( 1890— 1974)
Hou, a famous scientist, an outstanding chemical expert and a pioneer of heavy chemical industry in China. In the 1920s, he broke through the mystery of ammonia-alkali technology and presided over the construction of the first soda plant in Asia. In 1930s, he led the establishment of the first joint venture in China that could produce synthetic ammonia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate. In the 1940s and 1950s, a new process of combined soda production with soda ash and ammonium chloride, and a new process of ammonium bicarbonate fertilizer production by ammonia carbide synthesis were invented, which were industrialized and popularized on a large scale in the 1960s. He also actively disseminated and exchanged science and technology, trained many scientific and technological talents, and made outstanding contributions to the development of science and technology and chemical industry.
Hou, whose real name is Zhiben, whose name is Qirong, 1890, was born in Minhou County, Fujian Province on August 9. Work-study program since childhood, diligent and studious. I have the reputation of "trailer learning". From 1903 to 1906, my aunt sponsored me to study in Huaying College in Fuzhou. He witnessed foreign foremen bullying dock workers in China, and heard the outrageous news that racists in San Francisco persecuted overseas Chinese and expelled Chinese workers on a large scale, which made him feel strongly patriotic. He took an active part in the anti-imperialist patriotic strike demonstration. 1907 ——1910 years, studying at Shanghai Fujian-Anhui Railway Institute. After graduation, I worked as an intern in the British-funded Jin-Pu Railway. During this period, Hou further felt that the imperialists exploited and oppressed the poor and backward China and people with their technical and economic advantages, and were determined to master science and technology and use science and industry to save the suffering China. 19 1 1 year, Hou was admitted to Peking Tsinghua preparatory school for studying in the United States. He is well-known in Tsinghua campus with 10 subject and 1000 score. 19 13 was recommended to study in the chemical engineering department of MIT. 19 17 graduated with a bachelor's degree, then went to Pratt Institute to study tanning, and obtained the diploma of tanning chemist the following year. 19 18 went to the tanning institute of Columbia University to study tanning, 19 19 received a master's degree, and 192 1 year received a doctorate. Because of her excellent academic performance, Hou was accepted as a member of the Sigma Science Society and the Philip Chemical Society. Dr. Hou's thesis "Iron Salt Tanning Leather" focuses on the characteristics of iron salt, and deeply discusses the main reasons and countermeasures for the shortcomings of iron salt tanning products, such as temperature intolerance, roughness, brittle grain surface, perishable, easy moisture absorption and salt spots, which is very original. The full-text serial publication of Journal of American Leather Chemists Association has become one of the classic documents widely cited in leather industry.
192 1 year, Hou accepted the invitation of the general manager of Yongli Alkali Industry Company and left the United States for home to undertake the technical task of continuing to build an alkali plant. Under the situation that foreign companies strictly monopolized the production technology and market of soda ash, Hou led the broad masses of workers to struggle hard for a long time, solved a series of technical problems, and 1926 succeeded in producing high-quality soda ash normally. On the basis of summing up his personal practice, Hou wrote The Manufacture of Soda in English, which was published in new york on 1933, and had a far-reaching influence in academia and industry. 1934, in order to "develop the first wing of chemical industry", Wynn Company decided to build Nanjing Tancheng Plant, which can also produce synthetic ammonia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate, and appointed Hou as the director and technician (that is, chief engineer) to be fully responsible for the preparatory work. Hou Bangde knew the complexity of establishing this joint venture, and it was the chemical industry with the highest scientific and technological content at that time, producing high-difficulty technologies such as high temperature and high pressure, flammability and explosion, strong corrosion and catalytic reaction. The domestic foundation is weak, the company has limited financial resources, and the work is extremely difficult. He is very worried "... If we fall short and let China people never talk about chemical industry again, then we will become sinners in China! "But with the determination to" only know where the responsibility lies and work hard for it ",I will overcome the difficulties. According to the principle of "high quality, high speed, low price and patriotism", he decided to introduce key technologies from abroad, bid for some important designs, buy equipment and hire foreign experts ... As a result, in just 30 months, in 937, 65438+ 1 was built into a heavy chemical joint enterprise, which was successfully put into production at one time and the technology reached the international level at that time. It provides a good experience for how to introduce technology and build factories quickly and economically in the future. Together with Li Yong Soda Factory, this factory laid the foundation of basic chemical industry in China and trained a large number of chemical science and technology talents. But it didn't take long for the "July 7th Incident" to happen, and the Japanese invaders gradually advanced to Nanjing. They threatened "factory safety" three times and demanded "cooperation" in the management of Nanjing Shipyard. Hou and his colleagues righteously insisted on "mourning without libation" and refused to "cooperate"; At the same time, it actively responded to the anti-Japanese war and used factory facilities to switch to ammonium nitrate explosives and mine bombs to support the front line. After the factory was bombed by Japanese planes for three times and could not be produced, Hou organized employees to dismantle equipment urgently and sent personnel and materials to the mainland.
