Phosphogypsum

Phosphogypsum

Phosphogypsum refers to the gypsum formed as a by-product of processing phosphate ore into fertilizer with sulfuric acid. Phosphogypsum is radioactive due to the presence of naturally occurring uranium and radium in the phosphate ore.

Marine-deposited phosphate typically has a higher level of radioactivity than igneous phosphate deposits, because uranium is present in seawater.Health Physics Society. [http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q629.html "Answer to Question #629 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"."] Posted on February 9, 2001. Last accessed June 19, 2007.]

In the United States

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has banned most applications of phosphogypsum with a radium-226 concentration of greater than 10 picocuries/gram (pCi/g). As a result, phosphogypsum which exceeds this limit is stored in large stacks.

Florida has a large quantity of phosphate deposits, particularly in Bone Valley region. However, the marine-deposited phosphate ore from central Florida is highly radioactive, and as such, the phosphogypsum by-product is too radioactive to be used for most applications. As a result, there are about 1 billion tons of phosphogypsum stacked in 25 stacks in Florida (22 are in central Florida) and about 30 million new tons are generated each year.Florida Institute of Phosphate Research. [http://www1.fipr.state.fl.us/PhosphatePrimer/0/684AE64864D115FE85256F88007AC781 "Phosphogypsum and the EPA Ban."] Last accessed June 19, 2007.]

Various applications have been proposed for using phosphogypsum, including using it as material for:
* road pavement
* Soil conditioner
* Cover for landfills
* roof tiles
* artificial reefs & oyster beds

References

link: http://www.fluoridealert.org/phosphate/sinkhole.htm


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