Chapter 376 Busy Lavoisier
“If there is no problem with the previous step of generating baking soda at high temperature...” Lavoisier pondered, “Oh, I’ve just never conducted an experiment using ammonia to make baking soda. Not questioning you, Your Highness.
"Other processes, such as collecting released ammonia and carbonic acid gases, can be implemented."
The "carbonic acid gas" he refers to is carbon dioxide.
He was obviously very excited, looked at Joseph and said: "Then using the method you mentioned to produce soda, the price will be only one-tenth of the current price..."
He is not only the most outstanding chemist of this era, but also has a good business acumen. He immediately shook his head: "No, more than one tenth, because this method has no restrictions on raw materials. I mean, salt and lime are both easy to obtain. Therefore, the output can be expanded almost infinitely! "Your Highness, I must return to the laboratory immediately to verify the method you mentioned.
"I swear, if this is possible, it will definitely be an epoch-making event in the history of chemistry!"
He was not exaggerating at all. As the pillars of the chemical industry, the importance of three acids and two bases is self-evident. Among these five basic preparations, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid are relatively easy to obtain. With the level of nitric acid in the 18th century, there is basically no need to consider industrial production. Soda ash became the star of the chemical industry in the 19th century.
In fact, the French government had previously offered a large reward for the industrial production of soda ash. The winner was Dr. Lubrand, who used a reverberatory furnace to produce soda ash.
Although his method is expensive, it is still the most cutting-edge technology of this era. And if Joseph's alkali production method is put into production, it can directly turn him into slag in seconds.
While the two were talking, the carriage stopped at the Tuileries Palace.
Lavoisier was about to say goodbye and return to the laboratory, but he saw Mirabeau, who had been waiting here, quickly came up to him, saluted Joseph and said: "Your Highness, I heard that you left the Palace of Versailles, so I guessed that you might be here. coming."
He had a lot of industrial development matters to report to Joseph, but the Crown Prince had been busy in the ordnance factory before, and as soon as he left the ordnance factory today, he disappeared immediately.
"It seems you have a lot to tell me." Joseph smiled back at him.
"Indeed."
Mirabeau and the Dauphin were about to head towards the office of the Bureau of Industrial Planning. When he turned around, he noticed Lavoisier and hurriedly bowed to signal: "Oh, dear Mr. Lavoisier, it turns out you are here too."
"Oh, yes, but I'm leaving soon." Lavoisier stroked his chest and saluted, "His Highness told me a method of producing soda ash. Now I just want to fly back to the laboratory immediately."
"Soda ash?" Mirabeau was familiar with DuPont and had some knowledge of the chemical industry. "That's really incredible. Soda ash is a necessity for many chemical industries."
When Joseph heard the words "chemical industry", his heart suddenly moved, and he pulled Lavoisier up to the second floor: "Don't be in a hurry to conduct experiments. If we want to engage in the chemical industry, we absolutely cannot do without your expert opinion." ”
"But……"
Lavoisier entered the office of the Bureau of Industrial Planning with some resistance, still thinking about the "Royal Alkali Method" - this is the new name given to the "Solvay Method" by Joseph. After all, Mr. Solvay still has unborn.
But his attention was immediately drawn when he heard Joseph asking Mirabeau about the gas streetlight project. "Then the supporting coal tar processing laboratory must be accelerated." Joseph said, "Mr. Murdoch has obtained the coal distillation patent last month. We strive to start the construction of Paris gas street lamps before the end of the year."
Mirabeau was a little confused: "Your Highness, I have actually purchased all the experimental instruments according to the standards of the University of Paris laboratory, but no chemist has ever heard of the 'benzene' you mentioned..."
Joseph hurriedly looked at Lavoisier aside, but saw that the latter also had a confused look on his face.
He suddenly felt helpless. It seemed that organic chemistry in this era was still a desert, and even the most basic organic compound, benzene, had not yet been discovered.
He had no choice but to patiently explain to Lavoisier that coal tar contained a large amount of benzene, as well as other organic compounds such as aniline and phenol, and they could be extracted out.
Lavoisier's eyes immediately lit up: "You mean, there is a new substance in coal tar that we don't know about yet?"
"Yes, this is a bit complicated." Joseph didn't know where to start introducing organic chemistry. After all, it was a very huge subject.
In the end, he had no choice but to cut the knot quickly and said: "You distill coal tar, and in different temperature ranges, the distilled substances obtained include benzene. Oh, in this process, you will also discover some other new substances. "
Lavoisier's breathing became rapid. As a chemist, being able to discover a new substance is enough to become famous in the academic world, but the Crown Prince told him in an understatement that a variety of new substances can be obtained with simple operations!
Either His Highness said it casually, or it must be a revelation from God!
He subconsciously crossed himself on his chest and said eagerly: "Your Highness, please give me the experiment on processing coal tar!"
Joseph was a little confused: "I really hope you can help, but you still have to help me design the soda ash production process."
"This..." Lavoisier was not willing to give up and said hurriedly, "I can ask my wife to help. Please believe that she has very good experimental skills. Oh, I also have many outstanding students. I will definitely not Delaying the launch of the Royal Alkali Production Process!"
Joseph suddenly smiled. The addition of the Lavoisiers and his students meant that nearly half of France's chemistry elite had joined his project.
He nodded to Lavoisier and said: "Since you are so interested, I will entrust you to take over the coal tar laboratory. You can apply directly to Count Mirabeau for the necessary funds."
Coal tar can extract a large number of valuable compounds such as aniline and phenol, which are used to produce disinfectants, dyes, flavors, and medicines.
Especially the first two. As the earliest medical disinfectant, phenol has saved the lives of countless patients. It is much cheaper than alcohol. After all, it is a product of coal tar waste recycling. It can be used on a large scale to disinfect entire buildings or entire campsites.
As a raw material for dye production, aniline’s economic value is simply incredible. You know, the purple dye extracted from plants is now used in the field of fashion, and the price is even more expensive than the clothes themselves!
Even among the nobles of the Palace of Versailles, it would be a matter of great honor for anyone to wear an all-purple dress. It wasn't until aniline purple made of aniline came out that purple clothing finally entered the homes of ordinary people.
If this dye is put into production, it will also become a weapon for the French textile industry to compete with the British!
Joseph stopped imagining that the organic chemical industry was still a bit far away after all - even Lavoisier didn't know what benzene was, and he didn't know how long it would take to create an industry - now we should implement soda ash production as soon as possible and use soda ash to establish Establishing a chemical industry chain and obtaining dividends from it is a top priority.
(End of chapter)