New-generation superphosphate
Stronger crops, lighter footprint.
SULPHOS superphosphate feeds phosphorus, sulphur and calcium, made with sulphur recovered from mining and a targeted 20% lower carbon footprint.
Every crop needs phosphorus to root, flower and fill its grain. Since the air over Europe got cleaner, many soils lack sulphur too. SULPHOS supplies both, using sulphur recovered from mining residues.
Three nutrients in every granule.
Superphosphate is one of the few fertilisers that feeds phosphorus, sulphur and calcium at once. SULPHOS keeps that profile and changes only how it is made.
16-20% P₂O₅
Phosphorus that young roots can reach
Mostly water-soluble monocalcium phosphate, available from the first days after sowing. It drives root growth, early vigour, flowering and grain fill.
11-12% S
Sulphur as sulphate
The form plants take up directly. It builds protein and oil and helps the crop make full use of the nitrogen you apply.
18-21% Ca
Calcium from gypsum
Formed in the reaction itself. It strengthens cell walls and helps keep soil structure open.
Typical composition of single superphosphate. SULPHOS batch specifications are confirmed during the 2028 demonstration and stated on each delivery.
What it does in the field.
Wheat, barley, maize
Cereals
- Soluble phosphorus near the seed supports rooting and tillering in cold early-season soils.
- Sulphur helps the crop turn nitrogen into grain protein, which counts for milling and malting quality.
When to apply
Before or at sowing, incorporated or placed close to the seed row.
Phosphorus moves little in soil, so place it where the roots will grow.
General agronomic guidance for single superphosphate. Rates depend on soil analysis and crop needs; follow local advice.
Sustainable from mine to field
Sulphur that needed treatment now feeds the soil.
SULPHOS links mining and farming. A sulphur stream becomes a crop nutrient, and the acid plant leaves the route.
20% lower carbon, targeted
Measured against the sulphuric-acid route and confirmed by an ISO 14040/44 life-cycle assessment on plant data.
Mining residues put to work
Sulphur gases from pyrite roasting and metallurgy become a nutrient instead of an emission to abate.
No acid to ship or store
The separate manufacture, transport, storage and dilution of sulphuric acid leave the route.
Made in Europe
Produced at Fertinagro's sites in France, close to the farms it serves.
- 1
Recover
Pyritic residues from mining and metallurgy are roasted, releasing sulphur oxides.
- 2
React
The gas meets water and ground phosphate rock in one controlled reactor.
- 3
Granulate
Superphosphate is recovered, dried and granulated. Off-gas is treated.
- 4
Fertilise
Phosphorus, sulphur and calcium go back to the soil and into the crop.
Made without the acid plant.
The same fertiliser, two steps shorter. SO₃ goes straight into a phosphate rock slurry, so there is no liquid acid to make, store, ship or dilute.
7 process steps from rock to granule
- 1
Mine and grind phosphate rock
- 2
Roast sulphur or pyrite to make SO₂
- 3
Oxidise SO₂ to SO₃ over a catalyst
- 4
Absorb SO₃ in water to make 98% sulphuric acid
Bypassed by SULPHOS
- 5
Store, transport and dilute the acid to 70%
Bypassed by SULPHOS
- 6
Mix rock and acid in stirred reactors
- 7
Separate, dry and granulate
Simplified overall reaction
Ca₃(PO₄)₂ + 2 SO₃ + 2 H₂O → Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ + 2 CaSO₄
Phosphate rock becomes monocalcium phosphate, the soluble phosphorus, alongside gypsum, the source of sulphur and calcium.
Two ways in
Buy the fertiliser, or build the process.
For distributors, cooperatives and growers
Stock SULPHOS superphosphate
- First commercial batch in France in 2028, tested before release
- Supplied through Fertinagro's existing fertiliser channels
- Spain next, then compatible markets across Europe
For fertiliser producers
Run the process at your plant
- Site assessment for phosphate rock processing and SO₃ availability
- Engineering, EPC and commissioning by AZCATEC
- Know-how licensing once the process reaches TRL 8
Planned from pilot to plant.
Dates after 2028 depend on engineering, permitting and investment decisions. We will update this plan as each one lands.
2027
Engineer
Process basis and design of a 0.1 t/h demonstration plant, set against Fertinagro's product specifications.
2027
Build
Pre-assembled by AZCATEC in Seville, then installed, water-tested and commissioned at Fertinagro in France.
2028
Demonstrate
Sustained operation under real plant conditions to reach TRL 8, with a full LCA on measured data.
2028
Sell
A first commercial batch of at least 40 tonnes, sold in France through Fertinagro's existing channels.
2029
License
AZCATEC opens the process to other producers: site assessment, engineering, EPC and commissioning.
2030 on
Scale
Industrial production at Misson: 16,000 tonnes in 2030 and 40,000 tonnes a year from 2031.
Built by the people who will make it and sell it.
AZCATEC
Process engineering and project lead
Engineering company founded in 1996 in Seville, with more than 90 professionals. Designs, builds and commissions the plant, and will license the process.
Fertinagro France
Production and sales
Runs fertiliser sites at Misson (160,000 t/y) and Tarnos (60,000 t/y). Owns and operates the demonstration plant and sells the product.
Monolithos
Raw materials and technology transfer
Greek company based in Athens, specialised in catalysts and the recycling of critical raw materials. Brings European raw-materials expertise and supports replication of the process.
Questions growers ask.
Request allocation-
It supplies the same nutrient forms: water-soluble monocalcium phosphate, plus sulphate and calcium from gypsum. It is designed to perform like conventional single superphosphate, and every batch is checked for phosphate content and water solubility before release.
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Crops that respond to both phosphorus and sulphur: oilseed rape, cereals, legumes and pasture, and many vegetables. Sulphur matters more each year, because the sulphur that once reached European soils from the air has largely gone.
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Like any single superphosphate. Spread it before or at sowing and incorporate it, or place it close to the seed row, since phosphorus moves little in soil. It blends with other granular fertilisers. Base rates on a soil analysis.
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Through a life-cycle assessment to ISO 14040 and 14044, using measured data from the demonstration plant and a conventional sulphuric-acid reference that includes heat recovery. The target is a 20% cut. We will publish the verified result, not an assumption.
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Every batch has to meet the contaminant limits that Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 sets for phosphate fertilisers, cadmium included, before it can be sold.
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The first commercial batch, at least 40 tonnes, is planned for sale in France in 2028 through Fertinagro. Larger volumes follow from the Misson site from 2030. Requesting an allocation puts you on the list for both.
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Plants that process phosphate rock and have access to a suitable SO₃-rich stream are candidates. From 2029 AZCATEC offers site assessment, engineering, EPC, commissioning and, where it fits, know-how licensing.
Reserve a share of the first batches.
Tell us what you grow or supply and roughly how much you use. We will confirm availability as production dates firm up. Producers interested in the process can use the same form.
Prefer email? Write to sulphos@azcatec.com