Uses and Economic Aspects

Economic Aspects and Uses. Ammonium chloride is used as a nitrogen source for fertilization of rice, wheat, and other crops ia Japan, China, India, and Southeast Asia. Japan is a large producer, much of which is as by-product. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Ammonium bromide is available as a dry technical grade or as 38 to 45% solutions. It is used to manufacture chemical Hitermediates, and Hi photographic chemicals it also has some flame retardant appHcations. In June 1991, its price was quoted as 2.66/kg. Ammonium iodide has limited use Hi photographic and pharmaceutical preparations. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Before World War II most ammonium nitrate was used as an ingredient in high explosives. Subsequently its use as a fertilizer grew rapidly, absorbing about 90% of production in 1975. Consumption of ammonium nitrate for all uses peaked in the United States in 1981 at 8.95 million metric tons in 1986, apparent consumption dropped to only 6.31 million metric tons, of which 75% was used as fertilizer. By 1990, consumption had risen slightly to 6.64 million metric tons total annual U.S. capacity in 1990 was 7.77 million metric tons. World ammonium nitrate capacity in 1985 was about 66 million metric tons, whereas reported consumption was about 44 million metric tons. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Almost all ammonium sulfate is used as a fertilizer for this purpose it is valued both for its nitrogen content and for its readily available sulfur content. In 1986/1987 United States consumption of ammonium sulfate was 0.57 million metric tons (34) world consumption during the same period was estimated at 13.3 million metric tons. In North America ammonium sulfate is largely recovered from caprolactam production. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Production and sales values for high purity sodium hydrosulfide are Hsted ia Table 1. These figures exclude the low purity material produced by oil refiners, beHeved to be sold primarily to pulp mills. Estimates of uses of NaHS ia the United States for 1994 are as shown (3,4) ... 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Production and pricing information for Na2S through 1991 are Hsted in Table 2. U.S. production of sodium sulfide increased rapidly from 1965 through 1972 and then began to decrease. The last year that the U.S. Bureau of the Census released official production figures was in 1974 because at that time there were only three producers of sodium sulfide. Estimates indicate that 1991 production fell to the levels of the late 1950s. List prices have increased since 1974 as sulfur and sodium hydroxide prices have increased. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. The principal producers in the United States are U.S. Borax and Chemical Corp., North American Chemicals Co., and American Borate Corp. Their combined aimual capacity in 1989 was reported to be 735,000 metric tons of equivalent boron oxide [1303-86-2], B2O2 (20). Of this toimage, 50% is exported. About 30% of boron compounds are used in glass fiber insulation. Another 30% is used in other type fibers and borosihcate glasses. Boron is also used in soaps and detergents, fire retardants, and agriculture (see Boron compounds). 

Economic Aspects and Uses. The United States produced 174,600 tons of bromine ia 1989 (26). Over 95% of this was produced ia southeastern Arkansas. The remainder was produced from Michigan brines. Production of bromine from Seades Lake brine has been discontinued. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Total production of calcium chloride in 1989 was 873,000 tons (31). Most of this was produced from Michigan brines. The principal use of calcium chloride is to melt snow and ice from roads. It is also used in dust control, concrete setting control, and various industrial uses. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Most of the iodine used in the United States comes from Japan and Chile. The United States produces 10% of the world supply but consumes 30%. Production in Chile appears to be relatively low cost, and the product there presently controls prices. Iodine is produced in Woodward and Vici, Oklahoma. These two locations produce about 30% of the 4000 tons used yearly in the United States. Total world consumption is 10,000 to 12,000 tons per year. Prices range from 20.00/kg in 1988 to 12.5/kg in 1991. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. In 1976, one-third of the lithium produced in the United States was extracted from brines of Seades Lake and Silver Peak (44,45). Since then, lithium production at Seades Lake has been discontinued and the lithium concentration at Silver Peak is decreasing. During the 1980s lithium extraction was started at the Salar de Atacama, Chile. This is the largest lithium production plant in the wodd using brine as its raw material. 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Magnesium hydroxide and magnesium chloride are used as a basic feedstock to make elemental magnesium, MgO refractories, and reactive chemicals. One hundred and sixty thousand tons of magnesium metal were produced ia the United States in 1989 in addition to 1,013,000 tons of MgO equivalent in magnesium compounds (qv) (54). 

Economic Aspects and Uses. Total world production of potassium products is 29,000,000 tons per year (65). Potassium chloride is removed from brine at Moab, and Wendover, Utah, and at Seades Lake, California. Potassium sulfate is made from Great Salt Lake brine by Great Salt Lake Minerals Corp., which is the largest producer of solar potassium sulfate in the wodd. Combined, these U.S. faciUties stiU produce a relatively small percentage of potash fertilizers in the wodd. Production from the Dead Sea, for example, is 10 times greater than production of potassium from brines in the United States. More than 95% of all the potassium produced is used in fertilizer blends. The remainder is converted to other potassium chemicals for industdal use (see Potassium compounds). 

Economic Aspects and Uses. North American Chemical Co. at Seades Lake is now the only producer of soda ash from naturally occurring brine in the United States. Production from brine represents only about 10% of U.S. production (67). 

Economic Aspects and Uses. The United States is the largest producer of salt in the wodd. In 1988, 20% of the wodd s salt (14) was made in the United States. Salt continues to be one of the most heavily traded chemical ores in the wodd representing neady 65% of all seaborn mineral trade. Wodd consumption is over 200 million tons pet year. Most of this salt is made from brines. Salt is used direcdy or inditecdy in 14,000 different products (68). 

Economic Aspects and Uses. About 50% of all sodium sulfate produced ia the United States is from brine. In 1988, 410,000 tons were produced from brine. Most of the production is from North American Chemicals Co. 02ark-Mahoning at Brownfield and Seagraves, Texas produce 25% and Great Salt Lake Minerals and Chemicals Corp. produce 5%. 

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