Fertilizer industry — processes, pollution control and energy conservation

273 " C h i n a o p t e d for e q u a l i t y because, w i t h o u t this o p t i o n , t h e o b j e c t i v e of m e e t i n g e v e r y o n e ' s needs c o u l d n o t have b e e n fulfilled. T h e c o n c e p t of basic n e e d s implies a 'social m i n i m u m ' for t h e u n d e r p r i v e l e g e d , b u t t h e r e is a c o r r e s p o n d i n g c o n c e p t of 'social m a x i m u m ' w h i c h c u r b s an i n d i v i d u a l ' s f r e e d o m to increase c o n s u m p t i o n b e y o n d t h e p r e s c r i b e d limits. T h i s is e n f o r c e d by t h e p r o d u c t i o n p a t t e r n w h i c h does n o t s u p p l y l u x u r y goods, b y an o w n e r s h i p p a t t e r n w h i c h does n o t give larger i n c o m e s to a n y o n e , a n d b y an ideological m o v e m e n t w h i c h f r o w n s o n wasteful c o n s u m p t i o n . T h e r e are also r e s t r i c t i o n s o n t h e m o v e m e n t of people. T h e average Chinese does n o t have full f r e e d o m t o c h o o s e a n e w place of residence or a new o c c u p a t i o n since t h e s o c i e t y ' s n e e d s for his services are c o n s i d e r e d m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n his o w n a s s e s s m e n t of his capacities o r his p r e f e r e n c e . "

This is a most interesting book which should be read by all those who are interested in rural development, and particularly by those engaged in taking aid to developing countries. The information in the book might well stimulate some self examination within the industrial societies where 'a large measure of economic well-being and an unprecedented degree of individual freedom seems to have produced greater inequalities and an excessively materialistic life-style'. In China, welfare for all at a satisfactory level has been achieved at the cost of some personal liberties. For other developing countries, and even the industrial societies, China's experience provides the basis for some serious thinking about our long-term objectives. If we do not like imposed discipline then perhaps we should be willing to apply some self discipline to attain those objectives. R.G. D O W N E S

(Eaglemont, Vie., Australia)

FERTILIZER INDUSTRY

Fertilizer Industry --Processes, Pollution Control and Energy Conservation. Marshall Sittig. Noyes Data Corporation, New Jersey, 1 9 7 9 . 2 0 4 pp. US $32.00, ISBN 0-815-50734-8. This book is best described by excerpts from its foreword: "This review deals with the production and handling of fertilizers giving special consideration to pollution control and energy c o n s e r v a t i o n . . . The technological information to be found here is based on studies carried out by research teams almost exclusively under the auspicies of various governmental agencies." The author has done a very good and readable job of summarizing the information contained in fourteen reports concerned largely with minimizing pollution and saving energy in the fertilizer industry. The first five chapters are as good an introduction to the U.S. fertilizer industry and description of the chemical processes in the industry as this reviewer has seen. The information contained in these chapters would serve as a good

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reference to anyone interested in the fertilizer industry. The following six chapters are much more specialized as they describe the characteristics and production of aqueous, airborne and solid waste and the current control and treatment technology for these wastes. The last two chapters discuss the energy requirements in fertilizer manufacturer and current economics of pollution control. A n y o n e interested in any of the topics covered by this book is not likely to find a better written or more readable source of this information. J.W. GILLIAM

(Raleigh, NC, U.S.A.)