1938, Wynn set up a factory in Wutongqiao, western Sichuan, and appointed Hou as the director and chief engineer. Under very difficult conditions, he led employees to save themselves and maintained the livelihood of employees in the company. At the same time, set about organizing Sichuan soda plant. Because the conditions in Sichuan are not suitable for the use of ammonia-alkali method, Hou Zai 1939 sent a team to Germany to inspect and prepare to buy the patent of tea temple method. Under the condition that the other party humiliated the country, Hou suspended the negotiations and made a determined effort to study new methods of alkali production. He led a large number of researchers and designers through hard work, and developed a new process of co-producing soda ash and ammonium chloride fertilizer in one furnace in 194 1. 1943 completed the semi-industrialized factory test, but it was interrupted because of war and political chaos, and there was no condition to continue industrialization. 1In August, 945, the Japanese invaders died shortly after their surrender, and later took over as general manager, leading the work of Wynn Chemical Industry Company in an all-round way. He immediately organized Yongli Solid Plant and Nanjing Sichuan Plant to resume production. During the war, the nitric acid equipment of Sichuan Factory was transported to Japan by the Japanese invaders. Later, after Li repeatedly made solemn representations to the relevant parties, he went to Tokyo to find the Allied General Command and other relevant parties to argue. It was not until 1948 that all nitric acid equipment was returned and nitric acid production was resumed, which is still in operation. From 65438 to 0947, Hou was employed as the consultant chief engineer of Tata Company in India, and went to India five times to guide and improve the equipment and technology of the soda plant of the company, so that the soda plant could operate normally and produce high-quality soda. Later, Prime Minister Nehru visited China and praised it as a model of friendship between the Chinese and Indian peoples. 1949 During his fifth visit to China, he was very excited to learn that the central leadership of was very concerned about Wynn's career and wanted to discuss with him the country's major plans. Rick detoured Thailand, Hong Kong and South Korea to get back to Beijing. Marshal Nie Rongzhen personally greeted him at the station. When meeting with him, President Mao Zedong said: "Revolution is our cause, and industrial construction depends on you! I hope that Qi Xin will work together to build a prosperous and powerful new China. " Premier Zhou Enlai personally visited Wynn's Beijing office, congratulated him on his successful return to China, praised his patriotic spirit, and invited him to attend the China People's Political Consultative Conference, "* * * to discuss state affairs and design a blueprint for building a new China". Hou was greatly encouraged and determined to work harder and serve the motherland. Later, he was elected as the first member of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the second, third and fourth members of the Standing Committee. Deputies to the First, Second and Third National People's Congresses; He has served as a member of the Central Financial and Economic Committee, a technical consultant of the Ministry of Heavy Industry of the State Council and a deputy minister of the Ministry of Chemical Industry. He was employed as a member of the Technical Department of China Academy of Sciences. From 65438 to 0953, he participated in the Democratic National Construction Association and was elected as the first and second Central Standing Committee. At the same time, he worked harder in science and technology and developed the chemical industry day and night. He once introduced "Wynn's idea of building top ten chemical enterprises" to the central leaders, and put forward many suggestions such as "Opinions on Revitalizing Industry". Participated in many major decisions of national chemical industry and science and technology, and led many major scientific and technological activities in the chemical industry. Under his advice and guidance, the new process of combined soda production continued to carry out supplementary tests and intermediate tests, and was industrialized in 1962, becoming one of the main methods for producing soda ash and chemical fertilizer in China. 1958 put forward the idea of producing ammonium bicarbonate fertilizer by carbonation synthetic ammonia process, and personally led the design, construction, test and improvement of the demonstration plant, which was successful in 1965. With the strong support of governments at all levels and the joint efforts of the broad masses of workers, more than 65,438+0,000 factories have been promoted one after another, and their output has accounted for more than half of the total national nitrogen fertilizer output for a long time, making indelible contributions to the development of agriculture in China. In addition, Hou has made many contributions to the development of industrial and chemical anti-corrosion technologies such as phosphate fertilizer, pesticides, polyvinyl chloride and chemical machinery, as well as the dissemination and exchange of science and technology and the cultivation of scientific and technological talents. After 1972, Hou was seriously ill and inconvenient to move. He still asked for factory inspection many times to help solve technical problems. He also invited scientists and technicians to meet at home many times to discuss the improvement and development of sodium bicarbonate technology, and worked hard until the last breath.