Fertilizers and Phosphates

Association of Fertilizer and Phosphate Chemists Check Sample Program... 

Methods Used and Adopted by the Association of Fertilizer and Phosphate Chemists (formerly known as the Association of Florida Phosphate Chemist, AFPC), 8th edn., 2001. 

Some of the principal forms in which sulfur is intentionally incorporated in fertilizers are as sulfates of calcium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, and as elemental sulfur. Ammonium sulfate [7783-20-2] normal superphosphate, and sulfuric acid frequendy are incorporated in ammoniation granulation processes. Ammonium phosphate—sulfate is an excellent sulfur-containing fertilizer, and its production seems likely to grow. Some common grades of this product are 12—48—0—5S, 12—12S, and 8—32—8—6.5S. 

Resources of Sulfur. In most of the technologies employed to convert phosphate rock to phosphate fertilizer, sulfur, in the form of sulfuric acid, is vital. Treatment of rock with sulfuric acid is the procedure for producing ordinary superphosphate fertilizer, and treatment of rock using a higher proportion of sulfuric acid is the first step in the production of phosphoric acid, a production intermediate for most other phosphate fertilizers. Over 1.8 tons of sulfur is consumed by the world fertilizer industry for each ton of fertilizer phosphoms produced, ie, 0.8 t of sulfur for each ton of total 13.7 X 10 t of sulfur consumed in the United States for all purposes in 1991, 60% was for the production of phosphate fertilizers (109). Worldwide the percentage was probably even higher. 

The acid process has three advantages over the alkaline process, ie, (/) higher yield of phosphine (60 vs 25%) (2) more pure gas for use in subsequent reactions (95 vs 40%) and (J) by-product phosphoric acid is relatively valuable and can be sold into a number of markets, eg, in the manufacture of fertilizers and flame retardants. There is no ready outlet for the mixture of phosphites produced via the alkaline route and additional processing by oxidative spray drying is needed to produce phosphates for sale (3). 

Modem commercial wet-acid purification processes (see Fig. 4) are based on solvents such as C to Cg alcohols, ethers, ketones, amines, and phosphate esters (10—12). Organic-phase extraction of phosphoric acid is accompHshed in one or more extraction columns or, less frequently, in a series of countercurrent mixer—settlers. Generally, 60—75% of the feed acid P2 s content is extracted into the organic phase as H PO. The residual phosphoric acid phase (raffinate), containing 25—40% of the original P2O5 value, is typically used for fertilizer manufacture such as triple superphosphate. For this reason, wet-acid purification units are almost always located within or next to fertilizer complexes. 

An additional mole of ammonium sulfate per mole of final lactam is generated duting the manufacture of hydroxylamine sulfate [10039-54-0] via the Raschig process, which converts ammonia, air, water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide to the hydroxylamine salt. Thus, a minimum of two moles of ammonium sulfate is produced per mole of lactam, but commercial processes can approach twice that amount. The DSM/Stamicarbon HPO process, which uses hydroxylamine phosphate [19098-16-9] ia a recycled phosphate buffer, can reduce the amount to less than two moles per mole of lactam. Ammonium sulfate is sold as a fertilizer. However, because H2SO4 is released and acidifies the soil as the salt decomposes, it is alow grade fertilizer, and contributes only marginally to the economics of the process (145,146) (see Caprolactam). 

Sulfuric acid is the most important sulfur-containing intermediate product. More than 85% of the sulfur consumed in the world is either converted to sulfuric acid or produced direcdy as such (see Sulfuric acid and sulfur trioxide). Worldwide, well over half of the sulfuric acid is used in the manufacture of phosphatic fertilizers and ammonium sulfate for fertilizers. The sulfur source may be voluntary elemental, such as from the Frasch process recovered elemental from natural gas or petroleum or sulfur dioxide from smelter operations. 

Phosphoric acid is the parent of the phosphates, which contain the tetrahedral P04 anion and are of great commercial importance. Phosphate rock is mined in huge quantities in Florida and Morocco. After being crushed, it is treated with sulfuric acid to give a mixture of sulfates and phosphates called superphosphate, a major fertilizer ... 

C21-0082. Calcium dihydrogen phosphate is a common phosphoras fertilizer that is made by treating fluoroapatite with phosphoric acid. Hydrogen fluoride is a by-product of the synthesis. Write a balanced equation for the production of this fertilizer and calculate the mass percent of phosphorus in the fertilizer. 

The view at Cadmium changed with time starting from a valuable resource and ending up as a toxic element with a limited number of applications not substituted by alternative products. The decontamination of the technosphere works to a certain extent. Due to the character of Cd as trace contamination of phosphate fertilizers and of Zn ores and fossil fuels, there is no final solution for the environmental contamination. Due to the restrictions issued in many countries, there is reason to fear that Cd could end up in unknown material streams. From an analysis of the refining of Zn ores in 2002, it has been concluded that about one quarter of Cd generated as by-product ( 7,000-8,000 Mg) could not be found either in the products analyzed or in the emissions from the process [27]. 

Nitrogen and Phosphate Fertilizers and Trace Element Interactions... 

Some of the important compounds containing the group IA and IIA metals are the carbonates, nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates. We have already mentioned the mineral trona as the source of sodium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is found in many forms that include chalk, calcite, aragonite, and marble, as well as in egg shells, coral, and seashells. In addition to its use as a building material, calcium phosphate is converted into fertilizers in enormous quantities (see Chapter 14). 

Feeding a world population of over 6 billion requires the use of tools of all types. Not only is the machinery of agriculture important, but so are the chemicals of agriculture. The use of effective fertilizers is essential to increase food production from a tillable land mass that (at least in the United States) is shrinking. Phosphates are an important constituent in many types of fertilizers, and their production involves primarily inorganic chemistry. 

An enormous quantity of ammonium nitrate is produced annually primarily for use a fertilizer and also as an explosive. Ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, and urea are also used as nitrogen-containing fertilizers. They are produced by the reactions... 

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