Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Studies of radioactivity and heavy metals in phosphate fertilizer

  • Application of Radioanalytical Techniques to Nuclear Safeguards and the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity
  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The enormous utilization of phosphate rock and super phosphate derived from it have the potential of being an important factor in the contamination of aquifers with alpha emitting radionuclides and heavy metals. Both rock phosphate and super phosphate contain substantial levels of natural uranium, amounting to hundreds of ppm. Our study has shown that whereas the uranium series in phosphate rock is nearly in secular equilibrium, in super phosphate the226Ra and its progeny are depleted by 60–70%. This is a result of the chemical processing of the rock phosphate. On the other hand the super phosphate is much more soluble and can be expected to release its radionuclides to the environment more rapidly than rock phosphate. The present study explores the release of radioisotopes and heavy metals from phosphate fertilizers. Extensive analytical use has been made of a germanium well-detector/Compton suppression system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Illinois Farm Report, March25, 1993 IFR-93-04, vol. 14, No.4.

  2. J.D.HEM, U.S. Geol. Surv. Water Supply Paper, 2254(1985)263.

  3. A. P. BUTLER, and R. W. SCHRABEL, U.S. Geol. Surv., 300(1956).

  4. D.BARISIC, Wat. Res. 26(1991)607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. G.HARBOTTLE, Radioactivity and Radiochemistry 4(1993)20.

    Google Scholar 

  6. S.LANDSBERGER, W.D.CIZEK, and P.DOMAGALA, J.of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Articles 160(1992)277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. R.J.GUIMOND, and S.T.WINDHAM, U.S. EPA technical notes, ORP/DSD-75-3(1975)3.

  8. R.J.GUIMOND, and S.T.WINDHAM, 1980, US. DOE Report Conf-780422 2(1980)1457.

  9. R.L.JONES, Comm. Soil Sci. Plant. Annual 23 182(1992)67.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois 214 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, 103 South Goodwin Avenue, 61801, Urbana, Illinois, (USA)

    H. Hamamo & S. Landsberger

  2. Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 11973, Upton, NY, (USA)

    G. Harbottle

  3. Illinois State Geological Survey, 615 E. Peabody Drive, 61821, Champaign, IL, (USA)

    S. Panno

Authors
  1. H. Hamamo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Landsberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Harbottle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Panno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hamamo, H., Landsberger, S., Harbottle, G. et al. Studies of radioactivity and heavy metals in phosphate fertilizer. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 194, 331–336 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02038431

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02038431

Keywords

Search

Navigation