Sustainability 2018, 10, 1482 11 of 19

stakeholders and, in some countries, good examples exist of beneficial use of PG, for instance for
soil improvement
Sustainability 2018, in
10, Brazil, butREVIEW
x FOR PEER the real breakthrough may depend on a changing global11economic of 19

framework and technological progress in terms of efficient recovery technologies [21]. Disposing PG in
improvement in Brazil, but the real breakthrough may depend on a changing global economic
the sea as still practiced by OCP in Morocco is not a sustainable solution. However, as Mustafa Terrab,
framework and technological progress in terms of efficient recovery technologies [21]. Disposing PG
the CEO of sea
in the theas OCPstillGroup,
practicedstated in ainpresentation
by OCP Morocco is not at the Massachusetts
a sustainable Institute
solution. However,of Technology
as Mustafa [15],
OCP Terrab,
plans tothe phase
CEOout of this practice.
the OCP Group, stated in a presentation at the Massachusetts Institute of
From
Technology [15], OCP plans to phasepoint
a regional environmental of practice.
out this view, PG may be the single most critical processing
issue of fertilizer production.
From a regional Large volumes
environmental of acid
point of view, process
PG may be thewater
singleinside and on
most critical top of the
processing issuestacks
of fertilizerleaching
are frequently production. Large
to the volumes
ground of acid
water andprocess waterrivers
to adjacent inside and
and lakes
on top[22,23],
of the stacks are
even decades
after frequently
the stack beingleaching to the
closed ground
and water
covered byand to adjacentEvery
vegetation. riversnow
and lakes [22,23],
and then theeven
damdecades afteror the
at the top
bottom cracks leading to spills of hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of acid process water the
the stack being closed and covered by vegetation. Every now and then the dam at the top or into the
bottom cracks leading to spills of hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of acid process water into
environment [24] or into the groundwater through so-called sinkholes [25], as frequently occurring in
the environment [24] or into the groundwater through so-called sinkholes [25], as frequently
Florida. An aerial image of a typical phosphogypsum stack is shown in Figure 8.
occurring in Florida. An aerial image of a typical phosphogypsum stack is shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Phosphogypsum stack in Huelva, Spain—closed since 2010 (Source: Mesa de la Ria).
Figure 8. Phosphogypsum stack in Huelva, Spain—closed since 2010 (Source: Mesa de la Ria).
The nature of the phosphogypsum management issues is probably best demonstrated by a 2015
The naturebetween
settlement of the the US Environmental
phosphogypsum Protection Agency
management issues and the world best
is probably leading phosphate by
demonstrated
fertilizer producer Mosaic Fertilizer LLC binding Mosaic to commit close
a 2015 settlement between the US Environmental Protection Agency and the world leading to 2 billion USD in funding
phosphate
and penalties to ensure the proper treatment, storage and disposal of an estimated 30 million tons of
fertilizer producer Mosaic Fertilizer LLC binding Mosaic to commit close to 2 billion USD in funding
hazardous waste (mainly phosphogypsum) at six facilities in Florida and two in Louisiana. Under
and penalties to ensure the proper treatment, storage and disposal of an estimated 30 million tons of
the settlement, Mosaic Fertilizer will establish a USD 630 million trust fund, which will be invested
hazardous
until itwaste (mainly
reaches phosphogypsum)
full funding at six facilities
of USD 1.8 billion. These fundsin Florida and the
will cover twofuture
in Louisiana.
closure ofUnder
and the
settlement,
treatmentMosaic Fertilizer
of hazardous will establish
wastewater at foura Mosaic
USD 630 million trust
facilities—the fund,New
Bartow, which willand
Wales be Riverview
invested until
it reaches
plants in Florida and the Uncle Sam plant in Louisiana—as well as the long-term care of treatment
full funding of USD 1.8 billion. These funds will cover the future closure of and those
of hazardous wastewater
facilities and at fourfacilities
three additional Mosaicthat facilities—the Bartow, New
are already undergoing Wales
closure [25].and Riverview plants in
Florida and the Uncle Sam plant in Louisiana—as well as the long-term care of those facilities and
three3.4. Life Cyclefacilities
additional Assessment as aare
that Powerful Tool
already for Decision Making
undergoing closure [25].
Life cycle assessments should be performed in full compliance with the corresponding standard
3.5. Life
ISOCycle Assessment
14040:2006. as a Powerful
It includes Tool for
the definition ofDecision
the goal Making
and scope of the LCA, the inventory analysis
phase (LCI), the impact assessment phase (LCIA) and the interpretation, reporting and critical review
Life cycle assessments should be performed in full compliance with the corresponding standard
including the limitations, relations between the phases and conditions for the use of choices and
ISO 14040:2006. It includes the definition of the goal and scope of the LCA, the inventory analysis
options. The LCA technique, the methodologies and the application as such is not standardized,
phaseleading
(LCI), the impact assessment phase (LCIA) and the interpretation, reporting and critical review
to frequently insurmountable difficulties in comparing different LCAs performed by
including the limitations, relations
different institutions. The between
problem the phases
is accentuated andconflict
by the conditions for the
of interest use ofthe
between choices
non- and
options. The LCA technique, the methodologies and the application as such is not standardized,
disclosure of process details by suppliers and operators of techniques and the need of far reaching
leading to frequently insurmountable difficulties in comparing different LCAs performed by different