ABSTRACT
High-purity phosphorus compounds are essential in the high-tech sector, including for the production processes of semiconductors and lithium-ion batteries, while the industrial use of phosphorus accounts for just 5–10% of global phosphorus consumption. To prevent unwanted contamination, phosphoric acid for non-fertilizer purposes is mostly produced from elemental phosphorus with large energy inputs. It is of great importance that the stable supply chain for these compounds is secured in the global economy.
The procurement risks of harmful accompanying elements at the mining stage, and geopolitical risks to supply, are emerging as serious considerations accompanying the increasing demand for primary resources like phosphate ore. Technologies for the recovery and recycling of dissipated phosphorus must be considered as possibilities to create viable alternatives to existing supply chain routes. It has never been more important to manage the resource flows in the context of quantitative and qualitative means with a comprehensive view of the phosphorus life cycle throughout a supply chain.
