transmitted infections (STI)/HIV prevalence is increasing in the general population. To investigate these major shifts, we examined sexual behaviors and self-reported STI in one prefectural city in southern China, Liuzhou, and compared it to other prefectural cities throughout China. We used adults age 18-39 from two sets of population-based surveys that paralleled each other in both content and method. The first set was the Liuzhou survey conducted in 2008 (n = 398). The second set consisted of two national surveys collected in 2006 and 2010 (n = 2,186). Liuzhou respondents reported more active social and sexual behaviors than their national counterparts, including more socializing, dancing, drinking excessively, sexual activity among never married men and women, purchasing commercial sex among men, one-night stands among men, multiple sexual partnerships and self-reported STI among both men and women. Women in Liuzhou reported greater sexual risk behavior than their national counterparts, although overall they reported less than their male counterparts; they were also more likely to have had an abortion than women in other prefectural cities. Our findings provide a comprehensive overview of the sexual context of Liuzhou among the general population, which may help explain the greater STI/HIV prevalence in Liuzhou.