# The getting of phosphorus

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-getting-of-phosphorus/673289>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 7, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-getting-of-phosphorus/673289 "2013-11-07T00:35:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-getting-of-phosphorus/673289/21 "2013-11-29T00:13:04Z")

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Bumpity Bump – now that I have a bit more time on my hands to revisit this topic.  
Let’s try this another way.

What is it about the phosphorus in urine that lends itself to relatively easy extraction. My understanding is that urine contains soluble phosphates. However, other reaction paths beginning with phosphates require extremely high temperatures and specialised equipment to produce elemental phosphorus.  
A related question,  
What is it the deal with charcoal and cinnamon in [this recipe?](http://www.ehow.com/how_4524329_make-phosphorus.html) Charcoal I maybe get since it is a reducing agent. But cinnamon???  
J.

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**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-getting-of-phosphorus/673289/22 "2013-11-29T02:13:22Z")

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Cinnamon is alkaline but it seems there would be easier ways to adjust the pH of the urine.

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