A New Source to Power Critical Technologies
December 13, 2021
Rare Earth Elements Found in Phosphogypsum Could Save Our Economy, Help Our Environment
How do we create a sustainable economy?
By recycling more than trash. Phosphogypsum (PG) is a byproduct of fertilizer production. When byproducts like phosphogypsum are turned into new products, we create new sources and provide important inputs into products currently dependent on new raw materials from the Earth.
That’s sustainability — it’s good for the economy and the environment.
Today, scientists are researching methods to extract Rare Earth Elements (REE) from phosphogypsum stored in Florida’s gypstacks.
Rare earth elements found in phosphogypsum are essential components America needs for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, crucial defense technologies and for smartphones.
Florida has abundant reserves of phosphogypsum, and scientists estimate that more than 200,000 tons of rare earth elements are ready to be recycled from Florida’s gypstacks.
Imagine putting gypstacks to work! Phosphogypsum would provide an important domestic source of REE and reduce America’s reliance on foreign supplies.
Recycling phosphogypsum and extracting rare earth elements from gypstacks is yet another alternative to stacking it. Science is continuing to move the phosphate industry toward a zero-waste future where storage of phosphogypsum in gypstacks is viewed as a last resort.
Learn more about the potential to extract rare earth elements from phosphogypsum by clicking here.
