Akzo Nobel, Gallipolis Ferry, W.Va.
Commercial production is by direct union of elemental phosphorus with chlorine.
Crude phosphorus trichloride is then purified by distillation. Zeneca discontinued its phosphorus pentasulfide operation at Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., in mid-1998. Since that time, the Luling plant's capacity has been more than doubled to its current 220,000 tons annually. Domestic demand for phosphorus trichloride in the production of glyphosate and other pesticides is expected to grow at an annual rate of 5 to 7 percent over the next few years. Demand for uses in plastics and elastomer additives is showing modest growth after market share losses earlier in the decade to chlorinated phosphate flame retardants.