10.2190/AXCX-JN19-CJV0-TK69 AXCXJN19CJV0TK69 5 The Earth Phosphate Cycle 49 68 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 AXCXJN19CJV0TK69.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=AXCXJN19CJV0TK69 1 Bruno Loran Technical Operations Western Research Application Center, University of Southern California The earth phosphate cycle is outlined in detail, from phosphate mining and production to phosphate disposal in lakes and oceans.Most phosphate deposits are of marine sedimentary origin, and contain approximately 30% P2O5. Large amounts of wastes-gaseous, liquid, and solid-are generated during the enrichment of the mineral and the conversion to phosphate fertilizer, phosphoric acid, or elemental phosphorus; the most difficult to control are air and water pollution by fluorides.The major phosphate applications are for fertilizers, detergents, anti-corrosion agents, and insecticides. The excess phosphate from human and animal diet is eliminated, and becomes part of sewage or runoff waters; sewage phosphate could be recovered through tertiary sewage treatment systems. Excess phosphate addition to natural waters is a major contribution to lake eutrophication. The phosphate that reaches the ocean is precipitated and eventually forms extensive deposits located mainly along the continental coasts.The world production and demand of phosphates have been increasing exponentially, with a doubling rate of 10-15 years. If this rate of use continues, land reserves could be exhausted in a fairly near future. Ocean deposits can supply additional amounts, but discontinuing the use of phosphate in detergents, application of correct amounts of fertilizers, and recycling of sewage phosphates would also be advisable.

V. E. McKelvey, "Phosphate Deposits", U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1252-D, 1967.

N. L. Nemerow, "Liquid Waste of Industry", Addison-Wesley Publ., Reading, Mass., 1971.

H. B. Siems, in "Fertilizer Technology and Resources", K. D. Jacobs, editor, Academic Press, New York, 1953.

Agricultural Research Depts., U. S. D. A., T. V. A., "Superphosphate", U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1964.

H. F. Lund, "Industrial Pollution Control Handbook", McGraw-Hill Publ., New York, 1971.

Battelle Memorial Inst., "Inorganic Fertilizer and Phosphate Mining Industries-Water Pollution and Control", Nat. Tech. Inf. Center (NTIS) Report number PB-206 154, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1971.

J. R. Van Wazer, "Phosphorus and Its Compounds", Vol. II. Interscience Publ., New York, 1961.

Nat. Ind. Polln. Control Council, "Fertilizers and Agricultural Chemicals", U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1971.

Nat. Air Polln. Control Adm., "Atmospheric Emissions from Wet-Process Phosphoric Acid Manufcture", Report # AP-57, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1970.

Anon., "Waste Control in a Fragile Environment", Env. Sci. and Technol., 6, 980-2, 1972.

S. L. Tisdale and D. L. Rucker, "Crop Response to Various Phosphates", The Sulphur Institute, Washington, D. C., 1964.

Anon., "Controversy Builds over Fertilizer Runoff", Chem. and Eng. News, p. 17-8, Jan. 10, 1972.

Nat. Ind. Polln. Control Council, "Detergents", NTIS Report # COM-71-50244, Springfield, Va., 1970.

B. Commoner, "The Closing Circle", A. A. Knopf Publ., New York, 1971.

T. R. Camp, "Water and Its Impurities", Reinhold Book Co., New York, 1963.

R. F. Waters et al., "Recovery of Phosphates and Metals from Waste Phosphate Sludge by Reduction-Sinter Process", NTIS Report number PB-201 89 1, Springfield, Va., 1971.

K. M. Mackentun, Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Water, an Annotated Bibliography", U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1965.

F. A. Ferguson, "A Nonmyopic Approach to the Problem of Excessive Algal Growths", Env. Sci. and Technol., 2, 188-93, 1968.

R. D. Grundy, "Strategies for Control of Man-made Eutrophication", Env. Sci. and Technol., 5, 1184-8, 1971.

J. J. Morgan, "Equilibrium Calculations and Preliminary Observations for Metal Ions in Wastewater Effluents", Seminar presented at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 1972.

R. Eliassen and G. Tchobanoglous, "Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus," Twenty-thud Purdue Ind. Waste Conf. Proceedings, p. 35, 1968.

J. J. Convery, "Treatment Techniques for Removing Phosphorus from Municipal Wastewaters", U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1970.

B. I. Loran et al., "Investigation of a New Phosphate Removal Process", U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1970.

D. E. Greer and C. D. Ziebell, "Biological Removal of Phosphate from Water", J. Wat. Polln. Control Fed., 44, 2342-8, 1972.

Anon., "Phosphate Removal", Chem. and Eng. News, p. 27, Nov. 1, 1972.

G. F. Lee, "Eutrophication", NTIS Report # PB-197 697, Springfield, Va., 1970.

W. Stumm and J. J. Morgan, "Aquatic Chemistry", Wiley-Interscience Publ., New York, 1970.

C. W. Randall et al., "Microbial Release of Soluble Phosphate in an Activated Sludge Environment", NTIS Report # PB-202 583, Springfield, Va., 1971.

P. Cloud, Ed., "Resources and Man" W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, Ca., 1969.

K. O. Emery, "Some Potential Mineral Resources of the Atlantic Continental Margin", U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 525-C, Washington, D. C., 1965.

Anon., "Supply and Demand Prospects for Fertilizers in Developing Countries", Org. for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Paris, France, 1968.

Anon., "World Fertilizer Use to Grow Less Rapidly", Chem. and Eng. News, p. 10, Sep. 18, 1972.

Anon., "U. S. Fertilizer Consumption Up 5% in 1971, Chem. and Eng. News, p. 14, June 5, 1972.

D. L. Meadows et al., "The Limits to Growth", Universe Books, New York 1972.

Anon., "Ecology: Getting Out of Hand", Chem. and Eng. News, p. 9, Oct. 11, 1971.

J. D. Beaton and S. L. Tisdale, "Potential Plant Nutrient Consumption in North America", The Sulphur Institute, Washington, D. C., 1969.

M. G. Dunseth et al., "Ultimate Disposal of Phosphate from Wastewater by Recovery as Fertilizer", (NTIS Report number PB-196 739), U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1970.