MANUFACTURE OF PHOSPHORUS PENTAOXIDE

The disclosure relates to a process for making phosphorus pentoxide by subjecting elemental yellow phosphorus to combustion with dried air inside a steel-made combustion chamber with utilization of the reaction heat for the production of energy. To this end, the disclosure provides for the combustion to be effected inside a combustion chamber of which the walls are arranged so as to form a cooling system with cavities therein; for water or a water/steam-mixture as a heat carrier abstracting the reaction heat to be circulated through the cooling system, the water or water/steam-mixture assuming an increased temperature being circulated, preferably under increased pressure; for steam formed in the cooling system to be continuously taken therefrom; for an equivalent proportion of fresh desalted water to be introduced into the cooling system; for hot gaseous phosphorus pentoxide issuing from the combustion chamber to be condensed or worked up into phosphoric acid; for the steam taken from the cooling system to be passed through a steam delivery pipe disposed in the upper portion of the combustion chamber, or through a delivery conduit for product gas containing phosphorus pentoxide; for the steam to be heated therein to a temperature of 400 DEG to 600 DEG C. under constant pressure, and for the steam so superheated to be used.