Preparation of Recrystallization of Aspirin

Preparation of Recrystallization of Aspirin 1. Synopsis This experiment serves 2 objectives the production of Aspirin from esterification of salicylic acid with excess acetic anhydride and obtaining it in a purer state by recrystallisation, hence determines the melting point of the acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) that was synthesised and purified. To achieve this, salicylic acid is reacted with excess acetic anhydride in the presence of the sulphuric acid as the catalyst, which produces precipitate ASA and aqueous acetic acid. I applied suction filtration to collect the ASA as the residue having acetic acid as the filtrate. Pure aspirin is a white crystalline solid. The aspirin initially produced by synthesis may be light tan, indicating the presence of impurities. The ASA synthesis earlier is purified by recrystallization. In recrystallization, the impure solid is dissolved in a hot solvent (aqueous ethanol) and the resulting solution is allowed to cool slowly. As the solution cools, crystals of the product will form and soluble impurities will remain in solution. From this experiment, the percentage yield of ASA is around 49%, using capillary test the melting point of ASA falls in the rage of 137.9-140.5 0 C. The appearance of ASA is an odourless, white, needle-shaped and shiny solid. In conclusion, experiment is a success. Despite product had a low percent yield and was found to be impure due to its low melting point. 2. Introduction Aspirin is the trade name for the molecule acetylsalicylic acid. The earliest known use of this molecule has been traced back to the fifth century B.C. The Greek physician Hippocrates described an extract of willow tree bark, a bitter powder that could be used to reduce fevers. In 1829, Salicin was isolated from willow bark and used as a pain reliever. Unfortunately Salicin was not very popular since it was found to be very acidic and a stomach irritant. In 1897 Felix Hoffman, a German chemist, was working for the Bayer chemical company. Hoffman wanted to formulate for a less acidic pain reliever as his father could consume for his arthritis. His studies led to the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or aspirin. Bayer patented the name and commenced to market the product in 1899. It was a huge success and sales grew rapidly. In fact, the company set up by Friedrich Bayer Company is generally considered to have been the first pharmaceutical company, and the production of aspirin has indisputably laid the base of the modern pharmaceutical industry. Only until the 1970s that scientists starts to comprehend the concept on how aspirin function as a pain reliever. Today 80 billion aspirin tablets are taken every year over the al the countries to reduce fevers, relieve pain, and even help prevent heart attacks. Bayer In commercial aspirin products, a small amount of ASA (300 to 400 mg) is bound together with a starch binder and sometimes caffeine and buffers to make an aspirin tablet. The basic conditions in the small intestine break down the ASA to yield salicylic acid, which is absorbed into the bloodstream. The addition of a buffer reduces the irritation caused by the carboxylic acid group of the aspirin molecule. 3. Theory Esters are organic compounds with the general formula RCOOR, where R and R can be an alkyl group or an aromatic group. Alkyl group is an alkane that is short of one hydrogen since it needs one bond to be branched from the parent chain. Aromatic compounds are a class of molecules containing benzene, a six-membered carbon rings with delocalized pi electrons. This type of group is found in salicyclic acid and ASA. Esters are readily synthesized by the reaction between a carboxylic acid, RCOOH, and an alcohol, ROH, as shown in the following reaction. The reaction above is also known as esterification. It is a condensation reaction, whereby two molecules combine to form one single molecule, while removing a small molecule (e.g. H2O) in the process. The reaction to I have used synthesis ASA is very similar to the one above. Salicylic acid a phenol consisting of a phenyl bonded to the hydroxyl (-OH) which is very much alike to alcohol and acetic Anhydride is a dehydrated carboxylic acid (acetic acid). In the below reaction we use concentrated sulphuric acid as the catalyst. After the warm bath to complete the reaction, we added cold water to quench the reaction (hydrolysis of acetic anhydride) to prevent further reaction to take place. The cold water must be added quickly as to allow fast crystal formations due to the drastic drop in temperature. Stir and rub the walls can create uneven surfaces hence inducing crystallization. ). As such, in this experiment, 2.4 grams of salicylic acid should yield 3.13 grams of Aspirin, it is stated that acetic anhydride is in excess. This is proven by the following calculation: Mol of salicylic acid in this experiment: 2.4(2d.p)/138 = 0.0174 (3 s.f.) Mol of salicylic acid : Mol of Aspirin 1 : 1 Therefore, Mol of Aspirin: 0.0174/1 x 1 = 0.0174 (3 s.f.) Expected mass of Aspirin: 0.017391 x 180 = 3.130 (3 dec.) The solid ASA formed contains impurities and should be recrystallised to achieve a purer state. Recrystallization is possible because most solids are more soluble in hot solvents than in cold solvents. The solubility of ASA increases as temperature increases. This means that if aspirin is dissolved in ethanol to produce a saturated solution and that solution is cooled, the aspirin will crystallize during the cooling. Ethanol has been chosen as the solvent because the polar nature of the hydroxyl group causes ethanol to dissolve many ionic compounds, moreover the ethanol molecule also has a non-polar end, and it will also dissolve non-polar substances. While cooling, crystallization takes place. In crystallization, there is a slow, selective formation of the crystal framework resulting in a pure compound. Instead in precipitation, due to the rapid formation it will trap