The Southern Electro-Chemical Company was created as a subsidiary of the Southern Power Company in 1911. Excess hydroelectric power generated at Great Falls and Rocky Creek would be utilized to manufacture fertilizers. The fertilizer process was a new process and was in an experimental state. Lead electrical engineer William States Lee of the Southern Power Company, created a plan to build Fishing Creek, a large dam that would provide additional electricity, and Nitrolee, the experimental plant. Nitrolee came before the dam which was completed in 1916. This new process would replace the expensive natural sodium nitrate deposits in Chile shipped to the US. A major part to this experimental processing was the electric arc. The Southern Power Company had electricity available for this use and plan a max output at 4000 tons a year. The new process to create fertilizers: Nitrogen in air + water + sulfuric acid + limestone + electric arc= ferilizer calcium nitrate Complicated parts: An electric arc with nitrogen and oxygen form nitric oxide and later becomes nitrogen dioxide after cooling. Nitrogen Dioxide combines with water to create nitric acid while the dilute acid falls to minerals in the soil creating nitrates. Complicated chemistry stuff? Yes. Please visit this slide show to understand how it all worked!!! http://www.slideshare.net/rocdoc3/nitrolee-history In 1913 a fast process in Germany replaced Nitrolee. The unfinished Nitrolee constructed 1911-1913 was abandoned about 1916 just as the hydroelectric plant Fishing Creek was finished. Shortly after 1916 the wooden processing buildings and lab were salvaged for the lumber while the furnace brick was dumped on the property. The experimental electric arc house is still standing. Discover the history and happenings of Nitrolee, read the story and history on the following images. http://www.slideshare.net/rocdoc3/nitrolee-great-falls-sc-catawba-river Most of the processing information, the picture, and history is from the link above. Please refer to this link for the chemistry but refer to this Google E-book for the expanded definite of Nitrolee. http://books.google.com/books?id=a2UUAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA45&dq=nitrolee&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yTf4Usa3H6mqsASkqICABQ&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=nitrolee&f=false |