Process for producing of phosphorus pentoxide from a phosphatic ore

摘要

Phosphorous pentoxide is produced from a phosphatic ore by preheating the ore with silica to a temperature such that reaction does not occur, mixing the preheated material with a solid carbonaceous reductant and heating to form a molten bath, heat being supplied by the combustion of elemental phosphorus and carbon monoxide issuing from the bath with a supplied oxidant. The carbonaceous reductant is used in sufficient excess over that required to effect complete reduction of the phosphorus pentoxide and of impurities in the phosphate rock to provide a protective layer of reducing gases on the surface of the molten bath. The oxidant used to oxidize the phosphorus and carbon monoxide gases is oxygen or air enriched with oxygen.