impurities in the solids crystal framework. For this reason, we should include crystallization to get a purer solid substance. The alternate way of synthesising the aspirin can be produced by replacing the acetylating agent from acetic anhydride to an even more acidic acid known as acetyl chloride CH3COCl. This can increase the percentage yield of ASA, since acetyl chloride is more acidic. The reaction of acetyl chloride with salicylic acid is showed below. However, the by-product is hydrochloric acid (HCl) instead of acetic acid. However, Acetic anhydride is preferred because it is less hazardous to use and less expensive than acetyl chloride. In industry, the acetic acid produced in this reaction can be recovered and converted back into acetic anhydride by the process known as dehydration: We may also create or Salicylic acid from Kolbes reaction whereby we start with a phenol: 4. Procedure Approximately 2.4 grams of salicylic acid is weighed and placed in a dry, 100ml conical flask. 6ml of acetic anhydride is added into the same conical flask, along with 3-4 drops of concentrated H2SO4 as catalyst. The conical flask is then heated at 80-100 degree C in a water bath for 10 to 15 minutes to hasten the reaction. 1ml of distilled H2O is added into the conical flask immediately after it is removed from water bath. 40ml of cold distilled H2O is then added to the conical flask. A stirring rod is used to gently rub the side of the conical flask. This is to scratch off crystals which have formed. Suction filtration is then carried out to remove the crystals from the solution. The crystals are removed from the filter paper. To ensure accuracy, cold distilled H2O is used to wash away remaining crystals from the filter paper. The crystals are then dissolved in 5ml of ethanol. 30ml of hot, distilled H2O is added into the solution, and slowly cooled. Crystallisation of Aspirin will take place as the solution is cooled to room temperature. Suction filtration is done to remove the Aspirin from the solution. The residue is then placed on a watch glass along with the filter paper. Aspirin is then dried by placing it in the oven for 20 minutes, along with the watch glass and filter paper. It will then be transferred to the desiccators for 15 minutes to further dry it. The crystals remained on the filter paper would be pure, dry, Aspirin. The following measurements are taken: Actual weight of salicylic acid is weighed at (1). Weight of filter paper and watch glass is taken. Weight of Aspirin, along with watch glass and filter paper, is taken after (15). After obtaining Aspirin, the melting point of Aspirin is then determined using the capillary method. 5. Results and Calculation Mass Mass of salicylic acid (a) = 2.39 g Mass of filter paper watch glass (b) = 33.11 g Mass of dried, recrystallised aspirin, filter paper watch glass (c) = 34.64 g Mass of dried, recrystallised aspirin (d) = (c) (b) = 34.64-33.11 = 1.53 g Percent yield Number of moles of salicylic acid used (e) = 0.0173 mol (Molecular weight of salicylic acid = 138) Expected number of moles of aspirin (f) = 0.0173 mol Expected mass of aspirin (g) = 3.12 g (Molecular weight = 180) Melting point Temperature range 137.9-140.5Â °C Appearance Needle shaped, white, and shiny. 6. Discussion My percentage yield ASA is relatively low since it is only 49%. This may occur due to several factors: While transferring the salicylic acid, some of the solid may stay at the side of the conical flask and even your spactula, and resulting in lesser salicylic acid participating in the process of esterification compared to what have been weighed earlier. Thus, this will result in lower yield of the crystal ASA. It will be advisable to wash the walls with distilled water to ensure more salicylic acid will participate in the reaction. When dissolving the initial amount of salicylic acid in the solution of acetic anhydride and concentrated sulphuric acid, it did not completely dissolve into the solution, even when it was heated. This could have a slight impact on the results of the overall yield of aspirin because it was possible that not all of the salicylic acid was synthesized. To determine if this affected the synthesis of aspirin at all, the experiment should have been ran a second time to see if the same thing occurred. The iron (III) chloride test also could have been ran to determine if any of the aspirin degraded to salicylic acid or never converted from salicylic acid. During the suction filtration we should rinse the solid ASA formed in the conical flask and the glass rod during the synthesis before pouring into the BÃ ¼chner funnel repeatedly. After the final suction filtration, another error causes the percentage yield to drop. This is due to the crystals not being fully collected on the filter paper, but rather, remains on the side of the Buchner funnel. This loss can be minimized by the crystals from the side of the BÃ ¼chner funnel to the filter paper moving using a metal spatula before collecting the filter paper and placing it on the watch glass. During recrystallization, one common error of adding too much solvent (ethanol) will result in less percentage yield while cooling. We should refrain from moving or shifting the solution while it is cooling as it will interrupt the crystal formation since the particles are generally held by weak dispersion forces, dipole-dipole forces, and hydrogen bond. We should also allow slow crystal formation as fast crystal formation will cause the trap of impurities and giving higher percentage yield. With the presence of impurities the melting point will decrease and vary in a larger range. 7. Conclusion In conclusion, the experiment is a success since I have managed to synthesis and recrystallise the ASA although we have relatively low percentage yield of 49% that may arise due to several factors as stated in the discussion. I was able to analysis the melting point of the recrystallised aspirin and it is generally low in temperature which implies the presence of impurities.

