Remediation of soil polluted with phosphorus-containing wastes

Elemental phosphorus was produced by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) at Muscle Shoals, Ala. by smelting phosphatic material with carbon in electric furnaces. Solid wastes containing elemental phosphorus accumulated at the production facility as a result of TVA's operation at Muscle Shoals. Soil became polluted with elemental phosphorus from contact with phosphorus-containing wastes and remediation of the polluted soil is needed to restore land at the site to usefulness. The present invention entails agglomeration of the polluted soil by nodulizing to prepare feedstock for electric furnaces; reacting phosphoric acid with finely divided phosphate ore forming a porous, monolithic mass of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate; disintegrating the monolithic mass to form lumps; heating lumps to obtain anhydrous monocalcium phosphate; and simultaneous smelting of agglomerated soil and anhydrous monocalcium phosphate with carbon in an electric furnace. No residue of polluted soil remains but calcium silicate slag, ferrophosphorus, and carbon monoxide are produced when the polluted soil is smelted. Calcium silicate slag, ferrophosphorus, elemental phosphorus, and carbon monoxide are produced when anhydrous monocalcium phosphate is smelted.