Common questions about Chemical industry
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the first practical large-scale production of sulfuric acid begin?
The first practical large-scale production of sulfuric acid began in 1736 when pharmacist Joshua Ward developed a process involving heating sulfur with saltpeter to allow oxidation and combination with water. This breakthrough laid the groundwork for the heavy chemical industry, which emerged alongside the Industrial Revolution. In 1749, John Roebuck and Samuel Garbett established the first large-scale factory in Prestonpans, Scotland, utilizing leaden condensing chambers to manufacture sulfuric acid.
Who invented the first synthetic dye and when was it discovered?
William Henry Perkin discovered the first synthetic dye in London by transforming aniline into a crude mixture that produced an intense purple color. Perkin also developed the first synthetic perfumes, but German industry quickly dominated the field of synthetic dyes. By 1913, German industries produced almost 90% of the world's supply of dyestuffs and sold approximately 80% of their production abroad.
What percentage of the global chemical industry output is made up of polymers and plastics?
Polymers and plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polycarbonate comprise about 80% of the industry's output worldwide. These chemicals are used in many different consumer goods and sectors, including agriculture, construction, and service industries. Major industrial customers include rubber and plastic products, textiles, apparel, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, and primary metals.
Which company led chemical sales in 2015 and what was its revenue?
BASF, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, led chemical sales in 2015 with $63.7 billion. This was followed by Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, with $48.8 billion, and China Petrochemical Corporation in Beijing ranked third with $43.8 billion. SABIC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, held fourth place with $34.3 billion.
When did the Solvay process become available and who developed it?
The Solvay process was developed by Belgian industrial chemist Ernest Solvay in 1861 and offered a more economical and less polluting alternative to existing methods. Solvay and his brother Alfred constructed a plant in Charleroi, Belgium, in 1864, expanding to Nancy, France, in 1874. Ludwig Mond acquired the rights to use the process and, with John Brunner, formed Brunner, Mond & Co., building a plant at Winnington, England, where Mond refined the method between 1873 and 1880 to remove inhibiting byproducts.