The South Africa Overview Economics Essay

The authorities of South Africa is a Republic and the overall population is 50 million. The service sector is the major sector in South Africa with 65 part in the state ‘s GDP. The major import beginnings associated with South Africa are China, Germany, USA and Japan and the major export market are China, USA, Japan and Germany.Main beginnings of foreign exchange of South AfricaPlatinum ( 14 % ) , gold ( 8 % ) , coal ( 5.5 % ) , autos ( 3.5 % )Main disbursals of foreign exchangePetrochemicals ( 12 % ) , auto constituents ( 10 % ) , crude oil ( 4 % )Energy state of affairsSouth Africa has a big coal and mineral ( Pt, manganese, chrome, gold, U ) militias. Despite a well-developed man-made fuel production, 90 % of oil has to be imported.South Africa and the WorldSouth Africa is ranked 31st harmonizing to GDP and 129th harmonizing to Human Development Index and the major sectors are Agriculture, Technology, Textiles and Chemicals harmonizing to diary by Thomas White- Global Invest ing Co.POLITICS AND GOVERNANCEPolitical state of affairs: Reasonably stableHead of state/government: President Jacob Zuma ( since May 2009 ) South Africa runs by a democratically elected parliament and the major resistance portion there is Democratic Alliance. National Assembly and National Council of Provinces are the two chief parliaments with National Assembly being the more powerful and responsible.BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT South Africa was ranked 34 harmonizing to World Bank in 2010 and 2nd on the African continent. Restrictions to make concern in South Africa are really limited and the market is besides really crystalline. South Africa ‘s concern substructure is good established with good rail, route and airdrome substructure, advanced IT systems and good communicating web. The state is unfastened to foreign direct investing with both corporate concern and private persons.PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND TAXATIONThe statute law which mentioned that foreign companies may non be able to borrow more than tierce of the purchase monetary value of any belongings if the company ‘s major stockholders are registered outside of South Africa, is no longer applicable. The new statute law effected from 1st January 2011. There are no limitations on ownership of commercial belongingss. However, the statute law for private persons purchasing belongings in South Africa remains the same and non-residents can merely measure up for a place loan of up to 50 % of the value of the belongingsTrade GROUP MEMBERWorld Trade Organization ( WTO ) : South Africa is a member of the World Trade Organization. Southern African Customs Union ( SACU ) : South Africa has been a member of the Southern African Customs Union and the members of SACU include Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho. The understanding footings of SACU province that members use the South African duty as the common external duty and goods are traded free of responsibilities and quotas between member provinces Southern African Development Community ( SADC ) : -South Africa has besides been a member of the Southern African Development Community and the members include Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe. SADC has committed itself to the creative activity of a free trade country ( FTA ) by subscribing a protocol on trade at SADC Summit in 1996.BILATERAL Trade Agreements:South Africa has bilateral trade understandings with the undermentioned states or groups of states: Nyasaland: A bilateral understanding between South Africa and Malawi, provided the discriminatory rates of responsibility, discounts and ordinances on certain goods traded between the two states. Due to the understanding signed between them, goods that belonged to Malawian beginning can easy come in South Africa duty-free. The goods of South Africa that enters Malawi, receive the most-favored-nation rate of responsibility. Rhodesia: A bilateral understanding between South Africa and Zimbabwe provided for discriminatory rates of responsibility, discounts and quotas on certain goods traded between them and some new footings were added to it in the twelvemonth 1996. The footings included decreased duties and quota degrees on fabric imports into South Africa. The farther possibility of the understanding is that, the extension would be to other sectors such as agricultural. Mocambique: The bilateral understanding between the two of them have been chiefly for modulating mine labour, railroad and port affairs, and trade. The understanding has non been a really utile one and hence a really few figure of Mozambian goods receive duty penchant from South Africa. Citations: South Africa provides for protection for points that are listed on the endangered species list. It ‘s a party to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) . European Union: -The European Union and South Africa signed a Free Trade Agreement ( FTA ) in 1999. The understanding will be phased in over a 10 to twelve twelvemonth period and will basically liberalise 86 % of South Africa ‘s imports from the EU and approximately 95 % of EU imports from South Africa. The overall understanding meets WTO demands of 90 % coverage.Document RequirementThe paperss required in importing are a commercial bill, measure of cargo, insurance paperss and packing list.IMPORT DUTIESThe import responsibility rates rangeA from zero to 30 % with a few exclusions, vesture industry, fabrics industry and motor industry merchandises. Import TAXESValue added revenue enhancement ( VAT )The ratings of imported goods for VAT is based on the f.o.b value plus 14 % of the value already considered with extra