Ammonia - Daly Life

Ammonia (NH3) is a colorless gas with the well known characteristic pungent smell. Pure NH3 is normally stored  as a liquid under pressure and is commonly known as anhydrous ammonia. Today NH3 is widely  used in our daily life like all fertilizers and many industrial  applications. Ammonia is also a building -block for the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals.NH3 is produced both by natural and human sources including the decay of plant material and animal waste.

Fertilizer: Approximately 83% (as of 2004) of ammonia is used as fertilisers either as its salts, solutions or anhydrously. When applied to soil, it helps provide increased yields of crops such as maize and  wheat.30 % of agricultural nitrogen applied in the USA is in the form of anhydrous ammonia and  worldwide 110m tonnes are applied each year.


Cleaner: Household ammonia is a solution of NH3 in water (i.e., ammonium hydroxide) used as a general purpose cleaner for many surfaces. Because ammonia results in a relatively streak-free shine, one of its most common uses is to clean glass, porcelain and stainless steel. It is also frequently used  for cleaning ovens and soaking items to loosen baked-on grime. Household ammonia ranges in concentration by weight from 5 to 10% ammonia.

Fermentation: Solutions of ammonia ranging from 16% to 25% are used in the fermentation industry as a source of nitrogen for microorganisms and to adjust pH during fermentation.

Stop using harmful chemicals in its factories – Apple

Watch and Green America say Apple should stop using harmful chemicals including the solvents             n-hexane and benzene in its manufacturing.
 
But they said that they were not calling for a customer boycott of the products, and that any reports suggesting that were “misinterpretation”.

The groups will call on Wednesday for Apple to “stop needlessly exposing workers in Chinese manufacturing facilities to toxic chemicals now causing severe illnesses.

The solvent n-hexane is used to clean electronic displays, including Apple’s iPhone. It is used rather than conventional solvents such as isopropanol or other alcohols because it evaporates around three times faster: that means washed screens are dry more quickly, so workers can clean more of them in a given period. But exposure can cause nerve damage and even paralysis. N-hexane has been blamed for a number of poisoning episodes at iPhone manufacturing plants in China.

Apple states that “suppliers must eliminate chemical hazards where possible” and where that is not possible that suppliers should provide physical systems to prevent exposure, or “administrative controls such as safe work procedures” when physical systems are not possible.

Benzene is used as a cleaning and coating agent for electronic components. But it is also a carcinogen which can cause reproductive abnormalities and leukemia.

 Apple was not alone in needing to stop its use of such chemicals, citing other major rivals.

Chemical industrys - IT support

The Indian Chemical sector accounts for 13-14% of total exports and 8-9% of total imports of the country. In terms of volume, it is 12th largest in the world and 3rd largest in Asia. Currently, per capita consumption of products of chemical industry in India is about 1/10th of the world average. Its size is estimated at around US$ 35 billion approx., which is equivalent to about 3% of India's GDP. India ranks 12th by volume in the world production of chemicals. Indian chemical industry is expected to grow to US$100 billion by 2015.

 

The export performance of chemical sector is many impacted many factors especially the compliance related issues. With the recent developments for Indian manufacturing exporters, there is an opportunity to increase exports to the US. With the fluctuating and competitive global market it is necessary that the other factors impacting the global demand should be kept in mind. To seize this opportunity and encourage companies to make sure they are in compliance with the Unfair Competition Act (UCA)

A business that manufactures a product while using stolen or misappropriated information technology (stolen IT) in its business operations engages in unfair competition when the product is sold in the states of USA, either separately or as a component of another product. Using information technology in business operations means using IT to design, manufacture, distribution, marketing, or sales of products.

Chemical industry - Russia

The Russian chemical industry looks set for a serious crisis, as the country’s flagship chemical producer, Khimprom, faces liquidation. The closure could have a knock-on effect on other Russian producers.

Rostec, a Russian state corporation (established to promote, develop, produce and export hi-tech industrial products for the civil and defense sectors) and the majority shareholder of Khimprom, says that the enterprise will completely cease its operations by March 2015 and will be liquidated by May 2016. Of the 5000 workers Khimprom currently employs, about 4000 will be laid off.

According to an official Rostec representative, the company was hampered by high energy prices; outdated technology; depreciation of equipment, which reached 95%; as well as unsuccessful competition with foreign rivals.

Rostec is working with the Russian government to solve the most pressing issues, in particular the fate of Khimprom’s workers. There are several options, including transferring some employees to other Rostec enterprises, but no final decision has yet been taken.

Analysts from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade believe that liquidating Khimprom, which currently produces a wide range of chemical products, may result in a serious crisis in the Russian chemical industry. The company remains the only Russian producer of calcium carbide, emulsion PVC, perchloroethylene and some other products, and its closure may lead to market shortages of some of these products.