§11. The chemical industry

The chemical industry - one of young branches of Kazakhstan ­ - includes manufacture of various production ­ from hydrocarbonic, mineral and other kind of raw materials by ­ its chemical processing. The chemical industry provides branches of an economy with raw materials and ready chemical production ­(plastic, glass, mineral fertilizers, fuel, lubricant oils, paints, building materials, consumer goods­, etc.).

For example, Taraz, Shymkent, Aktobe chemical ­ industrial complexes make mineral fertilizers; the Pavlodar­, Karaganda, Shymkent chemical enterprises - mineral fuel and fuel; the Kostanai chemical factory - an artificial ­ fibre; Shymkent chemical industrial complex - tyres, rubber­, technical products, synthetic washing-up liquids, pharmaceutical ­ preparations; Temirtau factory - synthetic rubber.

In the Pavlodar-Ekibastuz territorial and production complex the chemical and oil enterprises are located­ as large supplies of mineral ­ raw materials, waters, coal and the electric power here are concentrated.

The branch structure of the chemical industry is combined and includes ­ some branches: mountain chemistry, the basic chemistry and chemistry of organic synthesis and polymers.

In Kazakhstan the mountain chemistry (for example, Karatau phosphorite pool in Zhambyl area on which basis in republic manufacture of phosphoric fertilizers is adjusted) has had development. On base of Karatau phosphorites superphosphate ­ factories of Kazakhstan and the Central Asia, among which - Taraz superphosphate factory (operates since 1946), Shymkent chemical plant on manufacture of phosphoric fertilizers and phosphorus salts work­. The fertilizers which are let out at these factories are used on cotton and beet sugar fields. From major fields Karatau phosphorite pool it is necessary to name Zhanatas, Aksai, Sholaktau and Kokzhon.

The great value has phosphorite pool in the Aktobe area which provides with mineral fertilizers northern ­ grain areas of Kazakhstan. The advantages of phosphorites of the Aktobe pool are ­that they can be entered directly ­ into sour soil (for example, sour soils of northern agricultural areas of Kazakhstan).

There are stocks of food salt in the Pavlodar and Kyzylorda areas.

According to requirements of the modern epoch the requirement ­ for production of organic synthesis has raised­. In Kazakhstan there are large supplies of organic raw materials. On the basis of passing gases of the oil­, coked coal in Aktau are constructed factory on manufacture of plastic ­ and the worlds largest on capacity factory on tooth-paste manufacture­. The given factory now is called as Open Company "Saf operating Aktau" and lets out polystyrene.

One of widely used products of the chemical industry is sulfuric acid. It is used for reception of some kinds of mineral and phosphatic fertilizers, clearing of oil products, filling of accumulators, and also in nonferrous metallurgy­, metalcutting, food and knitted ­(for reception of viscose silk) the industries. From salts of sulfuric acid receive other kinds of acids.

In copper, lead, zinc ores sulphur meets in considerable quantities­. At the metallurgical enterprises by processing ­ of nonferrous metals receive sulphurous gases. On Zhezkazgan, Balkhash copper melting factories, Ust Kamenogorsk lead-zinc industrial complex, Taraz superphosphate factory opens ­ shops on manufacture of sulfuric acid.

For improvement of fertility of soil except the organic use ­ also the mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other elements necessary for uniform growth of plants.

Now in connection with improvement of technological ­ methods the raw materials are allocated from various products. So, at oil refining, gas, coke gas receive the most valuable high-quality hydrocarbonic raw materials from which are made ­ ammonia, acetylene, nitric fertilizers. At their further processing receive synthetic pitches and fibres, plastic.

The modern knitted industry along with natural ­ in considerable quantities uses chemical fibres which share on artificial and synthetic. These fibres and production received from them are widely used in other industries. They even surpass natural fibres in some properties, in many cases replacing ­ a clap, silk and other natural materials.

Synthetic is the ­ organic from chemical materials organic ­ and inorganic fibres. Manufacture of synthetic ­ materials demands a considerable quantity of fuel, the electric power and water.

In comparison with other branches in the chemical industry ­ it is spent major quantity of water (manufacture of polymeric ­ materials, washing of chemical fibres etc.). By manufacture ­ of chemical fibres of water it is spent in 25 times more, than at cast-iron melt. The factory of a synthetic fibre spends ­ for unit of finished goods to 6000 m3 water.

In all economic spheres, and also in manufacture of consumer goods plastic is widely used. ­ Plastic manufacture ­ is new, quickly developing branch of the chemical ­ industry. On mechanical properties plastic is strong, firm and easy, it do not influence neither an atmospheric precipitation, nor acid salts, alkalis. In plastic are inherent small heat conductivity and good electro-isolation properties. Despite ­ hardness, it can be processed (means compression­) sharp also­. Some kinds of plastic happen transparent, as glass­. This substance is a substitute of various metals, wood ­ and other materials. Of plastic make details of cars, electro-isolation materials, telephone and telegraphs­, radio equipment, ware, toys and other products­.

Kazakhstan having rich raw stocks will develop further the chemical industry, widely to introduce in manufacture new technologies.

New technologies have set of advantages:

1. The majority of a various source of raw materials turn ­ to especially valuable industrial products. These chemical mineral raw materials: apatites, phosphorites, potassium salts, food salt, sulphur, and also the mineral resources used in other industries: limestone, plaster, mineral fuel, especially oil, gas, coal, combustible slate, wood and other vegetative raw materials, air, water, agricultural raw materials.

2. In manufacture new kinds of raw materials - the combustible gases received at oil recovery, natural gases are involved.

3. The expensive raw materials are replaced cheap and more accessible.

4. Possibilities for complex use of raw materials are created: for example, from oil receive fuel, black oil and set of other products of organic synthesis.

5. Reception of new products from industrial wastes (ammonia - from coke gas, sulfuric acid - from sulphurous gas, etc.).

6. Reception from one kind of raw materials of several products, and on the contrary - one product from different kinds of raw materials.

Last years in our country it is given particular attention to development ­ of petrochemical branch. Joint-stock companies "Intercomtair", companies "Saranrubbertechnology" and "Karagandarubbertechnology" specialise on release tyre chambers, products from rubber.

Petrochemistry prospects are huge. Reconstructed Atyrau factory will be expanded, and benzene release is planned. At the further ­ processing styrene and polystyrene will be received. Demand for these materials, especially in Asia, including in China is very great.

Around settlement Tengiz of Atyrau area the petrochemical complex will be formed. Building of the first stage of integration gas - a chemical complex has begun. At this factory ­ 1,2 million release t base petrochemical production, namely based on etilen - and polyethylene production is planned­. For ­ project realisation the ­ necessary volume of investments should make 7 billion US dollars. The given strategy is calculated for 15 years.

Release of aromatic connections is considered. Along with it building of several factories is provided. Among them it is possible to note factory on bitumen release.