imposts responsibility.South Africa Import ProhibitionsThe merchandises which are prohibited for import in South Africa are drugs and narcotics, adult or obnoxious stuffs, workss, seeds, bulbs, natural cotton, uncooked meat/poultry, beeswax, honey, bees and their larvae or eggs, used beehive contraptions, , ammo, dry ice, furniture, unwrought gold, untrimmed diamonds, pelts.INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICADue to the bilateral dealingss between theA Republic of IndiaA and theA Republic of South Africa strong strategic, cultural and economic ties have been there since the terminal ofA apartheidA in South Africa in 1994. India and South Africa besides portion an extended energy partnership. In 2010, India imported 1.4 million metric tons of South African coal in February, doing it the largest buyer of coal from the state.BackgroundThere is a major residentA IndianA community in South Africa.A Mohandas Karamchand GandhiA had commenced his political-legal calling in South Africa in the 1890s and 1900s, experimenting withA civil noncompliance, to better the quality of life of the Indians life at that place. During theA 2003 Cricket World CupA a statue of him was unveiled inA PietermaritzburgA byA Sourav Ganguly, the captain of theA Indian national cricket squad.Development of bilateral dealingssIn 1994 both states established diplomatic dealingss after the terminal of apartheid. Indian authorities awarded South African leaderA Nelson MandelaA theA Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize. Both states have besides promoted featuring ties, with theA Indian national cricket teamA and theA South Africa national cricket teamA often interchanging visits and take parting in cricket tourneies hosted by either state.Economic tiesIn 2005-06 the Bilateral tradeA grew exponentially fromA USDA 3 million in 1992-93 to USD 4 billion, and the two authoritiess have targeted increasing bilateral trade to USD 12 billion by 2010.A Gold bullionA constitute tierce of India ‘s imports from South Africa, while India glosss and processesA diamondsA from South African mines.A South Africa has promoted subscribing aA free trade agreementA with India and theA Southern Africa Customs UnionA ( SACU ) , which includesA Botswana, A Lesotho, A NamibiaA andA SwazilandA along with South Africa. Bharti AirtelA was scheduled to acquireA MTNA to do one of the universe ‘s largest telecommunications companies, and besides touted as measure inA South-South cooperation. The South African authorities ofA Jacob Zuma, nevertheless rejected trade on the evidences that MTN would non be as South African any longer amid concerns of dual-listing on the Indian and South African stock exchanges.Military tiesMilitary cooperation, trading weaponries and joint exercisings and plans to develop forces have been developed by India and South Africa.IBSA ( India, Brazil, South Africa )India and South Africa signed an understanding withA Brazil, known as the Brasilia Declaration On June 6, 2003. The declaration called for extended three-party cooperation on strategic, cultural and commercial affairs.A A The three states have besides expanded military cooperation and conducted joint naval exercisings in 2008.India and South Africa Exploring Trade AgreementThe trade between two states continues to see strong growing as on Aug. 31 – India and South Africa are looking into subscribing a comprehensive bilateral trade understanding. India ‘s Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said â€Å" We are traveling to analyze a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and South Africa, as the state is a strategic spouse, † while at the â€Å" India Show † in Johannesburg. Bilateral trade between the two has been increasing steadily over the last few old ages, with trade figures lifting from US $ 7.5 billion in the 2008-2009 financial twelvemonth to US $ 7.9 billion over 2009-2010. Both states agreed to seek and hit the US $ 10 billion milepost by 2011-2012 While South African President Jacob Zuma was in New Delhi this past June, but that may hold underestimated the trade potency between the two states as bilateral trade has already reached US $ 2.7 billion through the first one-fourth. Sharma said â€Å" It ( the US $ 10 billion trade mark ) is good below possible. I think it is accomplishable by 2011. Then we can look at higher rates † . â€Å" The chances are illimitable. South African corporations are coming to India with optimism. † Sharma besides said that he hopes to wrap up a limited free trade understanding between India and the Southern African Customs Union ( SACU ) every bit shortly as possible. The SACU is made up of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. The 5th unit of ammunition of negotiations over duty decreases and other barriers to merchandise Union representatives will go to New Delhi following month.India-SACU ( Southern African Customs Union ) Framework AgreementSouth Africa is the largest, most diverse and most sophisticated state in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) three times that of Nigeria or Egypt. South Africa ‘s economic substructure dominates Africa though it covers less than 4 % of the continent and accommodates less than 6 % of its population. South Africa provides more than half of the electricity end product of Africa, moves more tunnage through its ports, has more air conveyance installations than all the other states of Southern, Central and Eas t Africa together. The figure of motor vehicles at about 5 million in that state is more than half of those in the remainder of Africa. South Africa has besides the advantage of a developed and systematic banking system. With a common usage duty