Phosphorus is a vital resource obtained from sedimentary and igneous rock deposits, with 95% of production going into agricultural fertilizers. It is also used in food production, household chemicals, and high-tech electronics. Morocco has the largest deposits, with global production levels increasing since the mid-1800s. Phosphorus is the second most abundant element in the human body, with 85% found in bones. Its uses include balancing other minerals, DNA and RNA production, and as an additive in processed foods.
Phosphorus is obtained from phosphate compounds found in sedimentary and igneous rock deposits and is seen as a dwindling global resource and a necessary building block for all life on Earth. The most widespread uses of phosphorus compounds are in agriculture. It is estimated that as of 2004, 95% of all global phosphorus production went into agricultural fertilizers, animal feed and chemical pesticides to boost crop yields. Other key industries for the use of phosphorus in large quantities include the food manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and high-tech electronics industries.
Plant fertilizers are primarily composed of one of four types of phosphorus compounds. These are diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), triple superphosphate (TSP), or single superphosphate (SSP), although they are not the only phosphate chemicals that contribute to fertilizer production. Phosphoric acid is also produced as one of the uses of phosphorus and is consumed to make fertilizers, many soaps and soft drinks.
Since one of the uses of phosphorus is in food production, it is important to note that it is the second most abundant element in the human body after calcium, which comprises approximately 1% of body weight. About 85 percent of the phosphorus in the human body is found in bones, but the rest is involved in the production of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), as well as balancing other minerals, such as vitamin D, iodine, and zinc. While the element is abundant in many natural foods, it’s also increasingly being added to processed foods like sauces, beverages, and baked goods. Any method of food production that involves canning, freezing or pre-cooking packaged foods usually involves the use of phosphorus compounds in the process.
A major source of phosphate pollution of waterways is due to the use of phosphorus in common household chemicals, such as laundry detergents and other cleaning products that are washed down drains. It also has important applications as an additive in paints and primers, and as a coating for steel and enamels on the surface of fine porcelain. Pharmaceutical products that often have it in the ingredients list include toothpaste and other types of dental creams.
Phosphate coatings and phosphorus coatings use red phosphorus, which has a polymeric crystalline structure. Common applications include in the semiconductor industry, in flame retardant clothing, and in the manufacture of fireworks and matches. White phosphorus has a tetrahedral crystal structure and is used in chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides such as the chemical phosphorus trichloride, PCl3. Approximately 500,000 tons of PCl3 have been produced annually and globally since 2004.
The nation with the largest deposits of phosphorus is Morocco, with about 63% of the total estimated world reserves of the mineral. Global production levels began to increase in the mid-1800s, and as of 2002, 125,000,000 tons of phosphate rock were being mined annually. The United States produces over 30,000,000 tons of phosphate rock annually, closely followed by Morocco and China, which each produce over 20,000,000 tons. This is despite the fact that the United States has only 4% to 10% of the world’s ore reserves and China has an estimated 2% to 25%.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
