Phosphorus

	What is P?			Role			Manufacturing
	Phosphorus is present in all living cells and is essential to all forms of life. Phosphorus is the second most abundant of all the mineral nutrients contained in our bodies. It can be found in every cell, but nearly 80 percent of phosphorus found in people is concentrated in teeth and bones.			Phosphorus provides the energy that plants need to grow. Phosphorus is involved in seed germination and ensuring plants use water efficiently. Plants need it to stimulate root development and flowering, and to help in the prevention of disease and stress.			The source of phosphorus in fertilizer is fossilized remains of ancient marine life found in rock deposits in North America and North Africa, and from volcanic activity in China. The phosphate manufacturing process combines phosphate rock from these natural geological deposits with sulfuric acid to produce a concentrated phosphorus solution.

Common P Products

• Triple Superphosphate (0-46-0) – A highly concentrated form of phosphate produced in both granular and non-granular forms.
• Monammonium Phosphate (MAP) (11-52-0) and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) (18-46-0) – These two products are called ammoniated phosphates because phosphoric acid is treated with ammonia to form these basic phosphate products that also contain nitrogen. They are widely produced in the granular form for blending with other types of fertilizers, and are also produced in nongranular forms for use in liquid fertilizers.

Quick P Facts

• The United States is the world’s largest exporter of phosphate.
  
• The countries with the largest phosphorus resources are China, the United States, India, Canada and Brazl respectively. Phosphate rock reserves have been identified in 32 countries worldwide, but the economic extraction of the rock is limited to fewer countries, as the top three producing countries account for 68 percent of total world production, while the top 12 account for 94 percent.

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