policy, South Africa along with Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia has formed the Southern African Customs Union ( SACU ) . Since most of the imported goods enter the sub-region through South African ports, a system of usage gross sharing is in topographic point. South Africa and India are members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation. South Africa is a member of the World Trade Organisation and has besides finalised a free trade and development understanding with European that provides for gradual liberalization of the two manner trade between South Africa and European Union. The degree of bilateral trade between India and South Africa is rather low at nowadays. South Africa is non a major export finish for India ; neither is the latter calculation in the list of chief merchandising spouses of South Africa. Less than one per cent of India ‘s exports go to South Africa. However, in the last few old ages bilateral trade has recorded a double-digit growing rate between the states. Following this meeting, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade ( IIFT ) was assigned to carry on a desktop survey for determining the feasibleness of come ining into a Discriminatory Trade Agreement ( PTA ) /Free Trade Agreement ( FTA ) between India and South Africa. The survey concluded that more than 50 % of India ‘s exports are subjected to a duty of less than 10 % in South Africa and merely 33 % are confronting a duty rate of more than 20 % . On the other manus, 55 % of imports from South Africa face high duties of more than 20 % in India. Merely 34 % of imports from South Africa are subjected to moo duty of 10 % and below. The leaden mean duties in India and South Africa are 22.89 % and 16.35 % severally. The survey concluded that even though the duty rates are more in India, the gross loss that would ensue from bilateral riddance of duty is greater in South Africa. The gross loss in South Africa is projected to be 1.4 times the gross loss in India. The survey besides suggested that as South Africa has a reasonably big import market, an Agreement with South Africa Prima facie is of importance because of its geographical location and rank of sub-regional trade understandings. Subsequently on, South Africa sought verification whether they can include other spouses of SACU for negociating a Comprehensive Trade Agreement. This suggestion was examined by Ministry of External Affairs in audience and the authorization was given to negociate with SACU as a group and non South Africa separately.FDI Scenario in South AfricaHarmonizing to the 2012 World Investment Report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ) , South Africa led the sub-region as foreign direct investing ( FDI ) inflows into sub-Saharan Africa jumped by 25 % in 2011. The study, released in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday, shows that FDI inflows to sub-Saharan Africa soared from US $ 29.5-billion in 2010 to $ 36.9-billion in 2011, a degree comparable to the extremum of $ 37.3-billion achieved in 2008, prior to the oncoming of the planetary fiscal crisis. FDI to South Africa rebounded from $ 1.23-billion in 2010 to $ 5.81-billion, doing South Africa the second-biggest FDI finish on the continent in 2011 after Nigeria, which procured $ 8.92-billion in FDI.Oil, gas manufacturers still dominantGhana ( $ 3.22-billion ) , Congo ( $ 2.93-billion ) , and Algeria ( $ 2.57-billion ) completed the top five African FDI finishs by Unctad ‘s calculation, underlining the laterality of oil- or gas-producing states – South Africa being the exclusive exclusion. Another important African oil manufacturer, Angola, besides received important investing influxs, harmonizing to Unctad, â€Å" but divestment and repatriated net incomes by multinational corporations rendered net influxs negative † . The one-year study found, Continuing addition in trade good monetary values and a comparatively positive economic mentality for sub-Saharan Africa were among the factors lending to the turnaround. For Africa as a whole, entire FDI influxs declined. However, this was due to a bead in FDI to North Africa, with influxs to traditional strong performing artists Egypt and Libya coming to a arrest as consequence of drawn-out political and societal instability in those states.Improved investor perceptual experiencesUnctad said, Overall the continent ‘s FDI chances for 2012 were promising, â€Å" as strong economic growing, current economic reforms and high trade good monetary values have improved investor perceptual experiences of the continent. † South Africa ‘s FDI inflows for 2011 accounted for 13.6 % of Africa ‘s entire as per Unctad ‘s figures, while amounting to 31.8 % of the state ‘s gross domestic merchandise ( GDP ) in 2011 – up from 9.9 % in 1995. Jorge Maia, research caput at South Africa ‘s Industrial Development Corporation, who presented Unctad ‘s study locally, said the state ‘s investing policy government was â€Å" rather broad compared to other states † â€Å" South Africa is non merely rich in natural resources, it besides has really good substructure comparative to its equals and really good proficient accomplishments, † Business Day reported Maia as stating. Leon Myburgh, sub-Saharan Africa strategian at Citigroup, told Business Day that Africa was executing good in most developed markets and some emerging markets besides. â€Å" Give its comparatively low rate of development, there are high chances for investing across the continent, either for new concern or substructure, † Myburgh told Business Day. â€Å" These are being exploited and will go on to be exploited in approaching old ages.ECONOMIC ENGINESAgribusinessAgribusiness is good organized though