Examkin

Question

Difficulty: Very hardChemical Industries, Raw Materials, and Siting Factors

A chemical manufacturing firm in Nigeria plans to establish a large-scale heavy chemical plant producing tetraoxosulfate(VI) acid (H2SO4H_2SO_4) and superphosphate fertilizers using imported elemental sulfur and phosphate rock. Considering raw material transportation, energy requirements, environmental trade-offs, and product distribution logistics, which of the following is the primary economic factor dictating that this plant be sited near a coastal seaport rather than inland near agricultural consumer regions?

  1. Minimizing the high freight costs of transporting bulky, low-value imported raw materials inlandAnswer
  2. B
    Utilizing untreated seawater as a direct solvent in diluting concentrated acid to commercial grade
  3. C
    Discharging acidic gaseous effluents directly into oceanic trade winds to circumvent atmospheric emissions standards
  4. D
    Exploiting coastal water currents to catalyze the exothermic conversion of sulfur(IV) oxide to sulfur(VI) oxide

Answer

Minimizing the high freight costs of transporting bulky, low-value imported raw materials inland
Heavy chemical manufacturing involving bulky imported raw materials (such as sulfur and rock phosphate) is primarily raw-material-oriented. Transporting heavy solid raw materials inland from ports incurs massive transport costs, so siting the facility near a coastal port minimizes overall supply chain expenditure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Classify the industry type and identify the primary inputs.
Production of tetraoxosulfate(VI) acid and fertilizers is a heavy chemical industry requiring large volumes of heavy imported solid raw materials (sulfur and phosphate rock).
Heavy chemical industries are material-oriented or market-oriented depending on the weight-loss or bulkiness of inputs versus outputs.
2
Analyze transport economics for imported bulky raw materials versus finished product.
Transporting thousands of tonnes of imported solid minerals inland over long distances incurs enormous freight costs, whereas transporting concentrated acid or packaged fertilizer is more manageable.
Proximity to raw material entry points (seaports) minimizes overland haulage costs for heavy imported inputs.
3
Evaluate potential chemical and operational misattributions.
Seawater cannot be used directly in chemical formulations due to salt contamination, emissions regulations apply anywhere, and physical water flow does not catalyze reactions.
Eliminates incorrect technical and regulatory distractors.

Key Concept

Siting Factors for Heavy Chemical Industries (Raw Material Proximity vs. Market Proximity)
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Chemical Industries, Raw Materials, and Siting Factors

More questions from this topic