chemical · input

Fluosilicic Acid (H2SiF6) for Municipal Water Fluoridation

Fluosilicic acid (H2SiF6, also hexafluorosilicic acid) is a byproduct of wet-process phosphoric acid manufacturing, produced when hydrofluoric acid released from phosphate rock reacts with silica. It is the primary chemical used for municipal water fluoridation in the United States (approximately 92% of fluoridated US communities use fluosilicic acid or its sodium salt). Supply comes almost entirely from phosphate fertilizer production facilities — there is no independent production stream. If phosphate fertilizer production falls, fluosilicic acid supply falls proportionally. Key US suppliers: Mosaic, ICL, Prayon (Augusta GA). Water fluoridation programs for ~200 million Americans depend on this fertilizer byproduct.

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Source countries

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Companies

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Goods affected

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Claims on record

Where it comes from

Source countries

Share of global supply, by country.

CountryShare of supply
USUnited States55%
CNChina20%
MAMorocco8%
BEBelgium7%
TNTunisia5%

Who makes it

Supplier companies

4 companies produce fluosilicic acid (h2sif6) for municipal water fluoridation.

The Mosaic Company(MOS)

HQ US40% share

World's largest US potash and phosphate producer. Esterhazy K1 and K2 mines (Saskatchewan) began experiencing managed brine inflows in 1985; managed for decades until Mosaic made the decisive choice to build the K3 underground mine (announced 2009, commissioned 2022) to replace K1/K2. K1/K2 closed 2021. K3 at Esterhazy is now the world's largest operating potash mine. Also operates Colonsay SK mine (conventional underground). The Esterhazy flooding saga represents the most consequential water-management incident in Saskatchewan potash history, requiring a $4B+ replacement mine investment.

ICL Group Ltd.(ICL)

HQ IL18% share

Israeli specialty mineral company; ~25% of global food phosphate market per input description; 15-18% of total global STPP market. ICL Food Specialties (subsidiary) is a leading food phosphate supplier: STPP, SHMP, SAPP, and other sodium phosphates for water binding, texture, and moisture retention in processed meat. Also: world's largest bromine producer (Dead Sea), potash producer (Dead Sea Works), and specialty fertilizer company. ICL has a unique triple position in critical minerals: food phosphates, potash fertilizers, and bromine for flame retardants/pharmaceuticals. Lawrence, KS plant serves the North American processed meat industry.

Nutrien Ltd.(NTR)

HQ CA12% share

World's largest potash producer with 6 Saskatchewan mines. Vanscoy mine (west of Saskatoon) uses solution mining technology — fresh water drawn from the Saskatchewan River (~20km pipeline) is used in brine management. Deep subsurface saline aquifer brine injection used for waste disposal at Vanscoy (injected into Winnipeg/Deadwood Formations at 1,500-1,700m depth). Conventional underground mines at Rocanville, Allan, Lanigan, Cory, Belle Plaine also produce waste brine requiring aquifer disposal. Nutrien operates Canada's only solution potash mine at Vanscoy. Plans to reach 18M MT/year Saskatchewan capacity.

Prayon Group

HQ BE10% share

Belgian phosphate chemicals company with 140+ years of history (1882) and 1,400 employees. Produces purified phosphoric acids, phosphate salts (including food-grade STPP), and fluorine products at sites in Belgium, France, USA, and Switzerland. Prayon's wet-process phosphoric acid technology is used to produce over 50% of the world's merchant-grade phosphoric acid — making it the critical licensor of the key manufacturing technology behind the global phosphate supply chain. In August 2024, Prayon acquired Natural Enrichment Industries to strengthen its US footprint. Also a member of the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform.