Technical
“
There are a number of commonly cited
To bring a little perspective to the size of the global phosphorus industry; 108 million tonnes of sulphuric acid was used in fertiliser production in 2004; 198mt of phosphate rock was mined in 2011; the world phosphate rock annual production capacity was projected to
increase from 228mt in 2013 to around 260mt in 2017
drawbacks with the dry process, such as the high set up cost of the plant, the high level of energy consumption, the low reactivity of the end product and the adverse affects on gypsum filtration. Conversely, there are a number of benefits to this process, which include very high purity ratings, thereby conferring significant reductions in transportation costs and the reduction in sulphuric acid requirement for production. As the end product is of a very high quality, the product is in high demand and is, therefore, priced accordingly. To bring a little perspective to the size of the global phosphorus industry, I point to the following figures:
- 108 million tonnes of sulphuric acid was used in fertiliser production in 2004
- 198 million tonnes of phosphate rock was mined in 2011
- World phosphate rock annual production capacity was projected to increase from 228 million tonnes in 2013 to around 260 million tonnes in 2017
The above figures demonstrate that the global phosphorus industry is one of significant magnitude, and understandably so given the reliance on this element to sustain all life on the planet.
The global phosphorus industry is
geographically segmented due to the distribution of phosphate rock, which is produced in some forty countries, though twelve of those countries account for 92% of the global production. It is notable that there are no economically extractable reserves in Europe and, as such, Europe is solely reliant on importation of phosphorus for fertiliser production. The geographic distribution of the global phosphorus reserves is depicted in the map above. In terms of production, China is by far the
world’s largest producer of phosphate rock, followed by the USA, Morocco and Russia respectively - these four countries are responsible for over 75% of the current global production. China has imposed a sizeable
126 I PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015
Mike Atherton in de rigueur Isle of Man summer wear!
export tariff on exports of phosphate rock in recent years, with a view to securing long term productivity. In the USA, phosphate rock production
exceeds domestic demand, therefore, much of the product is reserved for international export, with Brazil, Australia, Korea, Japan and India being the foremost importers of US produced product. So, given the above facts, it would seem that phosphorus is not only an essential element for plant growth, but it is of significant commercial value. The question would, therefore, have to be; why have I chosen to bring the topic of phosphorus to the fore? Well, as much as I am reliant on phosphorus with the very nature of my daily work, I have no qualms in voicing a number of concerns regarding the mining of rock phosphate, and the subsequent production of many inorganic phosphorus products. As I delve further into this subject in the next in this series of articles, I will attempt to elucidate my concerns to you.
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