Use and sources of emission

The phosphoric acid in the form of an aqueous solution is used in:

the manufacture of superphosphate fertilizers (the raw material can then be in the form of
superphosphoric acid)

the synthesis of detergents and various forms of phosphates

pickling and anti-rust treatment of metal surfaces

cleaning metal surfaces and other hard surfaces such as tiles and porcelain

cleaning of production equipment of the food industry

binders for refractory and ceramic materials

cleaning products such as descalers for cuvettes and urinals and metal polishes

the food industry as an acidifying agent, particularly in the cola

wastewater treatment

the synthesis of flame retardants for textiles

the coagulation of the rubber latex

acid catalysts in petrochemicals

the synthesis of pharmaceutical products

and possibly other uses for which a non-oxidizing mineral acid is required.

Production

in 2014, in thousands of t of P 2 O 5 in the form of phosphoric acid. World: 43 134, By 2015,

the world's phosphoric acid production capacity is 57.8 million tons expressed in P 2 O 5

The main producing countries are, in descending order: China, the United States (8.656
million t P 2 O 5 in 2009), Morocco (4.5 million t P 2 O 5 in 2015) , Russia, Tunisia, India, Brazil,
South Africa, Israel, Jordan ...

In the United States, by 2015, there are 12 plants producing phosphoric acid, with a
production capacity of 8.8 million t of P 2 O 5 / year (there were 20 in 2000, with a production
capacity of 12.3 million t P 2 O 5 / year): 5 are operated by Mosaic with 61% of production
capacity, 3 by Potash Corp with 22% of capacity, 2 by Simplot with 9% of capacity, 2
by Agrium with 8% capacity

In the European Union, by 2015, phosphoric acid production in Lithuania is

463 508 t expressed as P 2 O 5 , Finland's 397 554 t expressed as P 2 O 5 .

International trade : in 2015, world trade accounted for 11% of world

consumption. Exports in 2010: Morocco supplied 51.3% of exports (54%
in 2015), the rest of Africa 26.9% (including Tunisia, 11%), the United
States 9.9% , Western Asia 7.0%, China 4.8%.
In descending order, the main exporting countries were: Morocco (2 million
t in 2015), Tunisia, South Africa, United States, China, Senegal, Israel,
Jordan, Belgium, Finland.
Imports: in 2015, the main importing country was India with 1.9 million t of
P 2 O 5 (44% of the total) as phosphoric acid of which 1 million t originated
from Morocco. In 2010, the main importing countries were: India, Pakistan,
Turkey, the Netherlands, France, Brazil, Belgium, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and
Italy.
European Union imports in 2013 were 762 000 t of P 2 O 5 in the form of
phosphoric acid with exports of 159 000 t.

Producers: The main producers are producers of phosphate fertilizers.

