Abstract: A process for reducing radioactive contamination of phosphogypsum. Phosphogypsum containing radioactive material is calcined to form hemihydrate crystals carrying the radioactive contaminants, and a portion of the crystals is converted to substantially radiation-free gypsum crystals which are readily separated from the hemihydrate crystal relics containing substantially all of the radioactive contamination.

Abstract: A process for making an industrially usable gypsum from fluoroanhydrite in which fluoroanhydrite is contacted with a fluid reaction medium slurry containing soluble sulfate ions and a substantial proportion of small gypsum seed crystals to rapidly hydrate a large proportion of the fluoroanhydrite to a coarser, substantially pure gypsum. The slurry is clarified to separate coarse purified gypsum reaction product, and the reaction medium is reconstituted and recycled containing gypsum crystals less than the desired reaction product size and constituting about 50-90% of the total solids of the reconstituted fluid reaction medium.

Abstract: A process of two crystallization stages for reducing radioactive contamination of phosphogypsum is disclosed. In the process anhydrite crystals are obtained through dehydration of the radiation containing phosphogypsum in strong sulfuric acid; a portion of the anhydrite crystals containing the radioactive contamination is converted to substantially radiation free gypsum by crystallizing out on a large solids concentration of radiation free gypsum seed crystals; and coarse radiation free gypsum crystals are separated from small anhydrite crystal relics containing substantially all of the radioactive contamination.

Abstract: The coagulation of a styrene butadiene latex emulsion which normally occurs upon the introduction of gypsum as a filler in the preparation of an adhesive composition is prevented by the addition of ammonium sulfate or sodium sulfate or a mixture of the two to the emulsion prior to the addition of the gypsum.