a process and product of waste recovery at phosphorus furnaces is disclosed wherein small sized discrete particles of carbonaceous material or beneficiated phosphate ore are mixed with a mineral axis , an alkaline fluid and water , and the reacted mixture is tumbled in a horizontal cylinder at a temperature below that at which the carbonaceous material oxidizes to form agglomerates which are then indurated to discrete particulate size as desired for a charge component ; the agglomerates are fed to a phosphorus smelting furnace together with other materials needed to make elemental phosphorus , furnace gases are cooled with recirculating water , a side stream of the water is taken off , treated , and used as feedstock in fluid fertilizers . the side stream of water contains elemental phosphorus , and the side stream is used as make - up water in fertilizer processes . apparatus is disclosed for agglomerating coke and phosphate and , further , for measuring the abrasion and shatter resistance of agglomerates .