Ernest H. Swift Lecture Series

The lecture will describe a project aiming to invent novel chemical pathways from phosphate raw material inputs to value-added phosphorus chemicals of commercial importance. Traditionally, the phosphorus chemicals industry has utilized carbothermal reduction of mined phosphate rock in the production of white phosphorus as the starting point for all reduced phosphorus chemicals. This example of industrial redox malpractice needs to be replaced, and we are calling for the production of white phosphorus to be rendered obsolete. Trichlorosilane reduction of condensed phosphates represents a versatile white phosphorus alternative, while important classes of phosphorus(III) compounds such as phosphite, and phosphonic acids, can now be synthesized mechanochemically from condensed phosphates. The best of the new processes go directly from condensed phosphates to value-added chemicals without needlessly traversing lower oxidation states. The new methods can utilize condensed phosphate inputs sourced from wastewater treatment.