a really minor subscriber to the overall GDP. Large piece of lands of land, together with a long 1875 stat mi coastline, foster the production of a broad scope of Marine and agricultural merchandises. Africa has a double agricultural economic system catering to both commercial and subsistence based production. Maize, wheat, sugar cane, oats, and helianthuss are the state ‘s major agricultural merchandises. South Africa ‘s agricultural sector boasts some clear competitory advantages. First, the state ‘s turning season is reverse than that of Europe, offering complementary market chances. It besides has good developed cold concat enation installations and ports. A resource rich state, South Africa boasts an copiousness of mineral resources. In fact, the wealth of the state has been built on these resources. It holds about 90 % of the Pt metals on Earth, 80 % of the manganese, 73 % of the chrome, 45 % of the V and 41 % of the gold. The excavation industry is the biggest employer, with around 460,000 employees and another 400,000 employed by the providers of goods and services to the industry.Gold productionGold production, which one time formed the anchor of the economic system, has lost its lustre in recent old ages. In 2007, China displaced South Africa as the universe ‘s largest gold manufacturer. 95 % of South Africa ‘s gold mines are belowground operations, making deepnesss of over 3.8 kilometers. With worsening classs, increased deepness of excavation and excavation costs, and a slide in gilded monetary value in the 1990s, production fell. As one of the universe ‘s largest manufacturer s of gold, South Africa is more susceptible to slouch in monetary value because its deep degree mines are the highest cost manufacturers in the universe. However, the sector should see a resurgence in the current twelvemonth, on the dorsum of lifting gold monetary values. However, South Africa ‘s excavation sector continues to be the top FDI receiver for the state.Vehicle productionSouth Africa ‘s vehicle production is going a flourishing industry every bit good. It is the 2nd largest country in the fabrication sector and the fastest growth. Almost every planetary car major, has its operations based in South Africa.Other major industriesOther major industries in South Africa are chemicals fabricating, metals processing and pharmaceuticals. South Africa hosts a figure of superior quality infirmaries and well-trained medical staff which has helped enticement investings into the pharmaceutical sector. The fertiliser industry besides looks assuring due to the state ‘s large-scale diversified agricultural sector. Expansion in the Information and Communications Technology and electronics industry has besides been phenomenal, with the mean growing of the state exceling the universe norm. Yet, all is non cheery in Eden. The fabric industry has taken a hit due to increasing competition from Chinese goods. The South Africans have responded with new advanced fabric merchandises contending back. The production of improved parachute cloth, technically knitted cloth used in bomb disposal, fire deceleration kits and specialised medical fabrics are doing their grade in niche markets.Servicess sectorThe services sector is the major subscriber to the GDP. It comprises of fiscal services, touristry, retail gross revenues and telecommunications. South Africa possesses a robust and mature fiscal services sector, which is comparable to the best in the universe. The state ‘s banking sector has a good representation of foreign Bankss and offers modern services like a countrywide web of ATMs and Internet banking services. Mzansi, South Africa ‘s advanced new low-priced banking strategy provides banking services to more than 3.3-million low-income earners – a huge and turning market antecedently untapped by the fiscal sector.Johannesburg Stock ExchangeThe Johannesburg Stock Exchange is the lone stock exchange in the state and the 16th largest in the universe with 400 listed companies. Keeping the differentiation as the fourth-largest emerging market finish for investings, the exchange mopped up $ 9.4 billion in 2005, up from $ 1.5 billion a decennary before.SOUTH AFRICA: A Market FOR Clothing FROM AFRICAA domestic industry in problem has meant a booming import tradeaˆÂ ¦South Africa ‘s vesture sector has been in a province of convulsion and diminution for the last five old ages. The continued growing in imports ( peculiarly from lower-cost manufacturers such as China ) and the strengthening of the South African rand ( R ) against the United States dollar are the two factors blamed for the diminution in local production. However, if makers were honorable with themselves, they would see that the jobs run deeper than external issues. The industry is enduring from old ages of disregard in the countries of engineering and accomplishments. This has made the sector mostly uncompetitive. Whilst the Government is turn toing these issues through a Customised Sector Programme ( CSP ) and more late through the Textile and Clothing Industry Development Programme ( TCIDP ) , harmonizing to critics this steps are viewed as being excessively small excessively late and the sector is non expected to do any dramatic recovery in the short term. The inability of the local industry to fulfill demand for vesture from retail merchants offers an chance for developing state exporters to provide a broad scope of merchandises to the South African market. In 2009, vesture imports, excepting imports from Member States of the Southern African Customs Union ( SACU ) , amounted to US $ 966.6 million. If the figures from SACU are added to this, entire vesture imports in 2009 amounted to US $ 1.1 billion. Harmonizing