Measuring anthropogenic phosphorus cycles to promote resource recovery and circularity in Morocco

Khaoula Houssini, Yong Geng, Jing-Yu Liu, Xianlai Zeng and Simon V. Hohl

Resources Policy, 2023, vol. 81, issue C

Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and food production. We examine anthropogenic phosphorus use in Morocco for the year 2018. Results show that a total of 11,654 kt P was extracted in 2018, of which 82.14% was exported and the remaining 17.86% was applied in the local industries and stored as reserves. The most considerable P loss to the environment came from the mining and manufacturing stages (494 kt P/y). In 2018, 90% of the total P waste originated from mining and manufacturing stages and the recovery rate was 55% (727 kt P/y), mainly from mining waste disposal facilities. The remaining waste was dumped into the environment (603 kt P/y) due to the lack of efficient P recovery technologies. Consequently, it is crucial to enhance P recovery and recycling so that future phosphorus resource circularity can be improved.

Keywords: Phosphorus; Anthropogenic cycles; Mining waste; Recovery technologies; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:81:y:2023:i:c:s030142072300123x

DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103415

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