nitrolee history of failed electro-chemical plant

Nitolee - Catawba River near Great Falls, SC

A failed plan to use excess hydroelectric power to make fertilizer.

One source for nitrogen where the Chile saltpeter (NaNO3), deposits that accounted for more than 60% of the world's supply for most of the

19th century. Other sources of nitrogen such as guano were discovered periodically, but were usually depleted within a few years.

Ammonia and nitrates were also produced from the destructive distillation of coal and as industrial by-products of other chemical

processes. Fertilizer with high nitrogen content provided good crop yield. These inorganic fertilizer elements were all originally extracted from mineral deposits. Deposits of phosphate rocks and potash have

been mined and used to provide sources of phosphorus and potassium. The only large mineral source of nitrogen, were Chile

saltpeter (NaNO3) deposits. Using a fertilizer with high nitrogen content provided good crop yield. The use of ammonia in fertilizer has made it the second most important chemical in the United States. It is the most

important source of nitrogen in fertilizers today

One source for nitrogen where the Chile saltpeter (NaNO3), deposits that accounted for more than 60% of the world's supply for most of the

19th century. Other sources of nitrogen such as guano were discovered periodically, but were usually depleted within a few years.

Ammonia and nitrates were also produced from the destructive distillation of coal and as industrial by-products of other chemical

processes. Fertilizer with high nitrogen content provided good crop yield. These inorganic fertilizer elements were all originally extracted from mineral deposits. Deposits of phosphate rocks and potash have

been mined and used to provide sources of phosphorus and potassium. The only large mineral source of nitrogen, were Chile

saltpeter (NaNO3) deposits. Using a fertilizer with high nitrogen content provided good crop yield. The use of ammonia in fertilizer has made it the second most important chemical in the United States. It is the most

important source of nitrogen in fertilizers today

In the early years of the 20th century, when the central Piedmont was growing, some men had plans to become industrial giants, almost all waterfalls and rapids along the larger rivers were thought of as dam sites and how many horsepower could be installed at a particular location. At Nitrolee, where Fishing Creek flows into the Catawba River, was an undeveloped waterfall of 20,000 hp. Duke Power planned to build a hydroelectric power plant there and did in 1916. Also Duke Power’s Southern Electro-Chemical Company started in 1911, but never finished, an electric arc plant to manufacture 4000 t/yr. of Ca2NO3 to replace Chilean sodium nitrate deposits a resource that was limited and subject to monopoly pricing. The process designed to use an electric arc, the nitrogen in air, plus water, sulfuric acid and limestone (marble) to make the fertilizer calcium nitrate. The formula chemistry is as follows:NO2 + 2H2O + H2SO4 + CaCO3 + electricity = H2CO3 + CaNO3

NO2 (in air) + 2H2O (water) + H2SO4 (sulpheric acid) + CaCO3 (marble or limestone) + electricity = H2CO3 (sodium bicarbonate) + CaNO3 (calcium nitrate)

Nitrogen fixation occurs in nature by the actions of lightning and bacteria. A flash of lightning unites nitrogen with oxygen to form nitric oxide (NO), which changes to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) upon cooling. Nitrogen dioxide

combines with water to form nitric acid (HNO3). The dilute acid falls to the earth and reacts with minerals in the soil to produce nitrates. The nitrate

form compounds necessary for cell growth. A greater amount of nitrogen is fixed by the action of bacteria in the soil and plant roots.

Figure 1 is a picture of the buildings on the site in 1911 or 1912 during construction.Duke brought in laborers from Germany to construct 75-foot high porcelain cooling towers. They imported brick from Germany.

Figure 1 is a picture of the buildings on the site in 1911 or 1912 during construction.Duke brought in laborers from Germany to construct 75-foot

high porcelain cooling towers. They imported brick from Germany.

Figure 2. Closer view of construction of the tower.

Figure 3. Completed or nearly compleded plant 1912/.

The plant at Nitrolee was never completed probably because Fritz Haber and Karl Bosch of Germany developed the

Haber - Bosch process, which proved to be more economical replacing all other processes.

In the Haber - Bosch process the reaction between nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas produces ammonia.

The process requires high temperatures and very high pressures along with catalysts or the yields are very small and

the reaction very slow.

Figures 4, Main arc building inside 1997.

Figure 5. Main arc building inside and outside.

Figure 6. Inside Transformer building

Figure 7. Main arc building outside.

Figure 8. The remains of a large metal tank for storing?.

Figure 9. A cement/concrete storage building?.

Figure 8 . Long building foundation remnants.

The electric arc process never had a chance, William Lee’s plans to

capture part of the fertilizer business was history.

The site is now wooded, the buildings decaying, some with

only foundations, some in amazingly good shape. In the

main arc building, the transformer coils still hang ghostly in the two

story red brick building.

Thank you Mr. Herbert Tibbs for your abiding friendship and

introduction to the area history.

The site, located on a peninsula between Fishing Creek and the Catawba River, was abandoned.Today, an interesting footnote to

the area history.Donald R. Privett,

Geologist