Author 丨 Yu Chuanghui
Hou Debang
Group photo of "Permanent Yellow" (Yongli Alkali Factory, Jiuda Fine Salt Company, Huanghai Chemical Industry Research Society) Group (hou Debang in the front row, fourth from the right).
In 1937, Hou Debang (first from the left) accompanied foreign guests to visit the Yongli Ammonium Factory.
"Red Triangle" brand soda ash trademark
Hou Debang (second from right) in 1909 at the Shanghai Minwan Railway School.
Fan Xudong and Hou Debang (right) were in Chongqing in the 1930s.
He broke through the monopoly and invented the most advanced technology in the field of alkali production in the world; he was good at the world and selflessly shared decades of valuable experience with the world; he laid a cornerstone and held up the hope of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation... The excellent qualities such as hard work and perseverance displayed by him are worthy of eternal remembrance by future generations.
■ Yu Chuanghui
Hou Debang (1890-1974)
Famous chemical expert, founder of "Red Triangle" brand soda ash and "Hou's alkali method", pioneer of China's heavy chemical industry, and one of the founders of China's modern chemical industry. Born on August 9, 1890 in Minhou, Fujian Province, his name was Qirong. In 1911, he was admitted to the Tsinghua Preparatory School for Studying in the United States, received a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States in 1916, a master's degree from Columbia University in the United States in 1919, and a doctorate in 1921 with a thesis "Salt And Iron Tanning Method". In 1922, at the invitation of the patriotic industrialist Fan Xudong, he returned to China as the chief engineer of the Yongli Alkali Factory, breaking through the blockade of Solvay's alkali method and producing the "Red Triangle" brand soda ash. In 1933, he published "Soda Ash Manufacturing", which made all the processes of Solvay's alkali production method public and shared it with Chinese and foreign chemical engineering scholars. In 1937, he presided over the construction of the World-class Nanjing Yongli Ammonium Sulfate Factory, which enabled China to have the ability to produce ammonia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid and chemical fertilizers, and created a new era of modernization in China. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he went to Sichuan to preside over the construction of a factory, and successively improved the Cha'an alkali production method in view of the production conditions in Sichuan, and invented the joint alkali production method - "Hou's Alkali Production Method", which opened up a new way for the world's alkali production technology and won the attention of the international academic community. In 1943, he was awarded the honorary title of Member of the Royal (Chemical Industry) Society and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Columbia University. In 1955, he was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (member of the Faculty). He once served as vice minister of the Ministry of Chemical Industry and vice chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology. He died in Beijing on August 26, 1974.
The teenager is determined to save the country through science
On August 9, 1890, a newborn was born in the Hou family in Powei Township, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, and named it "Debang", just as its meaning is "Houde Carrier, There is a Name on the List", and his name was forever inscribed on the merit list of China's chemical industry many years later.
Hou Debang's grandfather was a reader, and he had high hopes for this grandson, and he enlightened Hou Debang when he was six years old. Since childhood, Hou Debang has shown a positive and rigorous attitude towards learning. Due to the lack of labor in the Hou family at that time, Hou Debang had to work with his father while studying with his grandfather. In order not to be delayed by labor, he seized all the time, even when he was working, he had to recite books with his mouth and did not relax.
As he grew older, the private school-style education given by his grandfather could no longer satisfy Hou Debang's curiosity. By chance, Hou Debang came to his aunt's house in Fuzhou City and found several boxes of books in the attic. These books for Hou Debang were nothing less than the American continent in front of Columbus's eyes, bringing him a lot of new knowledge, broadening his horizons, and allowing him to immerse himself in the ocean of knowledge. More importantly, these books made Hou Debang understand the meaning of the four words "endless learning".
The learning attitude and excellent learning ability of this teenager who loves to read are deeply loved by his uncle and aunt. With their financial support, 13-year-old Hou Debang entered Yinghua College. In this first-class foreign school with excellent environment and conditions, Hou Debang was exposed to more advanced scientific knowledge. Here, the collision of various ideas also allowed him to gradually develop the idea of "science to save the country".
