Phosphogypsum Waste Recycled as Road Materials

MOUND MUSEUM LECTURE SERIES SPOTLIGHTS

Topic

The phosphate fertilizer industry, while integral to agriculture, continues to produce staggering amounts of phosphogypsum (PG), an acidic and hazardous waste byproduct concentrated with heavy metals, radionuclides, and other toxic elements.

Due to the potentially harmful emission of radon from PG, the disposal of PG in engineered stacks, regulated for nearly four decades, is no longer a tenable approach. In search of a more viable solution, alternatives such as recycling PG are being researched across the world.

One promising approach explores the reuse of PG as a road construction material. With approximately 9 million lane miles of public roads in the US, incorporating PG into future road construction could serve as a long-term solution to not only dwindle the current storage, but also recycle the future production of PG.

The EPA has approved a small-scale pilot PG-based road study in Florida. This paper examines the possibility of the future implementation of PG-based roads nationwide across the US. This research has studied state-specific regulations, site-specific environmental implications, best practices for future use, and long-term performance of PG-based roads to compare and complement the current pilot approval and navigate future practical hurdles industry may encounter as they incorporate PG into US road systems.

Speaker’s Biography

Dr. Ranjbar is the Director of Online Programs at Oregon State University. She is a senior lecturer for the Nuclear Science and Engineering program. Dr. Ranjbar is also collaborating with the Radiation Detection Group on the development of radioxenon detection systems for nuclear explosion monitoring.

Also presented live via Zoom:

Time: Log-on Feb 25, 2026 between 6:30 PM – 6:55 PM EST (Log-on closes at 7:00 PM when talk begins)

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For additional details on this presentation call 937-353-4457. The presentation is free and open to the public and has ample free parking.

Mound Cold War Discovery Center
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