Module: 8

Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

Dr. N. K. Patel

Module: 8
Lecture: 35
SUPERPHOSPHATE
INTRODUCTION
Superphosphate, Ca(H2PO4)2, also refereed as single superphosphate (SSP), is
the first chemically manufactured commercial fertilizer. John B Lawes named as
superphosphate. Single superphosphate is produced as a combination of rock
phosphate and concentrated sulfuric acid. Approximately equal amounts of the
two ingredients are thoroughly mixed, dried and cured. Chemically, SSP contains
monocalcium phosphate and calcium sulfate. The hardened mass is either ground
or granulated.
The monocalcium phosphate of single superphosphate dissolves in the soil
moisture and the roots absorb phosphoric acid in that form. The rest of the solution of
monocalciumphosphate precipitates in the soil pores and forms different phosphate
compounds which are water-insoluble and do not leach out. A compound like
dicalcium phosphate dissolves in carbonic acid in water and becomes available to
plants, but the insoluble tri-calcium phosphate remains fixed in the soil. Where soil is
markedly acidic i.e., rich in active iron and aluminum monocalcium phosphate gets
converted into insoluble phosphate compounds
2Ca(H2PO4)2 + Fe2O3

2FePO4 + 2CaHPO4 + 3H2O

Because iron and aluminum phosphates are insoluble, phosphorus does not
available to the plant. That why SSP does not use in acidic soils unless it is limed.
If single superphosphate is applied just before sowing, plants get enough
supply of phosphorus at their critical growing stages. Single superphosphate is not
suitable for top dressing because of its slow movement.
Sometimes, single superphosphate is mixed with lime or dolomite in order to
increase its effectiveness. The production of single superphosphate is on the rise in
tropical countries, like India.
SSP compared to various sulfur-containing fertilizers like DAP and TSP,
significantly increases the grain yield of many agronomical important crops like
wheat, chickpea and groundnut. SSP is compatible to mix with (NH4)3PO4, (NH4)2SO4,
NH4Cl, KCl and K2SO4. Mixtures of SSP with materials containing free lime or CAN or
NPTEL

225

Module: 8
Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

Dr. N. K. Patel

urea should not be stored for long as they cause reversion of water-soluble
phosphate.
In order to get the maximum benefits, single superphosphate should be
applied to soils deficient in phosphorus as well as sulfur. The time, place and the
quantity of application are critical.
SSP is the principal phosphate fertilizer due to
The production process is simple, requires little skill and small investment
It sets a standard of comparison for other phosphate fertilizers
It supplies two secondary nutrient elements, namely, sulfur and calcium
Despite these advantages, single superphosphate has a low phosphorus
content (16 to 22 % P2O5), and 6 to 10% moisture content which sometimes make SSP
production uneconomical.

MANUFACTURE
Raw Materials
Basis: 1000kg Superphosphate (den process)
Calcium phosphate
= 625kg
Sulfuric acid
= 320kg
Water
= 90kg
Electricity
= 0.2kWH
Labour
= 0.1man-hr
Sources of raw material
Phosphate rock can be obtained and purified as described in Module: 4,
Lecture: 20.
Sulfuric acid can be obtained by contact process as described in Module: 4,
Lecture: 18.
Reactions
Ca3(PO4)2 + 2H2SO4 + 4H2O
CaH4(PO4)2 + 2(CaSO4.2H2O)
CaF2 + H2SO4 + 2H2O
CaSO4.2H2O + 2HF
4HF + SiO2
SiF4 + 2H2O
3SiF4 + 2H2O
SiO2 + 2H2SiF6
Overall reaction
CaF2.3Ca3(PO4)2 + 7H2SO4 + 3H2O

NPTEL

3CaH4(PO4)2.H2O + 2HF + 7CaSO4

226

Module: 8
Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

Dr. N. K. Patel

Manufacture
Block diagram of manufacturing process
Diagram with process equipment
Animation
Water
Exhaust

Wet
Scrubber

Ground
phosphate rock

Cone
Sulphuric acid
Water

Drain

Mixer

Limestone
bed

Pug mill

continuous den
Cutter
Conveyor
Conveyor

Bulk
Storage

Bagging and
Storage

Super phosphate

Pulverizer

Figure: Manufacturing of Superphosphate by Continuous-den process

The manufacture of superphosphate involves following steps

a) Preparation of phosphate rock
The quality of the product is determined by the grade of phosphate rock. Fine
grinding is demanded due to low reactivity of the rock. Phosphate rock is finely
ground up to the size of less than 100 meshes. Grinding of phosphate rock to fine
powder has following advantages
Increase the rate of reaction
Less sulfuric acid is needed
A higher grade of product in better condition is obtained.
It is difficult to make SSP from igneous apatite. Up to a point, the presence of
aluminum and iron compounds can be tolerated, though they reduce the solubility

