The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-05
s W AN N DESCRIBES ELECTRIC FURNACE. E. ACID MANUF FACTURE. /.
Operation of Federal PhoS- phorus Plant at AnniSton, Making Fertilizer
 Concentrates

IUIlCGtItI dtco
 Among the interesting papers read at the afternoon session of the American Chemical society was one by Theodore swann. president of the Federal Phosphorus company of Bir- mingham. who described the new process used at Anniston in the man ufacturing of phosphorus acid,
 Mir swann believes that this new proces is calculated to result in e.;8 establishment of plants in the south for the manufacture of fertilizer con centrates.
 Heretofore" said Mir sawnn. the sulphurie acid method has been gem eraly used and consists in treating a phosphate. usually bone or rock, with sulphuric acid then, after the phosphoric acid Is converted into soluble form, 1t is separated from. the residue. Acid produced in this way is usually too diluted for many purposes and must be concentrated.
 Three furnaces are in full oper- ation at Anniston, utilizing about 10000 horse power Electric power is supplied by the Alabama Power company from it's water power plant on the Coosa river and is delivered to the furnace transformers at 44,o00 volts. Provision is made for varying the voltage in the furnaces as oper- atinE conditions require.
 Phosphate rock is obtained from Tennessee, though some Florida rock has been used, Coke comes from the Birmingham district and sand is available from local sources.
 Describes Process.
 "The process consists in charging a mixture of phosphate rock, coke. sand and iron borings into an cleo tric furnace and smelting the charge so as to lberate the phosphorus in the phosphate rock. The iron, which Is present, absorbs a certain portion of the phosphorus and forms ferro- phosphorus which Is tapped from the furnace. The lime and sand combine to form a slag that is also tapped from the furnace. The ferro phos- phorus analyses from 24 to 20 per cent phosphorus. although the andy sis may be varied depending on the desired grade of ferro-p phosphorus. The phosphorus not absorbed by the iron process passes through the charge together wAh the other fur mace gases. which are oxidized by air and drawn out of the furnace Into the codensine and precipitating ap- paratus. The acid as collected analyzes from 90 to 96 per cent H3PO4, is light brown color and has practically no sus- pended solids. The acid Is then treated for removal of certain objec- tionable impurities and special pro vision must be made to prevent acid of this strength from crystalizing.
 Shipped in Tnnk Cars.
 Of the manner of shipping the product the speaker said: snip ments are made In tank cars, bar rels and earboys. wooden tank car is lined with special wax com pound that does not discolor the acld or affect its composition. Barrels are also lined with this compound,
 .'Purified acid of this grade said MT. Swann, lis used in producing high grade salts for use in medicine It is unnecessary to recrystallize to make a salt of exceptionally high purity. For instance. phosphate of soda has been made that Is of higher purity than any medicinal phosphate"
 Other Uses
 Of another use he said: Purified acid of 75 per cent grade Is being regularly shipped as liquid phos- phoric acid and Is being used in the manufacture of phosphoric acid paste and crude calcium phosphate for sugar refineries in tri-sodium phos- phate for swater softeners; In phos- phate of soda for textile purposes. Of operations in general he said: "The commercial prodyction of phos- phoras acid in the electrical furnace by condensation and electrical pre- cipitation Is now being successfully conducted. Methods of qualification have been worked out and are now in operation"
 With regard to the fertilizer fea- ture of the industry, MT. Swann said:
 Fertilizer Concentrates
 "To obtain the maximum value of these developments this process must be applied to fertilizer production. The record of plant operation at An niston during the past three years clearly indicates that with cheap hydro electric power and proper plant location phosphate rock can be smelted in the electric furnace for the production of fertilizer material at cost comparing very favorably with the present methods. Fertilizer containing ammonia. phosphoric acid and potash having five times ths amount of plant food contained m the ordinary commercial fertilizers have actually been produced at An niston and plans have been projected to develop larger scale operations.
 save Freight Charges
 This concentrated fertilizer will have the advantage of great re- duction on freight rates and con sequent saving to the farmer. It must be admitted that the farmer will be slow to adopt concentrated fertilizer but reduced cost oi such material will greatly influence him to use it..
 Mir Swann's developments at An niston have been watched with ex treme interest by chemists all over the country and are regarded in many quarters as marking the begin ming of real chemical center .n the south.
 RnSS c SMITH RITTER