When he first entered the school, Hou Debang learned in class about the ideas of freedom, equality, and fraternity advocated by Westerners, but in reality, he only saw the arrogance and oppression of foreigners against Chinese, only saw countless Chinese coolies being whipped and driven by them in their own land, and only saw the corrupt Qing Dynasty slaughtering people under the strong ships and cannons of Western countries. He understood the principle of the strong eating the weak from the "Theory of Heavenly Speech", and read the proposition of "Mastering Yi's Long Skills to Control Yi" from the "Chart of the Sea Country", and the young Hou Debang gradually strengthened his ambition to study science, break the shackles, and revitalize the motherland.
Because of his participation in the anti-imperialist strike organized by the students of the academy, Hou Debang was expelled from the school in early 1906. Fortunately, he and other expelled classmates transferred to the newly opened middle school of patriotic businessman Chen Baochen. A year later, Hou Debang, who had excellent grades, was sent to the newly established Fujian-Anhui Railway School for further study and learned a lot of new scientific knowledge.
After graduating from railway school, Hou Debang was assigned to the Fuliji station of the southern section of the Jinpu Railway, but he soon realized that the construction of this British railway was only to make it easier for foreigners to occupy the Chinese market and plunder Chinese resources and assets, which was very different from his ambition to learn science and technology and save the country through industry.
In 1911, the Tsinghua Preparatory School for Studying in the United States for the first time openly recruited students studying in the United States, and Hou Debang, who was holding his breath, immediately resigned to take the exam. In the eyes of this enthusiastic young man who loves the motherland and has advanced thinking, only by studying advanced foreign science and technology and returning to develop national enterprises belonging to his own country is the only way to save China.
Hou Debang was admitted to Tsinghua Xuetang with excellent results and directly entered the highest grade. Hard-working and extremely talented, he once scored a total of 1,000 points in all subjects in the final exam, which impressed everyone.
The Xinhai Revolution that broke out in late 1911 forced tsinghua xuetang to be suspended, and the following year, the north and south negotiated peace, and tsinghua xuetang was renamed "Tsinghua School" and reopened, and Hou Debang was able to continue his studies. A year later, Hou Debang, who had experienced twists and turns, was finally selected to stay in the United States and study in the United States.
Learning is endless, and we are determined to serve the country
In the United States, Hou Debang made a decision that affected his life — to give up the railway major and study chemical engineering. In his eyes, chemistry is a science that can explore the principle of material change, is a technology that can transform the world from micro to macro, and the chemical industry is of great significance to national strength and people's livelihood welfare, so it is also one of the best choices for industrial salvation.
In this way, Hou Debang, who was full of expectations for the chemical industry, came to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to learn chemical engineering knowledge.
MIT embraces the spirit of free exploration and independent research, while also providing students with a well-equipped laboratory and a well-stocked library. Here, Hou Debang is only in the morning, spending almost all of his time in laboratories and libraries.
In the laboratory, Hou Debang can often focus on working all day long, conducting various chemical process experiments and chemical equipment experiments. His spirit of hard work and seriousness and rigor is sometimes not understood by his classmates, but Hou Debang always firmly believes that only by laying a solid foundation in a down-to-earth manner can he truly grasp knowledge.
This spirit has been continued after he returned to China to study alkali production, he has been a lot of family treasures about the equipment and production process of the entire chemical plant, from the most fundamental principle to the details of actual production, no matter what the problem or demand of the link, he will personally participate in the design and improvement, go to the production line to explore with the workers, and give the most suitable plan.
In the library, Hou Debang learned all kinds of scientific and technological knowledge: chemistry, chemical industry, electrical, machinery... The sheer volume of books and the quiet and spacious environment made him so immersed in the pleasure of absorbing all kinds of knowledge that he often ignored the closed bells until he was reminded by the administrator.
From his childhood reading life to his career in the United States, the four words "endless learning" are vividly reflected in him, and he is becoming more and more fulfilled in his search up and down the ocean of knowledge.
At the end of four years of study at MIT, Hou Debang participated in a chemical internship and visited major cement plants, sulfuric acid plants, dye factories, coking plants and electrochemical plants in the United States. After a six-month visit and internship, Hou Debang's knowledge of actual chemical production was refined, and he took another step forward in the direction of chemical engineers.
