Preparation of dicalcium phosphate

Claim 1

A process for preparing granular dicalcium phosphate suitable for use as an animal feed supplement, which comprises the steps of: agitating a slurry of finely divided calcium oxide-supplying reactant particles suspended in a water-soluble, inert, organic liquid; introducing into said slurry while it is being agitated and thoroughly mixing therein water and defluorinated wet-process phosphoric acid in the stoichiometric amount necessary for the formation of dicalcium phosphate, the thus-formed reaction mixture being agitated until the reaction between said calcium oxide-supplying reactant and said phosphoric acid is substantially complete whereby to form dicalcium phosphate which is substantially free of unreacted phosphoric acid and unreacted calcium oxide reactant, the agitation of the reaction mixture effecting repeated collisions of solid particles whereby to form agglomerates suspended in said organic liquid and wherein after completion of the reaction the agglomerates consist essentially of the dicalcium phosphate particles bound together by said water; then discontinuing said agitating; separating said agglomerates from said inert organic liquid; and recovering said agglomerates substantially free of said inert organic liquid.