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Chapter 375: Busy Lavoisier

"If the step of producing sodium bicarbonate at high temperatures earlier isn't problematic..." Lavoisier mused. "Oh, I've simply never conducted experiments to make sodium bicarbonate with ammonia gas; I'm not questioning you, Your Royal Highness.

"All other processes, such as collecting the released ammonia gas and carbonic acid gas, can be achieved."

The "carbonic acid gas" he referred to was carbon dioxide.

He was clearly ecstatic, looking at Joseph. "Then, using the method you described to produce soda ash, the price will be only one-tenth of what it is now..."

He wasn't just the era's most outstanding chemist; he also possessed a keen business mind. He immediately shook his head. "No, not just one-tenth. Because this method has no raw material limitations—I mean, salt and limestone are easily obtained, so production can be expanded almost indefinitely!

"Your Royal Highness, I must return to the laboratory immediately to verify your proposed method.

"I swear, if this proves feasible, it will undoubtedly be a groundbreaking event in the history of chemistry!"

He wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. The three acids and two alkalis were the pillars of the chemical industry, their importance self-evident. Among these five basic reagents, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid were relatively easy to obtain. Nitric acid, at 18th-century levels, was practically out of the question for industrial production. Soda ash, on the other hand, became the star of the 19th-century chemical industry.

In fact, the French government had previously offered a substantial prize for an industrial method of producing soda ash. The winner was Dr. Leblanc, who produced soda ash using a reverberatory furnace.

Though his method was costly, it was still the most advanced technology of its time. However, if Joseph's soda production method were put into production, it would instantly render Leblanc's method obsolete.

As they spoke, their carriage pulled up to the Tuileries Palace.

Lavoisier was about to take his leave and return to the laboratory when Mirabeau, who had been waiting there, quickly approached. He bowed to Joseph. "Your Royal Highness, I heard you left Versailles, so I presumed you might have come here."

He had a mountain of industrial development matters to report to Joseph, but the Crown Prince had been busy at the armory, and as soon as he left it today, he had vanished.

"It seems you have much to tell me," Joseph replied with a smile and a nod.

"Indeed, I do."

Mirabeau was about to head to the Industrial Planning Bureau's office with the Crown Prince when he noticed Lavoisier, turning with a slight bow. "Oh, esteemed Monsieur Lavoisier, I see you are here as well."

"Oh, yes, but I was just about to depart," Lavoisier replied, bowing with a hand to his chest. "His Royal Highness has informed me of a method to produce soda ash, and now I simply wish to fly back to my laboratory at once."

"Soda ash?" Mirabeau, being acquainted with Dupont, had some understanding of the chemical industry. "That's truly extraordinary. Soda ash is a vital necessity for many chemical industries."

Hearing the words "chemical industry," Joseph's heart stirred. He led Lavoisier up to the second floor as well. "Don't be in such a rush to experiment. If we are to develop a chemical industry, your expert opinion will be absolutely indispensable."

"But..."

Lavoisier entered the Industrial Planning Bureau's office with reluctance, his mind still preoccupied with the "Royal Soda Process"—the new name Joseph had given the Solvay process, since Monsieur Solvay had not yet been born.

However, when he heard Joseph inquire of Mirabeau about the Gas Streetlights project, his attention was immediately captured.

"Then the accompanying Coal Tar processing laboratory must accelerate its progress," Joseph declared. "Monsieur Murdoch received the patent for coal distillation last month, and we aim to initiate the construction of Gas Streetlights in Paris before the end of the year."

Mirabeau looked troubled. "Your Royal Highness, I have indeed procured all the experimental instruments according to the standards of the University of Paris laboratories, but the 'Benzene' you speak of—no chemist has ever heard of it..."

Joseph quickly glanced at Lavoisier, only to see the latter looking equally bewildered.

A wave of helplessness washed over him. It seemed that organic chemistry in this era was still a barren wasteland; even the most fundamental organic compound, Benzene, had yet to be discovered.

He patiently explained to Lavoisier that Coal Tar contained large quantities of Benzene, as well as aniline, Phenol, and other organic compounds that could be refined from it.

Lavoisier's eyes lit up immediately. "Are you saying that there's a new substance in Coal Tar that we are not yet aware of?"

"Yes, it's quite complex to explain," Joseph admitted. He wasn't sure where to even begin introducing organic chemistry; it was, after all, an incredibly vast discipline.

In the end, he decided to cut to the chase. "You will distill the Coal Tar, and within different temperature ranges, the distilled substances will include Benzene. Oh, and in this process, you will also discover other new substances."

Lavoisier's breathing quickened. As a chemist, discovering even one new substance was enough to make one renowned in academic circles, yet the Crown Prince had casually told him that simple operations could yield multiple new substances!

'Either His Royal Highness is speaking carelessly, or it must be a divine revelation!'

He instinctively made the sign of the cross over his chest, then urgently implored, "Your Royal Highness, please entrust the Coal Tar experiments to me!"

Joseph looked somewhat torn. "I would very much like your help, but you also need to assist me in designing the production process for soda ash."

"This..." Lavoisier was unwilling to give up. He quickly said, "My wife can assist! Please believe me, she possesses excellent experimental skills. Oh, and I also have several brilliant students; the Royal Soda Process's production will certainly not be delayed!"

Joseph immediately smiled. Lavoisier and his wife, along with his students, meant that nearly half of France's chemical elite would be joining his project.

He nodded to Lavoisier. "Since you are so interested, I will entrust you with managing the Coal Tar laboratory. You may directly request the necessary funding from Count Mirabeau."

Coal Tar could be refined to yield numerous valuable compounds like aniline and Phenol, which could be used to produce disinfectants, dyes, perfumes, and Medicine.

Especially the former two. Phenol, as one of the earliest medical disinfectants, saved countless lives. It was far cheaper than alcohol, being a product derived from Coal Tar waste, and could be used on a large scale to disinfect entire buildings or camps.

As for aniline, its economic value as a raw material for Dye production was simply astronomical. At that time, purple dyes extracted from plants, when used in fashion, often cost more than the garments themselves!

Even for the nobles at Versailles, wearing an entirely purple outfit was a matter of great prestige. It wasn't until aniline purple, made from aniline, became available that purple clothing finally became accessible to ordinary households.

If this Dye went into production, it would also become a powerful tool for France's textile industry to compete with Britain!

Joseph halted his musings. After all, the organic chemical industry was still somewhat distant—even Lavoisier didn't know what Benzene was; who knew how long it would take to establish an industry around it? For now, the immediate priority was to quickly implement soda ash production, use soda ash to build a chemical Industrial Chain, and reap the benefits from it.