After graduating from university, based on the fact that China's tanning industry at that time still adopted traditional processes, efficiency and profits were very low, and modernization and improvement were urgently needed, Hou Debang successively studied tanning at Pratt College, New Jersey Tannery, columbia University Research Institute, and finally obtained a doctorate with the thesis of "Salt And Iron Tanning Method", which was published in the authoritative journal of the tanning industry at that time, "Proceedings of the American Tanning Chemist Association".
Due to his outstanding grades in school, Hou Debang was elected a member of the Sigma Xi Honorary Science Society and an honorary member of the American Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemical Society. So far, Hou Debang, who has been in the United States for eight years, has learned a lot of chemical knowledge, and has also dabbled in other fields of knowledge.
At this time, Hou Debang already has the quality and ability to become a top chemical engineer, just wait for the opportunity that belongs to him.
In the spring of 1921, Hou Debang had just completed his doctoral thesis and received a letter from the motherland, signed "Fan Xudong". Fan Xudong was the chairman of Jiuda Fine Salt Company and Yongli Alkali Company at that time, and he wrote to invite Hou Debang to work at Yongli Alkali Factory.
The letter details the importance of soda ash (sodium carbonate) to industry, the food industry and the daily life of the people, the monopoly of the British Company in China's soda ash market, the technical blockade of China by the International Solvay Group, and the conditions of the Yongli alkali plant in Tanggu, Tianjin, and the goal of industrial salvation.
Fan Xudong's sincere invitation and the urgent demand of China's alkali industry made this student who was concerned about the motherland excited, but what followed was a struggle: he had been committed to tanning research for four years, his doctoral dissertation had opened up a new direction for this, and his supervisor was very important to him, such as continuing tanning research The future is unlimited. Although the alkali industry is also a chemical industry, he is not an expert in alkali production. In the case of the original achievements and good prospects, abandoning tanning to engage in alkali production does require some consideration for Hou Debang.
However, as a chemical practitioner, Hou Debang is very clear about what the lack of soda ash means for a country: the people have to eat pasta that is sour due to alkali deficiency, wear cloth clothes that cannot be dyed, and use soap produced by the indigenous method, and other downstream chemical industries are dying like souls... The suffering of the motherland, the deception and arrogance of the Westerners, and the weakness of the patriotic industrialists remind Hou Debang of the scene of Chinese being bullied at the Yinghua Academy, and of himself who is determined to save the country through industry. At that time, he was weak and lacked knowledge, and he could only stand idly by and watch these things, but now, the opportunity to revitalize the motherland's industry is at hand, how can he let go?
Hou Debang no longer tangled and immediately wrote back to accept Fan Xudong's invitation. In October 1921, Hou Debang graduated and returned to China, and the following year, just after the New Year, he rushed from Fujian to Tianjin to serve as the chief technician (chief engineer) of The Yongli Alkali Factory, and since then embarked on the road of pioneer of China's heavy chemical industry.
Cut through the thorns and brave the Solvay Law
At that time, Wynn Alkali Factory faced a huge challenge - to develop its own Solvay alkali method (hereinafter referred to as Solvay method). Solvay law system was invented by the Belgian industrialist Solvay in 1861, Britain, France, Germany and the United States and other countries in order to seek benefits, buy out the patent of the law and form a trade union, agreeing that the production process is only open to member states, and it is strictly sealed to the outside world.
Because the Solvay method uses table salt, limestone and ammonia as raw materials, the simple steps, low cost, and high product purity, this method is perfect for Wynn companies with a large number of low-cost, high-quality refined salts. However, solvay method belongs to the continuous production method, all production equipment is a whole, interlocking, any one link problem will lead to the entire production problems, so it has extremely high requirements for process and equipment. There is no shortage of people in the world who have tried to study on their own, but they have basically failed. The difficulty of developing the Solvay method on its own in the context of strict secrecy is evident.
When Hou Debang first arrived at the Yongli Alkali Factory, the equipment was old, there was only one flawed drawing for reference, many core technical details could not be known, he was facing great difficulties, one after another problems were waiting ahead...
During the test drive of the ammonia steaming section, the steaming tower swung violently, and the scene was very critical, and it was forced to stop for inspection. Hou Debang and others opened the steaming tower only to find that the problem was caused by the overflow pipe being blocked. After careful comparison, it was found that the ammonium sulfate distillation method they used caused ammonium sulfate and lime water to come into contact, forming calcium sulfate to block the overflow pipe. After some deliberation, they successfully solved the problem by reducing the ammonium concentration and the speed of unloading.