NPTEL

227

Module: 8
Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

Dr. N. K. Patel

of phosphorus in water. The increase in the ratio of CaO:P2O5 raises the consumption
of sulfuric acid per unit of P2O5 and decreases the grade. Silica has no adverse
effect and higher chloride content in the phosphate rock is acceptable.
b) Mixing with acid
A finely ground (less than 100 meshes) phosphate rock is mixed with sulfuric
acid in a cone mixer. The commercial concentrated sulfuric acid (77 to 98 %) is
diluted to around 68 to 75% before reacting with the rock.
c) Curing and drying of the original slurry by completion of the reactions
The fluid material from the cone mixer goes to a den where it solidifies owing
to a continued reaction and crystallization of monocalcium phosphate. The
superphosphate is removed from the den after 0.5 to 4 hours. It is still at temperature
of about 100C and plastic in nature.
d) Excavation, milling, and bagging of the finished product
The product from the den is sent to storage piles for final curing of 2 to 6
weeks. During curing, the free acid, moisture and the unreacted rock content
decreases, whereas the available water-soluble phosphorus content increases. As
the reaction approaches completion during curing, the material hardens and cools.
The cured product is crushed in a hammer mill or cage mill to a size of about 6 mesh.
e) Granulation
When granular superphosphate is required, the product is granulated before
or after curing. Granulation before curing is advantageous as it requires less steam or
water. After granulation, the product is dried in a direct contact drier and screened.
Super phosphate is manufactured by
1. Batch process
2. Continuous process
1. Batch - den process
Rock phosphate and sulfuric acid in correct quantities are added to a pan
mixer of 1 to 2 tons capacity. After mixing for 2 minutes, the fluid slurry is discharged
into a box den which has 10 to 40 ton capacity. When the den is filled completely
after 1 hour, it is moved slowly to a mechanical cutter which removes thin slices of
product to the conveyor. Some plants have two dens, which are used alternatively.
This set up gives a production rate of 40 tons per hour.
Advantages
If only igneous rock is available, batch mixing are preferred due to precise
control of mixing conditions available and den can be made tight enough to
NPTEL

228

Module: 8
Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

Dr. N. K. Patel

contain the very fluid slurry.

For a small phosphate source in a remote place, batch process can be built.
Although newer plants use continuous processes, some plants still conduct
these operations stepwise. All plants first pulverize the rock with modern pulverizing
and air-separation equipment, most rock is ground so that 70 to 80% of particles are
passed through 200mesh screen.
2. Continuous-den process
Finely ground phosphate rock is fed by a weigh feeder into a double-conical
mixer, where it is thoroughly mixed with metered quantities of sulfuric acid. The acid
and water are fed into the cone mixer tangentially to provide the necessary mixing
with the phosphate rock. The sulfuric acid is dilute with water in the cone to the
concentration of 51Be. The heat of dilution of the sulfuric acid serves to maintain
proper reaction temperature, and excess heat is dissipated by evaporation of extra
water added. The rate of water addition and acid concentration may be varied to
control product moisture. The fresh superphosphate is discharged from the cone
mixer into a pug mill, where additional mixing takes place and the reaction starts.
From the pug mill the superphosphate drops onto the den conveyor, which has a
very low travel speed to allow about 1hr for solidifying before reaching the cutter.
The cutter slices the solid mass of crude product so that it may be conveyed to pile
storage for "currying" or completion of the chemical reaction, which takes 10-20 day
to reach P2O5 availability acceptable for plant food. The conveyers den is enclosed
so that fumes do not escape into the working area. These fumes are scrubbed will
water sprays to remove acid and fluoride before being exhausted to the
atmosphere. Scrubber water is neutralized by passing through the limestone bed.
Granulation
Both granulation and drying of the SSP are carried out in the same piece of
equipment. The powdered superphosphate enters to rotary drum granulator, where
it is mixed and granulated with recycled fines (recycle ratio: > 0.6). Granulation is
controlled by adjusting the water content and temperature of the product in the 1st
part of the rotary drum. Drying is achieved near the exit from the granulator and
involves adding more sulfuric acid and ground limestone (about 60 kg/ton SSP). The
heat produced by the reaction dries the product and the calcium sulfate formed
encapsulates the product in such a way that caking is avoided during final curing
and storage of the product. No P2O5 reversion is noticed. Product is sized using a
conventional system of screens and crushers such that 90% of the product is
between 1 and 4 mm in size. Final curing of the product occurs during storage for
less than two weeks.

