Phosphorus is primarily collected by mining phosphate rock, which is then converted into phosphoric acid.
Mining and Conversion of Phosphate Rock
The dominant method of "collecting" phosphorus involves a two-step process:
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Mining Phosphate Rock: Phosphate rock is mined from deposits located around the world. This rock contains various phosphate minerals.
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Conversion to Phosphoric Acid: The mined phosphate rock is then processed to convert it into phosphoric acid. This is the form in which phosphorus is widely used in various applications.
Fifty million tonnes of phosphoric acid are produced annually through this method, highlighting its significance. This phosphoric acid has many different purposes and is essential in various industrial and agricultural applications.