After a period of test driving, the calcinator suddenly appeared scarring, and Hou Debang, who had heard the news, was very anxious and planned to use an iron rod to poke the scar off, but he collapsed due to lack of physical strength. Engineer Zhang Zuotang suggested that it may be due to the high water content that makes it difficult to decompose heavy alkali during calcination. Later, Hou Debang and others developed the process of adding calcined soda ash back to the furnace to reduce the water content of heavy alkali, which completely solved the scar problem.
Because of the lack of experience, in the process of exploring the alkali method by themselves, every step forward will encounter great challenges and require hard work, but Hou Debang will never give up, leading everyone to explore hard in practice, step by step to innovate methods and solve problems.
In the meantime, Hou Debang showed a rigorous and meticulous, realistic research attitude and a work style of not being afraid of hardship and going deep into the front line - in order to study the production process of the lime kiln, he repeatedly entered the scorching lime kiln to inspect the equipment; in order to drain the blockage of the clear water ditch, he drilled into the sewer to inspect; in order to observe the problem of scarring and burning of the furnace, he entered the alkali dust-filled calcination furnace despite the danger; in order to observe the production of the carbonization tower, he stayed in this smelly place for a long time, even if it was eating...
In the process of more than a year of research and development, Hou Debang and others have solved countless problems and conducted a large number of on-site observations and investigations. In August 1924, the Yongli Alkali Factory finally produced 98% purity of soda ash, and Hou Debang also grew into an experienced alkali expert in the process.
However, although the purity of soda ash obtained for the first time is up to standard, the color is red and black, not pure white, which is an unqualified product that cannot be sold. This result discouraged the directors of Wynn and their reluctance to reinvest. Although Hou Debang proposed a solution based on experience to replace all steel pipes with cast iron and add sulfur ions to the ammonium liquid, unfortunately, when the normal soda ash was about to be produced, the last calcinator in the factory also burned out, the factory had to stop work, and the experiment could not be discussed.
To make matters worse, the Bunemen Company, which felt competition from Wynn, used political power to impose a salt tax on Wynn's industrial use, hoping to knock down Wynn by increasing costs.
The ensuing difficulties almost crushed the Wynn company, and under the embattled, chairman Fan Xudong carried the pressure, persuaded the directors and the government, and saved Hou Debang, winning valuable time for the Wynn alkali plant.
After that, Hou Debang and others went to the United States, introduced advanced Yuantong rotary transformation external heat calcinator, and carried out certain transformations of the equipment, using automatic ash generators and coalstors, increasing the heat transfer area of the steaming ammonia tower, and modifying the alkali filter... After a series of improvements and optimizations, their self-developed Solvay method has become more mature and stable.
In April 1926, the re-opened Wynn Alkali Factory finally received the long-awaited soda white ash - the "Red Triangle" brand soda ash. After a period of stable operation, the purity of the product reached 99%, and the daily output exceeded 30 tons, completely breaking the monopoly and blockade of the Solvay Law. In August of the same year, at the World Exposition held in Philadelphia, USA, the "Red Triangle" brand of soda ash attracted everyone's attention and won the gold medal.
Over the years, in order to break through the Solvay Method, Hou Debang has experienced ups and downs on the road of self-reliance and hard work, using a wealth of knowledge and in-depth thinking to solve countless technical problems, and finally obtained this hard-won soda ash. The "Red Triangle" brand of soda ash is known as "a symbol of China's modern industrial progress", and it is also the best reward for the hard work of More than 1,000 days and nights in Hou Debang.
The success of the "Red Triangle" brand soda ash has brought profitability and confidence to Wynn Company, and under the auspices of Hou Debang, a series of new chemical plants have been completed. Since then, China has the ability to produce basic chemical products such as soda ash, nitric acid and sulfuric acid.
Soda Ash Manufacturing Second Edition
Hou Debang (front row, third from left) and others preparing to go to the United States for an expedition.
Self-reliance and improvement of the Cha-an law
Hou Debang broke through the blockade of the Solvay Law, swept away the humiliation of China's alkali industry that had been suppressed and hit by Western technology and economy for many years, and left a strong mark on the rise of China's revival of technology, economy and resistance to imperialist oppression.
