Evaluation of Sebaiya-West phosphate concentrate for nitrophosphate fertilizer production

Processing of Sebaiya-West phosphate concentrate is attained through leaching of the concentrate with nitric acid under atmospheric pressure. This process yields nitrophosphate fertilizer. 99.2% of P2O5 is leached by boiling withnitric acid of concentration 58% (12.5 M) for 1 hour. 80% of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate is separated by cooling. The mother liquor is ammoniated to give ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate and dicalcium phosphate. The analysis of the fertilizer produced is 15.3% total P205, 15.3% citrate-soluble P205, 10.6% water-soluble P205, 22.6% total N and 4.8% CaO.