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.

Additional recommended knowledge

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Marine-deposited phosphate typically has a higher level of radioactivity than igneous phosphate deposits, because uranium is present in seawater.^[1]

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.^[2]

Various applications have been proposed for using phosphogypsum, including using it as material for:^[1]

• road pavement
• Soil conditioner
• Cover for landfills
• roof tiles
• artificial reefs & oyster beds

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Health Physics Society. "Answer to Question #629 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"." Posted on February 9, 2001. Last accessed June 19, 2007.
2. ^ Florida Institute of Phosphate Research. "Phosphogypsum and the EPA Ban." Last accessed June 19, 2007.