In 1929, the self-operated Wynn Company finally achieved profitability and paid interest to shareholders for the first time. Hou Debang also finally survived the most difficult moment, and had more time to think about the development direction of individuals and alkali plants.
In 1931, Hou Debang went to the United States for further study under the financial support of the Beijing China Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Culture, and prepared to publish the book "Soda Ash Manufacturing", which made the Solvay Law that he had independently explored to the world.
On this trip to the United States, Hou Debang also has a purpose - to visit and learn about the ammonia and acid industries. For Wynn people who have the ambition of saving the country through industry and science, the revitalization of China's chemical industry will always be the first priority. While the alkali industry is booming, China's synthetic ammonia and acid industry also needs to be developed urgently, and people urgently need to use domestic ammonia, sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which are inseparable raw materials for chemicals and fertilizers. Therefore, Wynn Company has just gained a foothold and has the idea of building a sulfuric acid plant and an ammonium plant.
In 1936, Hou Debang, who had finished his research and study in the United States, returned to China to preside over the construction of China's first large-scale and advanced chemical plant- Nanjing Yongli Ammonium Sulfate Plant (hereinafter referred to as ammonium sulfate plant). In January of the following year, the ammonium sulfate plant was put into production, which can stably produce ammonium sulfate fertilizer, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, ammonia and other products. At this point, the foundation of China's modern chemical industry (alkali, ammonia, acid) has been laid.
However, in July 1937, the ammonium sulfate plant had only been put into operation for a few months, and the War of Resistance Against Japan broke out in full swing. Tianjin, Shanghai, and Nanjing quickly fell, and the alkali factory in Tanggu, Tianjin, and the ammonium sulfate plant in Nanjing were also affected by artillery fire, and production was forced to stop.
The growing tension made the Wynn people realize that the coastal factories had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and it was imperative to collect important documents and means of production, so that all the technicians and workers could take them to a safer place and rebuild the factory. For Wynn people, there is absolutely no option to succumb to the enemy, and they will not give up the hope of revitalizing China's chemical industry after twenty years of hard work.
On New Year's Day 1938, the core members of Wynn Company arrived in Hankou, Wuhan, to discuss the future of the company. At the meeting, Fan Xudong decided to actively save himself and move the alkali factory and salt factory to Sichuan, which is rich in salt mines.
Hou Debang immediately led his colleagues to risk the bombing of enemy aircraft, crossed the mountains and mountains to investigate the environment and survey resources, and finally selected The Old Dragon Dam near the east bank of the Min River in Leshan City as the site to build the Yonglichuan Factory. The transportation here is convenient, rich in salt, bituminous coal, limestone and other raw materials, very suitable for the establishment of alkali plants.
At that time, Hou Debang was responsible for the construction of the Yonglichuan plant and even the entire West China chemical base, and at this time he faced a serious practical problem: the cost of well salt produced in Sichuan was too high. If you want to get salt from the salt well, you need workers to dig the salt well and go down to a depth of more than 1,000 meters to hang out the salt brine to cook the coarse salt.
Compared with the refined salt of Tanggu, the labor cost and process complexity of Sichuan well salt are very high, so the price is also dozens of times that of Tanggu refined salt. The utilization rate of salt in the Solvay method is only 70%, and the low price of salt in Tanggu is masked, and in the face of the high price of Sichuan well salt, the low utilization rate of salt has become the fatal defect of the Solvay method.
After some deliberation, Hou Debang decided to abandon the Solvay method he had painstakingly explored and look for a new alkali production method.
In fact, Europe has long begun to transform the Solvay method with low salt utilization rate and more waste residue, and in 1924 the Germans created a method of producing soda ash and ammonium chloride based on ammonium bicarbonate and table salt, that is, the Cha'an method. The salt utilization rate of this method is more than 90%, but the process is not yet perfect and cannot be produced continuously. Hou Debang believes that this method has good prospects for development and is very suitable for Sichuan's production conditions.
In August 1938, Hou Debang traveled to Germany with several technicians, hoping to buy a patent for the introduction of the Cha-am method from them.
