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Uranium in Phosphates: Protecting Soils and Water Bodies from Fertilizer-Derived Uranium

Explore the impact of uranium in mineral phosphates on agriculture and the environment. Learn about proposed actions to regulate uranium input in fertilizers and its effects on soils and water bodies. Discover the potential for safer nuclear power and cleaner energy sources. Dive into the economic and ecological aspects of uranium usage in agriculture, and its significance in climate protection efforts. Uncover the hidden treasure of uranium in phosphates and its implications for sustainable practices.

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Uranium in Phosphates: Protecting Soils and Water Bodies from Fertilizer-Derived Uranium

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  1. SYMPHOS 2013, Agadir, Kingdom of Morocco, May 2-10, 2013 Uranium - the hidden treasure in phosphatesProf. Dr. Dr. habil. Dr. h.c. Ewald Schnug; Technical University Braunschweig – Faculty 2 Life Sciences, Pockelsstraße 14, D-38106 Braunschweig, GermanyDipl.-Ing. Nils Haneklaus; Institute of Nuclear Technology and Energy Systems (IKE), University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany

  2. Political drivensubsidesfavour “energy-farming“, despite „takingfoodfromthepoor“ anddiminishingbiodiversity, inreasesproductionintensity, thwartstheeffortsof cross-compliance, promotes “silentsealing“, andincreasestheemission of climagasesfrom soils (CO2fromhumusdecompositionandliming, NOXfrom N-fertilization) and thereforecontributestoclimachangeandit´sconsequences. Fuel orfood, rich versus poor!

  3. The dark side of P-fertilization… “Fertlizer“ Lithography by Andreas Paul Weber, 1964 Mineral P-fertilizers contain on an average 259 mg Uran per kg P2O5

  4. Evidence for agriculturalinfluence on U in water Tab. XX: Uranium and nitrate concentrations in neighbouring shallow (7-9m) and deep (70-90m) wells of two waterworks in southern Germany (2008 data). At an annualapplication rate of 9 g/ha U appliedwith 22 kg/ha P a steadystateconcentration of 22 µg/L U isexpected in thepercolatingwater. (modelledby Jaques et al., 2008)

  5. Proposedactiontoprotectsoilsandwaterbodiesfromfertilizer-deriveduranium:Proposedactiontoprotectsoilsandwaterbodiesfromfertilizer-deriveduranium: Limit theinput of U tosoilsbyfertilizationthroughregulation of U in mineral P fertilizersto 1 g/ha*a U at GAP*: Fertilizers with < 5% P2O5: Limit for declaration: 1 mg U per kg fresh material Limit for trading: 1.5 mg U per kg fresh material Fertilizers with > 5% P2O5: Limit for declaration: 20 mg U per kg P2O5 Limit for trading: 50 mg U per kg P2O5 IMC Agrico Phosphate Processing Plant, Florida - Photograph by Michael Connett, 2001- * GAP: Good Agricultural Practice = 50 kg/ha*a P2O5

  6. Whatif ………………………………………………….. If the critical values given above would have been applied to this samples 30% would have had to show a declaration of the Cd content and a 15% of would have been banned from trading because of exceeding Cd concentrations. In case of U on for 25% of them a declaration for U concentration would have been required and nearly 50% of them would be not marketable.

  7. On an averageduringthe last 10 years in Germany alone 167 T uraniumwerespendeveryyearwithmineralP-fertilizers….

  8. To compare: in the German repository for nuclear waste “Bergwerk ASSE II“ are stocked “only“ in total 102 T U (equivalent to approx. 201 T natural U) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. BUT: Whereto with the uranium in mineral P-fertilizers?

  10. Energetical and ecological characteristic of energy sources Sources: http://www.physik.uni-muenchen.de/lehre/vorlesungen/wise_06_07/ep1/vorlesung/skript26_5_2.pdf http://www.xemplar.ca/de/about_uranium.php http://www.co2-emissionen-vergleichen.de/Stromerzeugung/CO2-Vergleich-Stromerzeugung.html Deal. J. (2010) “Night with a futurist”. Webinar of the The DaVinci Institute. PO Box 270315. Louisville. CO 80027. USA. January 10, .2010.

  11. On an average during the last 10 years in Germany alone 167 T uranium were spend every year with mineral P-fertilizers….

  12. Safe Nuclear PowerThe Gen4 Module has incorporated advanced safety features like LBE coolant, an underground vault, and decay heat removal.

  13. … which contained enough energy to supply 2,350,000 average sized German housholds and equals the energy of firewood harvested from 5,600,000 ha forest.

  14. From 10 g U (correspondingto a P-fertilization of 22 kg/ha P accordingto GAP) 500 kW of energycanbeproduced. Comparedtothe same amount of energyderivedfromcoalthissaves a total of 500 kg CO2. At a CO2–tax of 0.08€/kg thisequals a value of 40 €/ha. The monetaryvalue of 10 g U (asyellowcake) amountsactually (28.1.2010) 1.11 €, thecosts of the 22 kg P 32 €.

  15. The message to politicians and decision makers: .... Avoidsubsidiesedbiomassbasedenergyfarming, regulate U in phosphorusfertilizers, payfarmers a climabonus for using U depletedfertilizers!

  16. Uranium retrieved from mineral P-fertilizers – An unconventional contribution of agriculture to climate protection ?!?!?! Goslar, Neue Strasse 21 Hyperion Nuclear Unit

  17. Uranium in world P-resources can feed the nuclear energy cycle for 350 years (source: Hu et al., 2008) Cleaner fertilizers Cleaner soils Cleaner waters Cleaner atmosphere Increasedprofitability of fertilizermanufacturing (World U resources actually: approx. for 50 more years)

  18. Thankyou for yourattention!

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