Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric acid (PA), also known as orthophosphoric acid or phosphoric(V) acid, is a weak mineral acid with the chemical formula H₃PO₄. Phosphoric acid is typically a colorless syrup of 75-85% concentration in water.

Phosphoric acid is a weak triprotic acid. It is a weak acid because it only partially ionizes in solution. Since PA requires three steps to reach complete ionization, it is termed triprotic.

Manufacturers apply phosphoric acid in some reactions involving other materials to produce certain products. Phosphoric acid, when combined with a base (neutralization reaction), will react violently and produce water, salt, and heat (heat of neutralization).

Phosphoric acid is an essential plant nutrient. The agriculture industry uses fertilizers with phosphoric acid to rectify phosphorus deficiencies in soils. Agriculture uses more than 80% of the phosphoric acid on the market to make fertilizer.

In addition to fertilizer manufacturers, companies use PA for metal surface treatment in the metallurgical industry and as an additive in the food industry.

Northstar offers phosphoric acid in bulk, and mini-bulk.

Please contact us to discuss your needs or to get additional info on our Mini-Bulk Tank Loan Program for this product.

Phosphoric Acid Functions:

  • An essential plant nutrient
  • Catalyst
  • Chemical manufacturing of phosphate salts
  • Cleaning and sanitizing agent
  • Metal finishing and chemical polishing
  • Dispersing agent
  • Etching solution
  • Treating water and wastewater
  • Food application as an acidity control agent, preservative, and flavor enhancer
  • Animal feed supplement

Industries Use Phosphoric Acid for These Applications:

  • In agriculture as a fertilizer and mineral supplement
  • In food production to acidify beverages and jams for a tangy or sour taste
  • In anti-rust treatments to prevent iron-oxidation
  • As the electrolyte in fuel cells
  • For activated carbon production
  • In personal care products to adjust pH
  • In dairy, food, and beverage production as a sanitizing agent
  • Chemical manufacturing uses phosphoric acid to make phosphate salts and as a catalyst to speed up the setting action of some resins
  • In industrial equipment maintenance to assist in applications requiring the descaling of boilers and heat exchangers
  • In metal finishing for metal cleaning and chemical polishing applications
  • In sanitizing, where phosphoric acid is an important component of some CIP cleaner used in cleaning hard and sometimes impossible to reach places
  • In wastewater treatment to provide nutrients in secondary waste biological treatment processes
  • In pharmaceuticals as an intermediary

Northstar’s Phosphoric Acid Certifications

The phosphoric acid provided by Northstar Chemical meets the following certifications:   FCC Grade, Food Grade, Kosher, Halal, non-GMO, GRAS, NSF, and Technical Grade.

For more information, visit our certifications page.