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Production of Phosphoric Acid: Background Study On The Feedstock (Raw Materials) Selected

Phosphoric acid is produced through a reaction between phosphate rock and sulfuric acid. Phosphate rock is a non-renewable resource that is mined and contains high concentrations of phosphates. Sulfuric acid is produced as a byproduct of metal smelting and is converted from sulfur dioxide gas. In the production process, phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are mixed and heated in a reactor to produce phosphoric acid as the main product. Phosphoric acid has many industrial uses including fertilizer production, detergents, water treatment, and food additives. It is one of the most widely produced and used acids globally.

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79 views6 pages

Production of Phosphoric Acid: Background Study On The Feedstock (Raw Materials) Selected

Phosphoric acid is produced through a reaction between phosphate rock and sulfuric acid. Phosphate rock is a non-renewable resource that is mined and contains high concentrations of phosphates. Sulfuric acid is produced as a byproduct of metal smelting and is converted from sulfur dioxide gas. In the production process, phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are mixed and heated in a reactor to produce phosphoric acid as the main product. Phosphoric acid has many industrial uses including fertilizer production, detergents, water treatment, and food additives. It is one of the most widely produced and used acids globally.

Uploaded by

Kimie Qayyimah
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Production Of Phosphoric Acid

Background study on the feedstock (raw materials) selected Phosphorite, phosphate rock or rock phosphate is used as one of the three primary plant nutrients and most important to fertilizers. It has high concentration of phosphates in compact masses. The phosphates come from many sources such as marine invertebrates that secrete shells of calcium phosphate, bones and excrement of vertebrates.

Image 1 Phosphate Rock

Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is a clear, colourless, odourless, viscous liquid that is very corrosive. As the largest-volume industrial chemical produced in the world, consumption of sulphuric acid is often used to monitor a country's degree of industrialization. Agricultural fertilizers represent the largest single application for sulphuric acid (65%). Other uses include production of dyes, alcohols, plastics, rubber, ether, glue, film, explosives, drugs, paints, food containers, wood preservatives, soaps and detergents, pharmaceutical products, petroleum products, pulp and paper.

Production Of Phosphoric Acid

Image 2 : Chemical Bonding of Sulphuric Acid

Molecular formula Molar mass Appearance Density Melting point Boiling point Acidity

H2SO4 98.079 g/mol Clear, colorless, odorless liquid 1.84 g/cm3 10 C 337 C 1.99

Table 1 : Physical Properties of Sulphuric Acid Sulphuric acid is often prepared as a by-product from mining operations. Many metal ores are sulphides and smelting operations eliminate sulphur in the form of sulphur dioxide gas. Early in the 20th century, sulphur dioxide just went up the smokestack but today smelters must recover the gas. The sulphur dioxide gas is cleaned and converted into sulphuric acid. The extremely hot sulphur dioxide gas from the furnace gets sprayed with water, cooled, cleaned, dried, run through a catalytic converter, converted to sulphur trioxide (SO3), and combined with water to make sulphuric acid. (http://web.fccj.org/~ethall/h2so4/h2so4.htm) Background study on the product itself Phosphoric acid is one of the most widely known and used acid. This acid is also known as Orthophosphoric acid and is a mineral acid. This acid contains three atoms of

Production Of Phosphoric Acid


hydrogen, one atom of phosphorus and four atoms of oxygen. Thus, the formula of phosphoric acid is H3PO4

Image 3 : Phosporic Acid Orthophosphoric acid molecules can combine with themselves to form a variety of compounds which are also referred to as phosphoric acids, but in a more general way. The term phosphoric acid can also refer to a chemical or reagent consisting of phosphoric acids, usually Orthophosphoric acid. Use in the production of animal feeds is of secondary importance. Phosphoric acid is also used in the manufacture of phosphate chemicals for use in water treatment and detergent builders, dentifrices, fire control chemicals and a host of smaller markets. Consumption of phosphoric acid for its acid properties is relatively small (e.g., treatment of metal surfaces, beverage acidulation). Phosphoric acid is the leading intermediate product or processing step between phosphate rock and the end markets for phosphorus in phosphate form. (Stefan Schlag)

The following pie chart shows world consumption of wet-process phosphoric acid:

Production Of Phosphoric Acid

The primary market for wet phosphoric acid is the production of the phosphate fertilizer products ammonium phosphates and triple superphosphate. Fertilizer production accounts for an estimated 8085% of the global market for wet phosphoric acid. The remainder is consumed in a variety of industrial applications. The mid- to long-term outlook for the phosphoric acid market is positive. Prices began to decrease by the end of 2008 and throughout 2009, and led to increasing consumption, in particular in the agricultural segment, where soils suffer from low phosphate concentrations after a period of low phosphate use. The fundamental data in the agricultural industry are also in favor of a growing market in the forecast period, including the following factors: 1. World population continues to grow 2. Arable land continues to grow globally
3. Arable land per person continues to decrease globally, which necessitates increased

productivity per unit area, and increasing use of fertilizers (Stefan Schlag) Molecular formula Molar mass Appearance H3PO4 98.00 g/mol white solid or colourless

Production Of Phosphoric Acid


Density 1.885 g/mL (liquid) 1.685 g/mL (85 % solution) 2.030 g/mL (crystal at 25 C) Melting point 42.35 C (anhydrous) 29.32 C (hemihydrate) Boiling point Acidity 158 C 7.198

Table 2 : Physical Properties of Phosphoric Acid This is an important acid that has many uses in industrial applications as well as in medicines. Given below are details regarding various phosphoric acid uses. 1. Removal of Rust Phosphoric acid can be used as a rust converter with the help of direct application to rusted iron, or steel tools and other rusted surfaces. 2. Use in Processed Food
As an additive to acidify foods and beverages like various colas

3. Medical Uses
As an ingredient in over-the-counter anti-nausea medications which also happen

to contain high levels of sugar, that is, glucose and fructose 4. Other Phosphoric Acid Uses
As the electrolyte in phosphoric acid fuel cells As a cleaner by construction trades so as to remove mineral deposits,

cementinous smears and hard water stains.


In hydroponics pH solutions to lower the pH of nutrient solutions

Production Of Phosphoric Acid


As a chemical oxidizing agent for activated carbon productions With distilled water as an electrolyte in oxyhydrogen generators (Dr. Sumaiya

Kha, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/phosphoric-acid-uses.html)

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