ABSTRACT
The phosphate manufacturing and phosphate fertilizer industry includes the production of
elemental phosphorus, various phosphorus-derived chemicals, phosphate fertilizer chemicals,
and other nonfertilizer phosphate chemicals [1-30]. Chemicals that are derived from
phosphorus include phosphoric acid (dry process), phosphorus pentoxide, phosphorus penta-
sulfide, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus oxychloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, and calcium
phosphates [8]. The nonfertilizer phosphate production part of the industry includes defluori-
nated phosphate rock, defluorinated phosphoric acid, and sodium phosphate salts. The phosphate
fertilizer segment of the industry produces the primary phosphorus nutrient source for the
agricultural industry and for other applications of chemical fertilization. Many of these fertilizer
products are toxic to aquatic life at certain levels of concentration, and many are also hazardous
to human life and health when contact is made in a concentrated form.
