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2024: Russia has learned to receive pure phosphorus - for computers and space rockets
In July 2024, it became known that Russia has developed a technology for producing pure phosphorus for use in the production of computers and space rockets. Russian scientists from the Podolsk Scientific Research Institute of NPO "Luch" together with JSC "Giredmet," RCTU named after D. I. Mendeleev and N.N. I. Lobachevsky presented a unique technological chain for the purification of phosphorus and the synthesis of its compounds.
The new technology makes it possible to obtain high-purity phosphorus, which is necessary for the production of special materials in the aerospace and computer industries. This became especially important after the cessation of supplies of highly purified phosphorus from abroad, which forced Russia to look for its own solutions to fill the deficit.
The development of Russian scientists is based on the processing of red phosphorus, which is used as a starting product. This is due to the danger of handling white phosphorus, which is highly active and associated with risks of fire and explosion hazard, as well as toxicity. During the process of producing pure phosphorus, rectification and distillation purification methods are used, which minimizes risks to the health of employees and the environment.
As a result of these processes, white phosphorus is formed, which has the oxidizing and reducing properties necessary for industry. In addition to producing high-purity phosphorus, scientists also produce by-products such as phosphorus chloride and oxychloride, as well as organic derivatives thereof.
Specialists from Rosatom plan to prepare initial data for the design of the pilot production line. This is necessary to work out the introduction of a new technology into the production process, which will allow to begin deliveries of the final product to potential customers in 2025.[1]