Home>> Phosphate FAQ

Phosphate FAQ

Q: What is phosphate?

A: A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in agriculture and industry. At elevated temperatures in the solid state, phosphates can condense to form pyrophosphates.


Q: What are the differences between phosphorus, phosphoric acid and phosphates?

A: Phosphorus is an element that occurs in nature and is widely distributed in combination with other minerals. In your high school chemistry class, it was presented to you as one of the elements on the Periodic Table. Phosphates are natural compounds – salts containing phosphorus and other minerals. The main minerals in bones and teeth are types of phosphates with the scientific names of hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate. Phosphoric acid is produced from phosphates by reacting with sulphuric acid.


Q: Are phosphates natural?

A: Phosphate rock is mined from the earth. The rock is crushed and purified to form phosphoric acid, which may be reacted with caustic soda of lime to produce purified phosphate salts.


Q: Are phosphates essential to life?

A: Yes. Phosphates are nutrients and are essential to human, animal and plant life. They have critical functions in key biochemical processes such as metabolism. Our bodies are made of many phosphorus-containing compounds that play a major role in genetic material, cellular membranes, teeth and bones, human energy systems and cell signaling systems which regulate diverse functions from the acid-base balance in the body to hormonal responses. Besides, Plants also need phosphorus, and phosphorus-containing compounds are vital to photosynthesis.


Q: Why are phosphates in fertilizer?

A: Phosphates are natural nutrients necessary for plant growth and health, and are the most stable compounds to deliver phosphorus to plant roots. When choosing the right fertilizer, the phosphorus content is one of the key properties to consider, along with levels of nitrogen (for growth and greening) and potassium (for drought and disease resistance). Highly soluble ammonium phosphate and potassium phosphate salts can be blended with other sources of nitrogen and potassium to develop a variety of products to meet specific fertilizer needs.


Q: Why are phosphates used in cleaning products and detergents?

A: Phosphates act as a key ingredient in many cleaning products and detergents. They serve multiple functions, providing properties that increased the effectiveness of a variety of products. Phosphates help remove any hardness ions present in the water (such as calcium, magnesium, or iron), which allows other components in the cleaning process to work more effectively. And, phosphates help remove dirt particles from the surface being cleaned, through the suspension of fine particles for efficient removal in the rinse. Because of phosphate's buffering capabilities, soil and other cleaning components are prevented from shifting the pH of a cleaning solution, which can diminish its optimum cleaning efficiency range. Phosphates offer a trio of benefits: the application of phosphates prepares the water or cleaning environment then traps and holds the dirt or oils so that it can be rinsed away.


Q: What is the minimum order quantity for your products?

A: Usually the MOQ is 1*20'FCL, but we could also accept less quantity. It mostly depends on our customers demand.


Q: What are you target clients?

A: Food and feed manufacturers, chemical distributors and other end users


Q: Do you supply free samples? How can we get samples from you?

A: We usually provide free sample to our VIP customers. The sample is usually delivered by Express.


Q: How do you make a price offer and how long is its validity?

A: We usually make a price offer by email and its validity is 3-5 days..


Q: What payment terms do you accept?

A: Normally we prefer to be paid by 30% T/T in advance and balance T/T against copy of shipping documents. We also accept O/A 30-360 days payment subjected to the fact that your company passes our verification.


Q: Do you accept third party inspection?

A: Yes. We can accept free CIQ and charged SGS inspection upon your request.


Q: Where do you load the goods?

A: China main ports such as Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Xiamen and so on.


Q: What types of containers are used to package products from your company?

A: Our usual container is 20' FCL.


Q: Is your company able to meet customer specific specification requirements?

A: Yes. We will try our best to satisfy your specific requirements.


We can satisfy the emergent purchasing demand of the customer by support from our factories. What's more, we can assure you of the delivery time. If you send inquiries to us, we can reply your e-mail inquiries within 24 hours.