Agricultural increasing production capacity

Australia currently produces approximately 200 000 tonnes of nitric acid (100% basis) per year (Ref. MD5). It is a cyclical market that responds directly to the performance of the agricultural and mining sectors. This occurs because Australian nitric acid is used almost exclusively for the production of ammonium nitrate (a nitrogen-based fertilizer and a mining explosive). The nitric acid industry has grown from a production capacity of 32 000 tonnes in 1967 (Ref. MD1 ). During the last decade, large deviations in production levels have occurred (Refe. MD3, MD4, and MD5). The overall trend has been for a 3% increase each year. 

One product made directly by the fermentation of starch, cyclodextrin, is especially interesting as a fermentation product In 1998 the global market was estimated between 1800 and 3600tormes. As stated by the company, Wacker Chemie had at that time a production capacity of 3000 tonnes. Today, 10 years later, they have increased their production capacity to 7500 tonnes of cydodextrins a year. These molecules are used as stabilizers and exdpients in the pharmaceutical, life sdence, cosmetics, food, and agricultural industries. 

China s two-decade-plus economic boom has spurred the rapid demand for plastics. The Chinese plastics industry has entered a mature period. Since 1990, the country s plastics consumption has grown 20.1% annually. Chinese industry and agriculture will continue to fuel demand for plastics. The total market demand for plastics increased 10.8% in 2003 to 32.9 million tonnes (metric tons). In order to become less-dependent on plastics imports, China will continue to expand its production capacity in plastic resin quality and variety. Production advanced to 16.9 million tonnes in 2003 and is increasing by 11.3% annually. The foreign trade in plastics will be reinforced in the 21st century. Plastics imports and exports advanced to 16.5 million tonnes and 0.5 million tonnes, respectively, in 2003. 

Agricultural interests have amended existing soil properties to improve productivity their experience demonstrates the power of knowledge of soil properties and the ability to control them.14 A primary benefit of these amendment efforts was improvement in soil-water-holding capacity and increased rate of water removal from all soil layers by plants. The benefits of soil modification remain effective for decades. There is opportunity for similar improvements in soil during ET landfill cover design and construction. Control of ET cover soil properties has potential to enhance cover performance and should add little to construction cost. 

AEs have found application in all kinds of domestic and institutional detergents, and cleaning agents. Their low foaming characteristics, better electrolyte compatibility and degreasing capacity relative to anionic surfactants make them especially attractive for use in I I products [18]. Furthermore, they are applied in cosmetics, agriculture, and in the textile, paper and oil industries. They have become increasingly important in more recent years, due to efforts to replace APEO. 

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