Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric Acid is used in a wide array of applications including the manufacturing of phosphate salts. Purified phosphoric acid is a high-quality, versatile chemical essential for numerous industries.

As a leading specialty phosphate manufacturer, Innophos delivers the highest purity standards, making it ideal for food, beverage, pharmaceutical applications and lithium-ion battery materials. Our North American production facilities meet stringent safety and regulatory requirements providing security and proximity of supply for regional manufacturers.

In addition to being a chemical reagent, Phosphoric Acid Food Grade is used as an ingredient in foods and beverages to enhance flavors and act as a preservative. Phosphoric Acid is typically used for pH control in the food industry, for example in the manufacture of cheese products, fats, and shortenings. It is also used in the beverage industry in soft drinks, particularly cola.

Phosphoric Acid Tech Grade is used in plant nutrition applications to provide precise and targeted fortification with water-soluble solutions. Phosphoric Acid is also used for water treatment, metal finishing, construction, and other industrial applications.

Phosphoric Acid (Battery Grade) is used in lithium-ion batteries as a key phosphorus source in the synthesis of phosphate-based cathodes of lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) and for electrolyte salts, lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6).

Innophos processes phosphoric acid through a series of advanced chemical engineering steps, ensuring high purity and consistency for its various applications. The typical process includes the following steps:

1. Raw Material Selection: Innophos sources phosphate rock, a natural mineral, as the primary raw material.

2. Acidulation: After being shipped to a manufacturing facility, the phosphate rock undergoes processing with sulfuric acid in large reactors, producing phosphoric acid. This process is known as the wet-process method. The wet process is favored due to its lower energy consumption and cost-effectiveness.

3. Purification: After the initial phosphoric acid is created, it then goes through a process to remove impurities. This process involves filtration and chemical treatments to ensure the final product meets specific purity standards required for different applications, such as food, technical, or industrial grades.

4. Concentration: The purified phosphoric acid is concentrated through evaporation. This step increases the acid's concentration to desired levels, usually around 75% to 85% H3PO4 for various industrial and food-grade uses.

5. Quality: Throughout the process, Innophos employs stringent quality and food safety control measures, including regular testing and analysis, to ensure the product meets the necessary specifications and regulatory requirements. For food grade products, our manufacturing operations meet Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and all manufacturing sites have Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification. Additionally, Innophos has robust preventive controls in place to meet the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

6. Packaging and Distribution: The final phosphoric acid product is then packaged in appropriate containers, ranging from bulk tanks for industrial use to smaller containers for food-grade applications, and distributed to customers.

These steps ensure that Innophos provides high-quality phosphoric acid suitable for a range of uses, from food & beverage or other industrial applications.