Economy, United States

The reason for the popularity of anhydrous ammonia is its economy. No further processing is needed and it has a very high (82.2%) nitrogen content. Additionally if held under pressure or refrigerated, ammonia is a Hquid. Being a Hquid, pipeline transport is practical and economical. A network of overland pipelines (Fig. 4) is in operation in the United States to move anhydrous ammonia economically from points of production near natural gas sources to points of utilization in farming areas (see Pipelines). 

Trends in commercial fuel, eg, fossd fuel, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, production and consumption in the United States and in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, are shown in Tables 2 and 3. These trends indicate (6,13) (/) a significant resurgence in the production and use of coal throughout the U.S. economy (2) a continued decline in the domestic U.S. production of cmde oil and natural gas lea ding to increased imports of these hydrocarbons (qv) and (J) a continued trend of energy conservation, expressed in terms of energy consumed per... 

Phenohc resins are produced by the condensation of phenol or a substituted phenol, such as cresol, with formaldehyde. These low cost resins have been produced commercially for more than 100 years and in the 1990s are produced by more than 40 companies in the United States. They are employed as adhesives in the plywood industry and in numerous under-the-hood appHcations in the automotive industry. Because of the cycHc nature of the automotive and home building industry, the consumption of phenol for the production of phenohc resins is subject to cycHc swings greater than that of the economy as a whole. 

Soybeans are the predominant oilseed crop in the world, providing one-half of the total oilseed production (Table 7). Cottonseed is second. Worldwide, rapeseed is in third place, but this is stiU a minor oilseed in the United States. Peanuts and sunflower are fourth and fifth, respectively. Since becoming estabhshed as a crop in the United States, soybeans have shown phenomenal growth and contribute significantly to the agricultural economy (Table 8). 

A 1995 report by LandeU Mills Commodities Studies (Oxford, England) (7), pointed out that the United States sweetener industry (cane, beet, HFCS) provides 420,000 jobs a year and has a positive economic impact of 26.2 biUion. By interpolating these data, it is likely that the world sweetener industry provides jobs to more than 15 million persons and affects the world economy by more than 100 biUion (see Sweeteners). 

The lead—acid battery is one of the most successful electrochemical systems and the most successful storage battery developed. In 1988 total battery sales, excluding Eastern European central economy countries, were more than 17 biUion (1). Lead—acid battery sales accounted for about 57% of that figure. About 80% of the lead [7439-92-1] (qv), Pb, consumption in the United States was for batteries in that year. 

World production of lead—acid batteries in 1988, excluding the Eastern European central economy countries, has been estimated at 9.45 biUion. The automotive market was 6743 million or 211.6 million units. Industrial battery sales were 2082 million and consumer battery sales were 454 million. Motorcycle batteries accounted for an additional 170 million or 25 million units. Most batteries are produced in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan, but smaller numbers are produced worldwide. The breakdown in sales for the three production areas foUows. Automotive battery sales were 2304 million in the United States, 1805 in Western Europe, and 945 million in Japan. Industrial battery sales were 525 million in the United States, 993 million in Western Europe, and 266 million in Japan. Consumer battery sales were 104 million in the United States, 226 million in Japan, and 82 million in Western Europe. More than half of all motorcycle batteries are produced in Japan and Taiwan (1). 

During the 1980s some rationalization of capacity occurred in the United States reducing the number of producers to four with the purchase of NeveiUe s chloriaated paraffin business by Dover (ICC). In Europe, Dynamit Nobel ceased as a suppHer. However, elsewhere new companies have commenced manufacture to take advantage of the opportunities in new and emerging economies, particularly in Asia. Some suppHers of chloriaated paraffins are Hsted in Table 2. 

Forecast Trends. Copper demand is forecast to grow at a 1.9% rate in the United States and at a 2.7% rate in the world between 1989 and 2000, as shown in Table 8. Whereas consumption in the United States, Europe, and Japan is expected to increase at a relatively lower rate, other countries are expected to surpass these rates as their economies develop. 

Year United States Market economy countries World total... 

The industrial economy depends heavily on electrochemical processes. Electrochemical systems have inherent advantages such as ambient temperature operation, easily controlled reaction rates, and minimal environmental impact (qv). Electrosynthesis is used in a number of commercial processes. Batteries and fuel cells, used for the interconversion and storage of energy, are not limited by the Carnot efficiency of thermal devices. Corrosion, another electrochemical process, is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars aimuaUy in the United States alone (see Corrosion and CORROSION control). Electrochemical systems can be described using the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport phenomena. 

Although the honey bee s sting is unpleasant, this tiny creature is crucial to the world s agricultural economy. Honey bees produce more than jjilOO million worth of honey each year, and, more importantly, the pollination of numerous plants by honey bees is responsible for the production of i20 billion worth of crops in the United States alone. 

Dnvnng, F. (1988). Fanning for Energy The Polhical Economy of Energy Sources in the United States. New York Praeger Publishers. 

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