Page 419 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

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CHEMICAL AND PETROLEUM

PROCESSING APPLICATIONS

30.1 Industry Overview

NAICS codes: all 32400s through the 32500s

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

15,738 chemical and petroleum operations in the United States
955,133 employees
$675.7 billion in annual sales
7.1 tons of solid waste generation per employee
Major waste streams: solidified sludge and office paper

Chemical manufacturing is divided into seven segments, six of which are covered
here: basic chemicals; synthetic materials, including resin, synthetic rubber, and arti-
ficial and synthetic fibers and filaments; agricultural chemicals, including pesticides,
fertilizer, and other agricultural chemicals; paint, coatings, and adhesives; cleaning
preparations, including soap, cleaning compounds, and toilet preparations; and other
chemical products.
The basic chemicals segment produces various petrochemicals, gases, dyes, and
pigments. Petrochemicals contain carbon and hydrogen and are made primarily from
petroleum and natural gas. The production of both organic and inorganic chemicals
occurs in this segment. Organic chemicals are used to make a wide range of products,
such as dyes, plastics, and pharmaceutical products; however, the majority of these
chemicals are used in the production of other chemicals. Industrial inorganic chemicals
usually are made from salts, metal compounds, other minerals, and the atmosphere. In
addition to producing solid and liquid chemicals, firms involved in inorganic chemical

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