Chemical industry in the United Kingdom

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The chemical industry in the United Kingdom is one of the UK's main manufacturing industries. At one time, the UK's chemical industry was a world leader. The industry has also been environmentally damaging, and includes radioactive nuclear industries.

Contents

History

Weston Point chemical works, off the M56, near Runcorn and the River Weaver and the Weaver Viaduct Weston Point at Night - geograph.org.uk - 445605.jpg
Weston Point chemical works, off the M56, near Runcorn and the River Weaver and the Weaver Viaduct

Alexander Parkes in 1855 develops the first plastic, in Birmingham, a form of celluloid. Daniel Spill, his assistant, develops it further, as xylonite. The American John Wesley Hyatt later tries to claim the patent, after developing another process for celluloid, with camphor, in 1869. The subsequent British Xylonite Company, formed in 1877, later becomes BX Plastics. A division, Cascelloid, formed in Leicestershire in 1919, becomes Palitoy. Another division, Halex, made sports products.

Sir William Henry Perkin FRS discovered the first synthetic dye mauveine in 1856, produced from aniline, having tried to synthesise quinine at his home on Cable Street in east London. Perkin's work, alone, led the way to the British chemical industry.

21% of the UK's chemical industry is in North West England, notably around Runcorn and Widnes. The chemical industry is 6.8% of UK manufacturing; around 85% of the UK chemical industry is in England.

It employs 500,000, including 350,000 indirectly.

It accounts for around 20% of the UK's research and development.

Timeline

Output

In 2015, the UK chemical industry exported £50bn of products. [1]

Below the UK chemical industry, the UK automotive industry exports £35bn, and the UK aerospace industry exports £32bn. [2]

Research

The industry employs about 30,000 in research and development. The industry invests £5bn in research. The UK automotive industry invests £2.7bn and the UK aerospace industry invests £2.1bn.

Centres of research include the National Formulation Centre at Sedgefield, the Advanced Propulsion Centre in Coventry, with the nearby UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, and the Centre for Process Innovation in the north east. Unilever Research & Development Port Sunlight Laboratory is in the north west. BP has the Sunbury Research Centre in south-west London.

Regulation

Regulation of the UK chemical industry is largely under the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals legislation (REACH).

Chemical plants

Teesside and Cheshire are areas with an established chemical industry. Significant chemical plants in the UK include:

Grangemouth chamicals plant (former BP, now Ineos), seen in July 2007 Falkirk industry area.JPG
Grangemouth chamicals plant (former BP, now Ineos), seen in July 2007
North Tees Works North Tees Works - geograph.org.uk - 502684.jpg
North Tees Works
P&G's London Plant Proctor and Gamble's manufacturing site - geograph.org.uk - 2555194.jpg
P&G's London Plant
Stallingborough Plant Chemical works near Immingham (4) - geograph.org.uk - 2691744.jpg
Stallingborough Plant

Former chemical plants

BP Baglan Bay Works, seen in September 197 Llandarcy geograph-3395834-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
BP Baglan Bay Works, seen in September 197

Companies

Significant chemical companies in the UK have been:

Organisations

Relevant organisations related to the UK chemical industry are the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), the Chemical Industries Association, and the Society of Chemical Industry. The chemical industry in Europe is represented by the European Chemical Industry Council or CEFIC.

See also

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References

  1. CIA 2015 report
  2. Department for Business and Trade
  3. UK Government Chemicals Sector Report 2017
  4. Times Wednesday 28 November 1951, page 8
  5. Times Friday 17 April 1964, page 22
  6. Times Tuesday 18 April 1961, page 18
  7. Times Tuesday 2 June 1964, page 7