2437985
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: Separation of clean gypsum from phosphate ore processing waste
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in safe and economic isolation and disposal of radioactive components of phosphogypsum (PG), a problematic waste byproduct of fertilizer production, and converting the remainder waste into economically viable chemicals such as calcium carbonate & ammonium sulfate while recovering rare earth elements (REE).
Currently, over 70 million tons of PG are produced each year, with over 1 billion tons stored in Florida alone.
Improper storage risks contaminating groundwater and harming nearby communities by allowing radioactive elements and heavy metals to leach into aquifers.
Moreover, radium in PG can decay into radon, a carcinogenic gas.
The proposed innovation aims to address those environmental risks directly and offers substantial commercial opportunity by generating up to $50 million in annual revenue per processing facility, cleaning and converting over 200,000 tons of PG per year.
Thus, this innovation addresses a pressing need for sustainable waste management, mitigates groundwater contamination risks, and transforms problematic waste into economically viable resource.
PG is a byproduct of phosphoric acid production and includes naturally occurring radionuclides, making the material radioactive.
These radionuclides are found in phosphate rock and are mostly uranium, thorium, and radium.
This project focuses on developing an innovative, eco-friendly process technology that employs double salt formation using one or more ionic salt solutions to release all the contaminants from the gypsum crystal structure.
After separating the double salt from those contaminants, gypsum is regenerated and converted into ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate through the company’s proprietary process that uses flue gas as a source of CO2.
The contaminants can be either separated or disposed of safely.
The project aims to develop process conditions that achieve consistently high separation efficiency for a broad range of PG feedstocks.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in safe and economic isolation and disposal of radioactive components of phosphogypsum (PG), a problematic waste byproduct of fertilizer production, and converting the remainder waste into economically viable chemicals such as calcium carbonate & ammonium sulfate while recovering rare earth elements (REE).
Currently, over 70 million tons of PG are produced each year, with over 1 billion tons stored in Florida alone.
Improper storage risks contaminating groundwater and harming nearby communities by allowing radioactive elements and heavy metals to leach into aquifers.
Moreover, radium in PG can decay into radon, a carcinogenic gas.
The proposed innovation aims to address those environmental risks directly and offers substantial commercial opportunity by generating up to $50 million in annual revenue per processing facility, cleaning and converting over 200,000 tons of PG per year.
Thus, this innovation addresses a pressing need for sustainable waste management, mitigates groundwater contamination risks, and transforms problematic waste into economically viable resource.
PG is a byproduct of phosphoric acid production and includes naturally occurring radionuclides, making the material radioactive.
These radionuclides are found in phosphate rock and are mostly uranium, thorium, and radium.
This project focuses on developing an innovative, eco-friendly process technology that employs double salt formation using one or more ionic salt solutions to release all the contaminants from the gypsum crystal structure.
After separating the double salt from those contaminants, gypsum is regenerated and converted into ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate through the company’s proprietary process that uses flue gas as a source of CO2.
The contaminants can be either separated or disposed of safely.
The project aims to develop process conditions that achieve consistently high separation efficiency for a broad range of PG feedstocks.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH / SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PHASE I PROGRAMS", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF24579
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Birmingham,
Alabama
35203-1865
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Spearstone Solutions was awarded
Project Grant 2437985
worth $305,000
from National Science Foundation in March 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Birmingham Alabama United States.
The grant
has a duration of 5 months and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Separation of Clean Gypsum from Phosphate Ore Processing Waste
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in safe and economic isolation and disposal of radioactive components of phosphogypsum (PG), a problematic waste byproduct of fertilizer production, and converting the remainder waste into economically viable chemicals such as calcium carbonate & ammonium sulfate while recovering rare earth elements (REE). Currently, over 70 million tons of PG are produced each year, with over 1 billion tons stored in Florida alone. Improper storage risks contaminating groundwater and harming nearby communities by allowing radioactive elements and heavy metals to leach into aquifers. Moreover, radium in PG can decay into radon, a carcinogenic gas. The proposed innovation aims to address those environmental risks directly and offers substantial commercial opportunity by generating up to $50 million in annual revenue per processing facility, cleaning and converting over 200,000 tons of PG per year. Thus, this innovation addresses a pressing need for sustainable waste management, mitigates groundwater contamination risks, and transforms problematic waste into economically viable resource. PG is a byproduct of phosphoric acid production and includes naturally occurring radionuclides, making the material radioactive. These radionuclides are found in phosphate rock and are mostly uranium, thorium, and radium. This project focuses on developing an innovative, eco-friendly process technology that employs double salt formation using one or more ionic salt solutions to release all the contaminants from the gypsum crystal structure. After separating the double salt from those contaminants, gypsum is regenerated and converted into ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate through the company’s proprietary process that uses flue gas as a source of CO2. The contaminants can be either separated or disposed of safely. The project aims develop process conditions that achieve consistently high separ
Topic Code
ET
Solicitation Number
NSF 24-579
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 2/20/25
Period of Performance
3/1/25
Start Date
8/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$305.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$305.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2437985
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
SASDJ1MHPF79
Awardee CAGE
9E0E0
Performance District
AL-07
Senators
Tommy Tuberville
Katie Britt
Katie Britt
Modified: 2/20/25