Alternative pathway to phosphorus compounds skips white phosphorus

A novel silicon–phosphorus compound discovered by US scientists could open a way to make organophosphorus compounds like glyphosate and flame retardants directly from phosphoric acid. This avoids having to make white phosphorus first, a pyrophoric and toxic form of the element that takes huge amounts of energy to produce. Most phosphorus ore is made into phosphoric acid, the majority of which is turned into phosphate fertilisers. Just 2% of phosphorus rock is reduced to make around 1 million tonne of white phosphorus every year. This process is immensely energy intensive, however. White phosphorus is produced in an electric arc furnace and the ore is melted at 1500°C, generating carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as by-products.