Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) is a by-product of the sugar purification process. Calcium oxide and carbon dioxide from calcium carbonate are injected into juice and calcium carbonate reforms precipitating impurities to produce the thin juice from which sugar is extracted. Western Sugar factories at Fort Morgan, CO, Scottsbluff, NE and Torrington, WY currently produce approximately 105,000 tons per year plus about 15,000 tons of coal ash. Historically, PCC has been stockpiled near the factory sites and the amount and storage area continue to increase. PCC piles can be a management problem because they will grow weeds and can produce lime dust during wind storms. This is a concern with pending EPA regulations on agricultural dust.
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