Unexpectedly, Germany, which had long been secretly an Axis power with Japan, had no goodwill toward China, and adopted strict secrecy measures against Hou Debang and his party, hiding all kinds of technical details. When negotiating the purchase of the patent, the Germans not only opened their mouths, but also proposed the conditions that soda ash produced using the Cha'an method was not allowed to be sold in the three eastern provinces. This kind of arrogance and domineering angered Hou Debang, "Can people with yellow hair and green eyes get it out, but we people with black hair and black eyes can't do it?" "He left Germany for the United States and decided to be self-reliant.
In New York, Hou Debang synthesized the existing Data on the Cha-an Law and formulated a comprehensive test plan. The experiment was first carried out in Western Sichuan, but the shortage of equipment and raw materials forced him to transfer the laboratory to Hong Kong. Hou Debang remotely directed the trial in New York, and he detailed all the test details and precautions, designing more than a dozen conditions, each of which had to be repeated more than 30 times. In Hou Debang's view, this kind of experiment of a groping nature can only obtain stable results if it is repeated many times. Nearly 500 times were conducted throughout the trial, more than 2,000 samples were analyzed, and a large amount of reliable data was obtained.
In October 1939, Hou Debang returned to Hong Kong from the United States to summarize the test results and analyze the specific process steps. After some research, he proposed the method of replacing the aqueous solution reaction with solid ammonium bicarbonate to eliminate the steps of purification and dissolution of ammonium bicarbonate and lay the conditions for continuous production. This is an improvement over the original Cha'an Law.
The original basic test and the newly proposed improvement test continue to be carried out in Hong Kong. At the end of the year, the technicians finally completed all the screening tests, independently explored all the processes of the cha-security method, and preliminarily verified the practicality of the solid ammonium bicarbonate. The following year, the pilot test, which was transferred to Shanghai, had the same result – the improvement of the Cha-an method was a great success. Hou Debang led everyone to fight back again with courage and wisdom against the arrogance of foreigners, making China once again raise its eyebrows in the international alkali industry.
However, as a chemical engineer, Mr. Hou wasn't satisfied with the existing methods — he wanted to create a new one that was more advanced and more suitable for Chinese industry.
Innovate and create a joint alkali production method
In the eyes of Hou Debang, the new alkali production method to improve the Cha'an method is still not the most ideal alkali production method.
The principle of Solvay's method is to pass ammonia and carbon dioxide into saturated table salt to obtain ammonium chloride solution and sodium bicarbonate precipitation, ammonium chloride solution with lime water treatment to recover ammonia, sodium bicarbonate precipitate calcination to obtain soda ash, the resulting carbon dioxide can be recycled. Its advantage is that the raw material is directly reacted in the reaction tower, which can be produced continuously, but the salt utilization rate is low, resulting in a large amount of calcium chloride waste residue; the Cha'an method is based on ammonium bicarbonate and table salt as raw materials, directly generating sodium bicarbonate and ammonium chloride, no waste liquid waste residue, high salt utilization rate, but the raw material processing is complex, it is difficult to continuous production.
With his many years of knowledge and experience, Hou Debang accurately captured the key word that combines the advantages of the two: continuity. He wondered if he could combine ammonia and alkali production, whether he could take advantage of the continuity advantage of Solvay's method and save salt by referring to the principle of the Cha'an method. In March 1942, Hou Debang first mentioned in his letter the alkali production process starting from the synthesis of ammonia, that is, the famous joint alkali production method (later known as the "Hou's alkali production method").
After a year of preparation, the test device of the joint alkali production method was completed in Sichuan. It took only two or three months for the trial to be successful.
A combined alkali production method that is completely different from the traditional alkali production method was born.
The combined alkali production method adopts the reaction principle of Solvay method, using the carbon dioxide in the carbonization tower to pass into the saturated salt mother liquor containing ammonia, easily obtain ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium chloride, and absorb the separation process of the Cha'an method, separate the ammonium chloride by adding salt, and the mother liquor is recycled, which avoids the generation of waste liquid residue and greatly improves the utilization rate of table salt. Finally, the synthetic ammonia process and the alkali production process are creatively combined, and the carbon dioxide in the carbonization tower is supplied by the synthesis of ammonia reaction, and the purified mother liquor can directly absorb the synthesized ammonia. The entire system forms a cycle that can produce soda ash and ammonium chloride with extremely high efficiency.
