Le genie chimique : Historique de son développement — son objet et ses méthodes — programme de notre revue

Abstract

The spectacular successes of the American chemical industry in recent years should not lead us to think that the European chemical industry is in any way inferior. On the contrary, working under its present conditions, with limited raw materials and energy resources, European industry still maintains a good position. In many fields, by the quality of its products or unit cost price, it is the competitor of American industry. In the sphere of Chemical Engineering, creative inspiration remains always the real source of progress. If chemical engineering is not yet recognised everywhere in Europe as an independent technology, the great number of technologists who contribute every day to the success of chemical industry, are in fact behaving as Chemical Engineers. Like M olières Bourgeois Gentilhomme, who wrote prose without knowing it, they practise a new technology while ignoring its real name. It is always necessary to know something of the grammar to speak a language well. The coming generation of technologists enlisted by the industry every year, can no longer ignore the principles of a science that will teach them how to conceive, calculate, draw, build and operate the equipment by which any kind of chemical reaction may be carried out on an industrial scale. Wherever it may be—among constructors, in the laboratories, or in factories—original research work in the chemical engineering field is constantly being carried out in Europe. “Chemical Engineering Science—Génie Chimique” is being published to give our colleagues a medium for the publication of their results in their own language. We hope to publish original work, not only on basic operations of chemical engineering, but also on the theoretical principles which rule them: hydrodynamics, thermodynamics etc. We shall also be pleased to publish notes on research on industrial process: contributions which must not be limited to a more or less detailed description of the plant, but which must be accompanied by complete manufacturing balances. It is to be hoped that the leaders of European chemical industry will give their collaborators every opportunity to publish their work. The problem of “manufacturing secrets” has been the subject of much controversy in past years. With the great majority of my university colleagues I, personally, am convinced that, in the long run, it is not possible to hide one's light under a bushel; that it is in the end a bad policy to keep jealousy to oneself the few grains of truth of which one has temporary possession.