NPTEL

229

Module: 8
Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

Dr. N. K. Patel

Nitric and mixed acid acidulation of phosphate rock

Water
Exhaust

HNO3

Cone

Sulphuric acid
Water

Mixer

Wet
Scrubber

Ground
phosphate rock

Drain

Limestone
bed

Pug mill
continuous den
Cutter
Conveyor
Conveyor

Bulk
Storage

Bagging and
Storage

Super phosphate

Pulverizer

Figure: Manufacturing of Superphosphate by nitric and mixed acid acidulation

Block diagram of manufacturing process

Diagram with process equipment
Animation
First use of nitric and mixed acid acidulation of phosphate rock was carried
out in Europe. It is desirable, since nitrogen has an essential value as plant food and
can be resold at its purchase price. Also, this saves sulfur. Simple acidulation of
phosphate rock with nitric acid produces the hydroscopic superphosphate, since it
contains calcium nitrate.
There are various commercial modification in the process is carried out
In one, the phosphate rock is extracted by mixed nitric and sulfuric acids,
followed by ammonization, drying. In another method, mixed nitric and phosphoric
acidulation followed by the conventional steps and others use nitric acid alone for
acidulation. These processes, as well as conditioning against moisture absorption as
practiced for ammonium nitrate, have led to an extension of this acidulation with
nitric acid. Nitrophosphate is also gaining importance particularly in European
countries. Phosphate rock is decomposed with nitric acid plus small amount of
NPTEL

230

Module: 8
Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

Dr. N. K. Patel

phosphoric acid. The resulting slurry is ammoniated and carbonated and, if desired,
combined with potassium salts and spray-dried to yield a uniform palletized product.
Special grades
A technical variation among superphosphates is the Kotka superphosphate,
a mixture of superphosphate and phosphate rock. It is so named because it was
originally made in Kotka, Finland. It needs little curing and the free acid content is
low. Its effectiveness is equal to fully acidulated superphosphate and raw phosphate
rock applied separately.
Another special grade superphosphate is serpentine superphosphate, a
product obtained by mixing 20% serpentine (a mineral consisting of magnesium
silicate) with 80% single superphosphate. Serpentine supplies magnesium to crops
and improves the physical properties of superphosphate by reaction with free acid.
For serpentine superphosphate to be effective, SSP must contain at least 16%
phosphorus (as P2O5,) soluble in neutral ammonium citrate, of which at least 93 % is
water-soluble.
Enriched superphosphate is essentially a mixture of single superphosphate
and triple superphosphate made by acidulation of phosphate rock with a mixture of
sulfuric and phosphoric acids. The grade contains 25 to 35 % phosphorus (as P2O5)
and is useful for application in sulfur deficient areas.
Handling and storage
Powder SSP is not free flowing and has the tendency to cake. Granulated SSP
can be easily handled and uniformly distributed in the field without any problem.
Due to the presence of free acid, single superphosphate is normally bagged
in polyethylene lined HDPE woven bags. Polypropylene woven bags can also be
used.
Kinetics
Ca3(PO4)2 + 2H2SO4 + H2O

Ca(H2PO4)2.H2O + 2CaSO4 H = -108.44kcal

The above reaction takes place in two stages. In the first stage, sulfuric acid
reacts with the phosphate rock, forming phosphoric acid and calcium sulfate. In the
second step, phosphoric acid reacts with more phosphate rock, forming
monocalcium phosphate. The first step occurs readily, while the second stage takes
several days.
Since most phosphate rock is fluorapatite, fluorides react with sulfuric acid to
give hydrogen fluoride, which reacts with silica to form silicon tetra fluoride as well as
fluorosilicates.

NPTEL

231

Module: 8
Lecture: 35 Superphosphate

4HF + SiO2
3SiF4 + 2H2O

Dr. N. K. Patel

SiF4 + 2H2O
SiO2 + 2H2SiF6

HF acid reacts with silica to form fluosilicic acid results in to incomplete

removal of fluorine. An excess of sulfuric acid is consumed by such impurities in the
phosphate rock (as CaCO3 Fe2O3 and CaF2). The product increase in weight over
the 70-750bpl (bone phosphate of line) by phosphate rock used as much as 70%,
resulting in superphosphate with 16 to 20% available P2O5
Cost
The costs of bagging, transportation and storage of SSP are high, because
the mass of SSP required is more than twice that for TSP. Hence small plants of SSP
are economically better suited to serve small local markets.

PROPERTIES

Molecular formula
Molecular weight
Elemental analysis
Appearance
Odour
Boiling point
Melting point
Density
Solubility
Angle of repose
Critical humidity

: CaH4(PO4)2
: 234.05gm/mole
: 16% P2O5 (7%P), 12% S, 21% Ca, 4% phosphoric acid
: White, Gray or brown granular
: Odourless
: 2030C
:1090C
: 2.22gm/ml
: Solubility in water, HNO3 and HCl
: 260
: 93.7% at 300C

USES
It is the principal carrier of phosphate, the form of phosphorus usable by
plants, and is one of the world's most important fertilizers.
it is low cost source of phosphorous in a wide range of pasture and cropping
situations
Generally mixed with sulfate of ammonia and muriate of potash, but can be
blended with other fertilizers

NPTEL

232