to Comtrade informations, this would do South Africa the universe ‘s 25th largest importer of vesture. Over the period 2005 to 2009, vesture imports rose well by every bit much as 42 % . Whilst this addition reflects the diminution in the domestic fabrication sector, it besides indicates the perkiness of the market for consumer goods in South Africa. This perkiness is partially due to the go oning growing of a strong in-between category with entree to larger disposable incomes.The vesture points most in demandaˆÂ ¦In 2009, Women ‘s and miss ‘s jackets, frocks, skirts, pants, trunkss non knitted ( HS 6204 ) , work forces ‘s and male childs ‘ jackets, pants, trunkss non knitted ( HS 6203 ) , knitted jerseies ( HS 6109 ) , knitted New Jerseies and cardigans ( HS 6110 ) , and woven work forces ‘s or male childs ‘ shirts ( HS 6205 ) accounted for 50 % of vesture imports. These are the classs with the highest demand. The merchandise classs that showed the highest growing ( albeit sometimes off a low base ) from 2005 to 2009 are work forces ‘s and male child ‘s greatcoats, parkas, air current deceivers and similar articles, knitted ) ; adult females ‘s and misss ‘ greatcoats, parkas, air current deceivers and similar articles ; knitted work forces ‘s and male childs ‘ vests and other waistcoats, underpants, Jockey shortss, pajama, and similar articles ; adult females ‘s hose ( which rose by every bit much as 165 % ) ; and ties, bow ties and cravats. These offer possible niche markets for competitory manufacturers.China and the remainder of Asia are the largest providers of imports by faraˆÂ ¦At present, over 70 % of vesture imports in South Africa come from Asia, with China entirely lending 59 % of entire vesture imports in 2009. This reflects the nature of the South African market for dressing which is chiefly geared towards the price reduction termi nal ; for this market buying determinations are based on monetary value. Botswana performed highly good in South Africa over the five old ages to 2009, spread outing its supplies by a monolithic 261 % to their current degree. The state now provides 14 % of South Africa ‘s vesture imports. India remains in 3rd place despite a diminution of 2 % in imports over the five-year period. Mauritius is the 4th largest provider and imports from this state have performed highly good, registering a 476 % addition over the period. However, there have been positive signals to exporters in Africa by cardinal alterations in the form of sourcing. In 2005, China accounted for 70 % of all vesture imports ; Asia itself accounted for over 80 % of entire imports. Local retail merchants and importers were forced to diversity their provider base due to infliction of quotas on selected vesture imports from China for a period of two old ages from January 2007.There are niche markets for African exporters to exploreaˆÂ ¦South Africa has a market for large-size vesture that companies in Asia by and large do non hold the capacity to provide. A vesture company with the ability to serve this market section could happen good chances. It besides has a market for companies that are able to work with little minimal orders. Companies of Asia frequently work with minimal order sizes that are far larger than the volumes little and average sized operators in South Africa are able to put. The market for â€Å" green † cloths is turning strongly. Good chances are at that place for companies bring forthing garments from organic cotton or bamboo fiber in South Africa. In add-on, there are the markets for particular goods which the South African vesture industry does non hold the capacity to bring forth. These include points like cushioned jackets, insouciant woven tops and undersides with embellishment-generally anything that requires sophisticated lavation and coating. All these merchandises are imported. The market for babe wear and kids ‘s wear, for which there is limited local fabrication capacity, is besides mature for the picking.Targeting retail merchants straight is the best attack to the marketaˆÂ ¦Approaching the market of South African can sometimes be hard. Retailers, importers and agents tend to purchase from tested and sure beginnings, doing entry into the market a challenge for new providers. A direct attack to retail merchants is frequently the most effectual manner of capturing their attending. It would be wise for companies with strong design abilities to aim retail merchants in their selling runs as a manner of doing their companies known. South Africa offers a platform for making retail merchants through International Apparel, Textile, Footwear and Machinery Fair, held yearly in Cape Town. All the big purchasers and agents gather the carnival. A figure of states choose to put up state marquees at this just. Such marquees work good as they non merely market specific companies but the capablenesss of the single state as a whole.Fashionability is keyaˆÂ ¦The retail sector of South African follows the European market really closely and purchasers will look foremost and first at the fashionability of the merchandise lines proposed by new providers before inquiring inquiries on volumes, bringing and monetary value. Hence Samples or snap presented to retail merchants ever need to be in the latest manners.But attachment to labeling ordinances is besides importantaˆÂ ¦South Africa has stringent labeling demands. All imported vesture must transport labels with the undermentioned information: state of beginning, attent ion instructions, fiber content. Press has late criticized companies that do non use labeling demands strictly. As a consequence, the governments are now clamping down on vesture bearing labels that fail to run into demands.