This method combines the essence of the two traditional alkali methods, and the number of equipment required is one-third lower than that of the two plants, and the cost of producing soda ash is reduced to 60% of the original.
However, the combined alkali production method did not break through the Solvay method, and it saved Yongli from water and fire as soon as it appeared. Due to the long war, the production of the WynnCheon plant has been limited by various factors, and the joint alkali production method cannot achieve large-scale production. It was not until the end of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, under the leadership and support of the Communist Party, after a long period of discussion, practice, testing and improvement, that the joint alkali production method was finally promoted throughout the country.
It is worth mentioning that at the beginning of its birth, the value of the "Hou's alkali method" was reflected as a breakthrough and highly innovative technology, which made the world's alkali production technology appear after the Lubran method and the Solvay method. Its idea began with the cost-saving Cha'an method, and then carried out key reforms of raw material processing, product purification and continuous production, and the combination of synthetic ammonia on the Cha'an method and Solvay method, and realized the joint continuous cycle production of the alkali industry and the synthetic ammonia industry for the first time.
At the moment when the motherland was ravaged and the people of the whole country resisted the invasion of foreign enemies, Hou Debang once again used his knowledge, vision and independent innovation spirit to make great contributions to China's soda ash industry, injected a shot of cardiotonic agent into the self-confident and self-reliant Chinese nation, and also erected a monument in the history of the world's alkali production process.
On October 22, 1943, the British Chemical Society awarded Hou Debang an honorary member. At that time, only 12 chemists in the world were given this title, including Hou Debang.
Good for the world, published "Soda Ash Manufacturing"
In the early 1930s, after breaking through the Solvay method, Hou Debang had some free time to summarize his past technical experience.
What happened to the Wynn alkali factory in the early days of its business made Hou Debang deeply resent the Monopoly of the Western Blockade of solvay. These technologies, which were supposed to be used by the whole world and for a better life for all mankind, became the blade of the monopoly group to seize the market and embezzle capital, crushing the industry of the backward countries. He was determined to write a book on the alkali-making technology he had explored, completely break through this shackle and benefit the world.
Hou Debang spent more than a year communicating with Wynn's technicians and workers, consulting a large number of materials, and writing the first draft of this huge work in English. In order to make the content of the book accurate and informative, easy to understand, both principle guidance and practical operation details, Hou Debang specially found a mechanical college student who had just entered Wynn and did not understand alkali production to help read the first draft and give feedback. In his mind, this book should be a knowledge base of alkali making that the whole world can read and use, a heavy hammer that can help backward countries smash the shackles of alkali technology.
In 1931, Hou Debang, who was in the United States, had this idea in mind and sent a comprehensive and revised manuscript to the American Chemical Society. Two years later, when Manufacture of Soda was published in New York, Hou debang wrote in the preface: "This work can be said to be a breakthrough in the century-old ammonia-alkali process that has been kept tightly secreted." The book describes the methods of making ammonia alkali. Its details are described in as much detail as possible, and it is characterized by a book that is practically actionable. The content of the book is formed by the natural development of the author's experience, records, observations and experiences obtained from direct participation in the operation of the factory for more than 10 years... The authors argue that, in general, manufacturing plants are adequately protected by the unique requirements of the industry, and that their details can only be obtained through years of hands-on and hands-on experience. As for the special links of the factory, it can be said that any good designer can get a good solution through some experiments. Therefore, there is no need to keep the industry secret from the outside world... This was the basic motivation for the publication of this book. ”
In the book, Hou Debang dedicates his alkali-making experience explored over the past ten years to the readers without reservation, not only systematically introducing the history of alkali production technology from natural alkali, Rubran method, electrolysis method to Solvay method, but also conducting professional analysis of the principle, reaction, parameters, equipment, process and economic benefits of Solvay method.
Hou Debang's open scientific spirit of not caring about personal interests and determination to break down technical barriers has won the respect of international academic and industrial circles. American chemist E.O. Wilson commented: "'Soda ash manufacturing' is a major contribution made by Chinese chemists to world civilization. Fan Xudong said, "Dr. Hou's books are now popular in various countries, opening up the secret of alkali making engineering for all mankind, and Dr. Hou's lofty arrogance is particularly commendable compared to Solvay's conscientious self-preservation." ”
However, Hou Debang, who is well versed in the endless way of learning, is not satisfied with this, and since the publication of the book, he has been seriously accepting suggestions and opinions from all sides, patiently replying to many letters asking for details, and tracking the latest trends in the alkali industry.
