Rhodia Houston Plant, Texas

This chemical plant on Houston's Ship Channel is major producer of sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid. It is operated by Rhodia Eco Services, one of three sites in the area operated by the company (the others are in Freeport and Baytown). Rhodia is a leading maker of sulfuric acid and specialty phosphates. It is a French company, spun out of Rhone-Poulenc in 1998. The company's plants are often located near refineries, as sulfuric acid is used to make gasoline. It is also used in batteries, paper bleaching, and numerous other industrial applications. In 2011, Rhodia was acquired by Belgian chemical company Solvay, for $4.84 billion. In 2014, Solvay sold Eco Services to CCMP Capital Advisiors LLC, for $890 million - effectively exiting the sulphuric acid production business.