Campus life Essay

Why do you want to transfer to Carolina, and what do you believe you will contribute to campus life and what can I contribute for campus life? I want to transfer to the University of North Carolina because I believe it is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. Basically, I believe that the school’s excellent academic programs and comfortable environment would greatly help me in developing my career. Moreover, I believe that I would be receiving high-quality education as the school has highly-competent instructors and professors. In other words, I would be learning from the best, and in effect, I could potentially excel in my chosen career. Furthermore, since the university is located in an area rich in culture, political history, and working opportunities, I believe that I can broaden my perspective regarding various aspects of the country while earning enough to live a decent life. In other words, I believe that I will have a bright future in the university as it will provide me with not only the best education, but also an environment that is easy to adapt to. If I am blessed and fortunate enough to be admitted to the University of North Carolina, I believe that I would be able add more to its success with my various skills. Being an international student, I believe I can contribute to its cultural diversity as my peers would be able to learn more from my culture and I, in turn, would be able to learn from them. In addition, I believe that my passion and my skills in playing the saxophone would also allow me to actively participate in musical activities. In short, I believe that the UNC would not only help in my personal growth, but also allow me to become a well-rounded and highly competent professional in my chosen career after I graduate.

Research Papers on Congestion Pricing for Parking in San Francisco

Introduction San Francisco is about to have a reduced congestion in terms of parking. This is to be achieved through installation of about 5,000 smart parking meters. The meters have the capability of accepting payments from debit cards, credit cards, parking cards and use of coins. This measure is likely to increase the efficiency of the parking stations and avoid corruption cases as humans are not directly involved with cash. The parking meters can also check the availability of space so one can easily ascertain space availability before entering the parking station. With the implementation of congestion parking, prices will fluctuate depending on the density of vehicles which need to be parked. A concept of off-peak and peak hour parking is to be used. When parking demand is high, parking fees will rise and when the demand is lower, parking fee is likely to reduce. It is a common practice that most citizens will be willing to park in the morning hours and few willing to park late in the evening and night as most people will be headed home from work at this time. The parking meters are programmed so that they charge different rates depending on the time and the day of the week. The amount charged is to range from 2 to 6 dollars depending on the time of the day. The parking meters are programmed to accept 6 dollars in the early morning hours when a large number of people are willing to park as they go to work. The amount charged reduces progressively as the day progresses until it is only two dollars in the evening. Citizens will thus be discourag ed from bringing their vehicles to the city when they are going to work in the morning. The new idea to be implemented here include: the mode of programming the parking meter whereby time is used as a variable when calculating the amount of parking fee to be charged. The amount charged is dependent on the day of the week. The amount charged during weekends is slightly lower than that charged during week days – a dollar cheaper at any given time of the day. The congestion parking has a major advantage of reducing traffic density and thus ease movements of motorists. Residents will be more comfortable as the number of cars just clogging the streets will be reduced. However, the main reason for congestion parking is not to reduce the number of cars in the streets but to optimize the use of the parking. The trial results which have been used have shown encouraging results. Most people which include the citizens and bus owners prefer this method as it makes parking easier to allocate and hence very convenient. The congestion parking is also likely to induce more public transit and hence a reduction in the amount of air pollution which is caused by the moving cars. The congestion parking is one of the best innovations to be introduced in San Francisco. Apart from improving the quality of parking services and the conveniences that come with it, it also helps the government to optimize collection of parking fees. The congestion parking also has the advantage of ensuring that the environment is protected from noise harmful fumes which might be emitted in the air by the numerous cars in the streets. However, every good thing that can ever happen to a country or a city, there must be some negative impacts that come alongside it. The congestion parking to be introduced here has a disadvantage especially to motorists. The public are the major beneficiaries but business people are on the receiving end of the negative effects. The implementation of congestion parking has a lot of economic importance to San Francisco as it aids in the proper collection of revenue by the government and maintenance of law and order on the roads. Work Cited List Jean, Francois. Life in a California Mission. 1989 Hansen, Gladys. San Francisco Almanac: Everything you want to know about the city. London, Jack. The Story of an Eyewitness by Jack London. Collier’s, the National Weekly. Richards, Rand. History San Francisco: A Concise History and guide. Heritage House. Wiley, Peter Booth. National Trust Guide San Francisco: America’s guide for architecture and History travelers. 2000