Once, an overseas Chinese student asked Hou Debang how to become a scholar who devoted himself to science, and Hou Debang thought for a long time and responded: "Tagore has a famous saying: 'When a bird's wings are tied with gold, it can no longer fly.'" Through this dialogue, Hou Debang decided to come out of the success of "Soda Ash Manufacturing" and make more full revisions and improvements to the book from the two aspects of practical needs and practicality.
In the United States, Hou Debang read a large number of materials, visited many factories, and constantly discussed and analyzed the development process and situation of the alkali industry with experts and peers. After returning to China, the war was not over, he took books and materials around, and after some hardships, he finally completed the revision of "Soda Ash Manufacturing". In 1942, the second edition of Soda Ash Manufacturing was published in New York.
Compared with the first edition, the new edition of "Soda Ash Manufacturing" is more substantial, and the new chapter of "Salt Water Refining" enriches the process details of the Solvay method; analyzes the salt utilization rate and waste residue problem of the Solvay method, introduces the improvement methods such as the Cha'an method; puts forward the opinions on improving raw materials, changing the discontinuity to continuous, combined soda ash and synthetic ammonia industry, showing the prototype of the idea of the joint alkali production method.
The new version of "Soda Ash Manufacturing" has once again won numerous reputations in the international chemical industry with more detailed process details and more comprehensive and innovative alkali production ideas, and Hou Debang's spirit of excellence, rigorous and meticulous governance is impressive.
Leave behind the spark
After the end of the Anti-Japanese War, Hou Debang succeeded Fan Xudong as the chairman of Wynn Company. Before and after the founding of New China, he twice walked into Zhongnanhai to discuss with state leaders the industrial construction of New China. Since then, he has no longer been limited to Wynn Company, but has actively devoted himself to various work in China's scientific and technological circles and industrial circles, serving as a member of the Central Financial and Economic Committee, a consultant of the Chemical Industry Bureau of the Ministry of Heavy Industry of the State Council, and the director of the Chemical Technology Committee of the Ministry of Chemical Industry.
In September 1957, this passionate patriotic intellectual gloriously joined the Communist Party of China.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Hou Debang made outstanding contributions to the field of chemical fertilizers in China - based on China's national conditions, he created a method with the world's advanced level of synthesis of ammonia process to generate ammonium bicarbonate, which helped China establish more than 1,000 small fertilizer plants "full of stars", which greatly promoted agricultural development. In 1965, Hou Debang won the invention certificate of "Carbonization Synthesis of Ammonia Process to Produce Ammonium Bicarbonate" issued by the State Science and Technology Commission.
In his later years, Hou Debang was plagued by illness and was persecuted during the "Cultural Revolution" because of his experience in the West, but even so, he still insisted on working and worked hard for the development of China's chemical industry. Until his death, he was still revising a book manuscript on phosphate fertilizer production, still reviewing his engineering career over the years, thinking about how to convey his opinions at the National People's Congress, and still feeling guilty that he had not been able to build a soda plant for his hometown...
On August 26, 1974, Hou Debang died of illness in Beijing.
Five years later, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made a name for this highly respected and hard-working generation of chemical giants - in August 1979, Sun Jingwen, then minister of chemical industry, held a solemn ceremony to cover the party flag for Hou Debang's ashes in the auditorium of the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, ending his brilliant and great life.
In November 1973, Hou Debang, knowing that time was short, wrote to Premier Zhou Enlai: "Debang is old, frail and sickly, and I am afraid that he will die soon. After a lifetime of cultivation by the party and the state, he has been sent to study abroad, but he has not been able to repay it so far, and he intends to contribute to the country the few reference books stored in his home after he is 100 years old. The Prime Minister is requested to designate the Beijing Library or the Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to be transferred at that time..."
He fought all his life to serve the motherland. Today, his struggle process, the spirit of hard work and perseverance displayed by him will remain forever with these precious books, leaving a scientific spark for future generations...
(Author Affilications:Institute of Physics and Chemistry Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
China Science Daily (2021-09-23 8th Edition)