Description
It is one of the water-soluble ammonium phosphate salts. It is obtained from the neutralization reaction between phosphoric acid and ammonia
Applications and uses
The main use of DAP is as a fertilizer. When applied as a plant nutrient, it temporarily raises the soil pH, but over time the treated soil becomes more acidic than before due to nitrification of the ammonium. It is incompatible with alkaline chemicals: because its ammonium ion converts to ammonia in a high pH environment. The typical formulation of this fertilizer is 18-46-0 (18% N, 46% P2O5, K2O 0%).
DAP can be used as a fire retardant. It reduces the combustion temperature of the material, decreases maximum weight loss rates, and causes increased residue or char production. These are important effects in fighting forest fires such as reducing pyrolysis temperature. It is the main component of some popular commercial firefighting products.
DAP is also used as an additive in some cigarette brands supposedly as a nicotine promoter; flux for soldering tin, copper, zinc and brass; and to control precipitation of alkali-soluble and acid-insoluble colloidal dyes in wool.
