Keywords: Dihydrate, phosphate rock, phosphoric acid, P₂O₅.

This paper deals with the development of a new process route for producing phosphoric acid. The reasoning and the research leading to this novel concept is first explained. Then the development of the process itself is described and pilot tests results are provided for several phosphate rocks. They show that this route performs better than a classical dihydrate process both in terms of P₂O₅ yield (+2% – 4%) and higher acid strength (+5%).

Therefore two industrial tests have been performed in collaboration with Grupa Azoty in Police (Poland). The industrial tests confirm that it has the potential to become a route of choice in phosphoric acid production as it combines better resource efficiency and lower energy consumption. Furthermore, the relative ease of implementation in existing dihydrate plants makes it especially attractive in case of plant revampings.

Dorina Fati, Tibaut Theys and Olivier Schrevens, Prayon S.A., Rue Joseph Wauters 144, B 4480 Engis, Belgium.

17 pages, 8 figures, 7 tables, 6 references.