PHOSPHATIC

FERTILIZERS

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PHOSPHATIC
FERTILIZERS
Phosphatic fertilizers containing phosphorous as
a base element, which is expressed by P 2O5 %.

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CALCIUM
PHOSPHATES

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Large tonnages of low-grade calcium phosphates

are made as fertilizers.
Two distinct grades: (based on the method of
production from phosphate rock)
1. Superphosphate

made

by

reacting

phosphate rock with sulfuric acid.

2. Triple superphosphate made by reacting

phosphate rock with phosphoric acid.

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SUPERPHOSPHATE

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SUPERPHOSPHATES
Single superphosphate:
Chemical Properties:
Phosphorus content: 7 to 9% (16 to 20%
P2O5)
Calcium (Ca) content: 18 to 21%
S content: 11 to 12%
pH: < 2
Triple superphosphate:
P2O5 content: 45 to 46%
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Single
superphosphate
Single superphosphate (SSP) was the first commercial

mineral fertilizer
This material was once the most commonly used
fertilizer, but other phosphorus (P) fertilizers have largely
replaced SSP because of its relatively low P content.

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Raw materials:
A high (30-35 % P2O5) grade of phosphate

rock (since the demand is for high P2O5

content product)

Dilute sulfuric acid (62-70% H2SO4).

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Manufacturing of single superphosphate

The process can be divided into two stages as
follows:
The first stage represents the diffusion of sulfuric

acid to the rock particles. A rapid chemical

reaction on the particle surface, which continues
until the acid is completely consumed, and
crystallization of calcium sulphate.
The second stage represents the diffusion of the

formed phosphoric acid into the pores of the rock

particles which did not decompose.
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Chemical
reactions
(a) Acidulation
[Ca3(PO4)2]3 CaF2 + 7 H2SO4 (aq) 3 CaH4(PO4)2 7 CaSO4 + 2 HF
Phosphate rock

Superphosphate

(b) SiO2 impurity removal

4 HF+SiO2 SiF4 + 2H2O
3 SiF4 + 2H2O 2 H2SiF6 + SiO2
H2SiF6 + NaCl Na2SiF6 + 2 HCl
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10

Single
superphospha
te
manufacturing

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11

Single Superphosphate Manufacturing

Processing

(1) phosphate weigh feeder;

(2, 3) head tank for sulphuric
acid and water;
(4) acid feeder;
(5) mixer;
(6) superphosphate den;
(7) superphosphate conveyor;

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Continuous- Action Single

Superphosphate Den

(1) rotating shell; (2) cutter; (3) partition; (4) stationary discharge pipe
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Process
Description:
Phosphate rock lumps are crushed in a jaw crusher and
ground to 100 mesh in a hammer or ring mill.
A continuous feed of dilute sulfuric acid (65-70%) and

powdered rock phosphate is monitored by automatic

control.
A

hood

is

provided

to

collect

SiF4

(silicon

tetrafluoride)and HF fumes.
Reactor conveyor unit:

(made

of

cast

iron)

On a square shaft blades

are

provided,

by

rotating

mechanism it moves the product gradually forward at16

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With proper grinding and acid control, the

reaction is effectively complete and can be

sent directly to a granulator.
The older method was to store for a nominal

24-hour period to insure complete reaction.

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The SiF4 and HF fumes along with CO2 are scrubbed in water and the silica is removed by NaCl according to chemical equation.
The SiF4 (silicon tetrafluoride) is an environmental pollutant and so is removed from the gas stream and used to produce fluorosilicic acid, which reacts with Nacl and gives sodium fluorosilicate.

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Water is sprayed on the tumbling solids to

form free-flowing granules and to enhance the

acidulation reaction.
Product

is

dried

in

rotary

dryer

and

packaged in 50 kg plastic-lined jute bags.

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TRIPLE
SUPERPHOSPHATE

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TRIPLE SUPERPHOSPHATE
Triple superphosphate (TSP) was one of the first

high P fertilizers that became widely used in the

20th century.
Also known as calcium dihydrogen phosphate and

as monocalcium phosphate, [Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O].

It is an excellent P source, but its use has

declined as other P fertilizers have become more

popular.
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TRIPLE SUPERPHOSPHATE
It is much more concentrated than the

ordinary superphosphate. containing 45- 46 %

of available P2O5.
The concept of TSP production is relatively
simple.
Raw materials:
Triple superphosphate is manufactured by the
action of phosphoric acid on phosphate rock.
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Method of manufacturing
A process similar to superphosphate production is
used. The acid at 60-70OC is mixed with ground rock
in a continuous belt where reaction is completed in
15-20 minutes.
Final product can be non-granular or granular.
Granular TSP is made similarly, but the resulting slurry is
sprayed as a coating onto small particles to make
granules of the desired size. The product is next dried
and bagged
The product from both production methods is allowed to
cure for several weeks as the chemical reactions are
slowly completed.
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Chemical Reactions:
[Ca3(PO4)2]3 CaF2 + 14H3PO4 (aq) 10CaH4(PO4)2 + 2 HF
Phosphate rock

triple Superphosphate

uantitative Requirements:
Basis: 1 ton of triple superphosphate

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Phosphate rock

(32 % P2O5) 0.45

ton

Phosphoric acid

(56 % P2O5) 0.62

ton
24

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