Mosaic , has a production capacity of 5.4 million t P 2 O 5 / year in the
United States, Florida in New Wales in 2015, with 1.74 million t in P 2 O 5 ,
Bartow, 0.95 million t in P 2 O 5 , Riverview, 0.9 million t in P 2 O 5 and
Louisiana in Uncle Sam, 0.78 million t in P 2 O 5 . Acquired the phosphate
activity of CF Industries in 2014, with a plant in Plant City, Florida, with
0.95 million t in P 2 O 5. By 2015, the acid production was 4.5 million t
in P 2 O 5 . 25% of Ma'aden (60%) and Sabic (15%) participate in the
production of the Wa'ad Al Shamal project in Saudi Arabia of 1.5 million t /
year capacity which is expected to be operational in 2017.
The Chrifien des Phosphates Office ( OCP ) produces phosphoric acid in
Morocco, Jorf Lasfar and Safi, with production capacities of 4.7 million t
P 2 O 5 / year in 2015 and production of 4.48 million t of P 2 O 5 in the form
of phosphoric acid, much of which is used locally to produce various
fertilizers intended primarily for export. In 2015, Jorf Lasfar's production
was 3.05 million t of P 2 O 5 , that of Safi of 1.43 million t of P 2 O 5. In
addition, OCP is the world's leading exporter of phosphoric acid, with 2.0
million tons of P 2 O 5 in 2015 , with a market share of 54%. Part of the
phosphoric acid production is carried out by joint ventures located on the
site Jorf Lasfar: Imacid (33.33% OCP,% 33.33 Chambal Fertilizers and
Chemicals (India), 33.33% Tata Chemicals ( India)), which in 2015
produced 353 000 t of P 2 O 5 , Pakistan Morocco Phosphorus (50% OCP,
50% Fauji (Pakistan)), which in 2015 produced 425 000 t of P 2 O 5 , Emaphos
(33.33% OCP, 33.33%Prayon (Belgium), 33.33% Chemishe Fabrik
Budenheim (Germany)), which produced, in 2015, 117 000 t of P 2 O 5 as
purified acid.
Yuntianhua is the main Chinese producer with an annual production
capacity of 2.7 million t / year of P 2 O 5 in the form of phosphoric acid.
PhosAgro is the main Russian producer with an annual production capacity
of 2.1 million t / year of P 2 O 5 as phosphoric acid in Balakovo and
Cherepovets.
Potash Corp. , has a production capacity of 1.9 million t of P 2 O 5 / year in
2015 and produced 1.61 million t of P 2 O 5 as phosphoric acid in the United
States, North Carolina to Aurora with 1.05 million tons, Florida to White
Spring with 0.46 million tons, and Louisiana to Geismar with 0.10 million
tons.
Wengfu Group owns in China a production capacity of 1.6 million t / year
P 2 O 5 in the form of phosphoric acid.
In 2009, the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT) produced 1.115 million tons
of P 2 O 5 in the form of phosphoric acid in Gabs, with an annual
production capacity of 875 000 t, Skhira, 375 000 t, Sfax and M'Dhilla.
ICL , an Israeli group, has a production capacity of 1.3 million t / year
of P 2 O 5 in the form of phosphoric acid of which 600 000 t / year in Israel,
Mishor Rotem in the Negev desert and 700 000 t in China, Yunnan Province,
near Kunming, through a joint venture with Yuntianhua since October 2015
and 15% of this Chinese company.
Eurochem , a Russian group, has a production capacity of 1.2 million t / year
P 2 O 5 in the form of phosphoric acid in Russia and Lithuania with AB
Lifosa .
Vale , has a production capacity of 1.2 million t / year of P 2 O 5 in the form
of phosphoric acid in Brazil .
In Europe, major producers:
Grupa Azoty , Poland, has an annual production capacity of 400,000 t / year
of P 2 O 5 .
AB Lifosa , a subsidiary of the Russian group Eurochem , produces
phosphoric acid in Kdainiai, Lithuania, with a production capacity of
350,000 t / year of P 2 O 5 .
Yara has a production capacity of 300,000 t / year of P 2 O 5 in Siilinjrven,
Finland .
Prayon , Belgium, 50% -owned by the OCP, is the European leader in the
production of purified phosphoric acid, especially for the production of food
phosphates. The acid is produced in Belgium at Engis and Puurs with an
annual production capacity of 250,000 t of P 2 O 5 and in Morocco at Jorf
Lasfar by the Emaphos company, which is 33.33% owned by Prayon with
capacity of 150 000 t / year of P 2 O 5 .

Various uses :
- To manufacture sodium tripolyphosphate (Na5P3O10)used in the
formulation of detergents: it acts as a softener by forming soluble
complexes with calcium and magnesium by exchangeofNa+ionsbyCa
ions2+orMg2+.It also makes it possible to maintain a basic pH of the
water and has a synergistic power with surfactants. Sincethemid1950sit
hasbeenusedasareplacementforsodiumcarbonatewhichrendersthe
washingwatertooalkalineandthetissuesarerough(byprecipitationof
calciumcarbonate).It is manufactured,at300500C.dependingonthe
reaction:
2Na2HPO4+NaH2PO4=Na5P3O10+2H2O
Thehydrogenandsodiumdihydrogenphosphatearepreparedby
neutralizationofH3PO4solutionwithNaOHorNa2CO3(seebelow).
In 2010, world production is about 3 million t, of which in 2015, 189 761 t
are expressed in P 2 O 5 in the European Union.
- Mono and diammonium phosphates mainly used as fertilizers are also
used as a flame retardant in the fight against forest fires.
- The addition of phosphoric acid to drinking water reduces the risk of pipe
corrosion and, when the pipes are lead, promotes deposition on the inner
surface of pipes and prevents the release of lead into water consumption.
- As food additive (E338) to acidify drinks such as colas.
- In surface treatments of metals by phosphating before painting or
enamelling.
- In the feeding of livestock in the form of calcium phosphates, sodium or
magnesium.
- The manufacture of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 ) for the cathodes of
electric batteries is in full development.
- For the manufacture of elemental phosphorus by heat for the synthesis of
phosphorus chlorides (PCl 3 , oxychlorides): 50% of jobs, P 2 S 5 : 25% of jobs,
P 2 O 5 for the production of various products organic (organophosphorous)
compounds for the herbicides, elastomers , surfactants, and sodium
hypophosphate used in chemical nickel plating . Annual global phosphorus
production is 910,000 t.
Food Phosphates : These are sodium, potassium or calcium phosphates.
They are prepared, for sodium phosphates, by neutralization
with NaOH or Na 2 CO 3 of high purity phosphoric acid. If the acid is
obtained by a wet process, it is purified by liquid-liquid extraction using
tributylphosphate or various other solvents: methyl isobutyl ketone,
isopropyl ether and tributylphosphate, isopropanol, isopropyl ether. Steam
distillation is used to defluoride the acid.
By varying the Na / P molar ratio and the neutralization temperature, the
various sodium phosphates are obtained.