Phosphogypsum Processing into Blue Fluorescent Pigments Under Ultraviolet Excitation

In this work, we introduce the novel possibility of producing blue fluorescent ultraviolet pigments from phosphogypsum. The obtained materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The formation of the CaS phase in the sample during the reduction of calcium sulfate was established. Thermal treatment of phosphogypsum in the presence of a reducing agent (potato starch) under environmental isolation conditions is found to yield high-quality products with high added value. The highest luminosity is established in samples containing 0.6 mol. %, which were heat-treated under a temperature of 1100 °C for 60 min. The synthesized CaS:Cu materials are shown to emit light in the blue region of the spectrum, with an emission maximum at a wavelength of 480–490 nm. The developed technological methods open the possibility to recycle chemical industry waste, which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals, in particular, the goal of ensuring rational consumption and production patterns.