American Potash and Chemical Company
Encyclopedia
American Potash and Chemical Company (sometimes abbreviated as AMPOT) was a large chemical manufacturer in the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. It produced various chemicals for US industry and the US military. It was bought by Kerr-McGee Corporation in 1967, which reformed it into the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation around 1970.
It started by producing Borax
and Potash
from Searles Lake
, CA. In World War II
it diversified to other chemicals. In the 1950s it bought Eston Chemicals, Western Electrochemical, and the Lindsay Chemical Company and further diversified its product line. In the 60s it bought a large interest in Compagnie des Potases du Congo. In 1967 AMPOT was bought by Kerr-McGee
. Around 1970 Kerr-McGee reorganized and AMPOT became the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation which in 2006 was spun off as Tronox
.
When AMPOT bought the Lindsay Chemical Company it also got the Rare Earths Facility
in West Chicago, Illinois
.
It started by producing Borax
Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.Borax has a wide variety of uses...
and Potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
from Searles Lake
Searles Lake
Searles Lake is an endorheic dry lake in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, with the mining community, Trona on its western shore. The evaporite basin is approximately long and at its widest point, yielding 1.7 million tons annually of industrial minerals within the basin to...
, CA. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it diversified to other chemicals. In the 1950s it bought Eston Chemicals, Western Electrochemical, and the Lindsay Chemical Company and further diversified its product line. In the 60s it bought a large interest in Compagnie des Potases du Congo. In 1967 AMPOT was bought by Kerr-McGee
Kerr-McGee
The Kerr-McGee Corporation, founded in 1929, was an energy company involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas. On June 23, 2006, Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum Corporation agreed to acquire Kerr-McGee in an all-cash transaction totaling $16.5 billion plus the assumption of $2.6...
. Around 1970 Kerr-McGee reorganized and AMPOT became the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation which in 2006 was spun off as Tronox
Tronox
Tronox, Inc. is an Oklahoma City based chemical company involved in the manufacture of titanium dioxide pigment.It was formerly the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation. .- History :...
.
When AMPOT bought the Lindsay Chemical Company it also got the Rare Earths Facility
Rare Earths Facility
The Rare Earths Facility was a production plant for various chemicals and metals including thorium, uranium, and radium. It was located in West Chicago, Illinois, USA.-History:...
in West Chicago, Illinois
West Chicago, Illinois
West Chicago is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,469 at the 2000 census. It was formerly named Turner Junction after its founder, John B. Turner, president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad in 1855...
.