The busy Lavoisier

"If the previous step of generating Baking Soda at high temperature was correct..." Lavoisier pondered, "Oh, I just never conducted an experiment to produce Baking Soda using Ammonia Gas, not to question you, Your Highness."

"Other processes, such as collecting the released Ammonia Gas and Carbonic Acid Gas, can also be achieved."

The "Carbonic Acid Gas" he referred to is Carbon Dioxide.

He was clearly very excited, looking at Joseph and saying, "Then, using the method you described to produce Soda, the price will be only one-tenth of what it is now..."

He was not only the most outstanding chemist of his time, but also had a good business sense. 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 readily available, so the production can be expanded almost infinitely!"

"Your Highness, I must return to the laboratory immediately to verify the method you described."

"I swear, if this were feasible, it would be an epoch-making event in the history of chemistry!"

He wasn't exaggerating at all. As the pillars of the chemical industry, the importance of the three acids and two alkalis is self-evident. Among these five basic reagents, Sulfuric Acid and Hydrochloric Acid are relatively easy to obtain, and nitric acid, given the level of the 18th century, was basically not a concern for industrial production. Soda Ash, on the other hand, became the star of the Chemical industry in the 19th century.

In fact, the French Government had previously offered a large reward for a method to produce Soda Ash industrially. The winner was Dr. Leblanc, who produced Soda Ash using Reflectory Furnace.

Although his method was expensive, it was still the most cutting-edge technology of the time. If Joseph's alkali production process were put into production, it would instantly turn him into dust.

As the two were talking, the Carriage stopped at the Tuileries Palace.

Lavoisier was about to take his leave and return to his laboratory when Mirabeau, who was already waiting there, quickly approached and bowed to Joseph, saying, "Your Highness, I heard you had left Versailles Palace and guessed you might have come here."

He had a lot of industrial development matters to report to Joseph, but the Crown Prince had been busy at the Ordnance Factory, and as soon as he left the Ordnance Factory today, he disappeared without a trace.

"It seems you have a lot to tell me," Joseph smiled and returned the greeting.

"That's true."

Mirabeau was about to head towards the Industrial Planning Bureau's office with the Crown Prince when he turned and noticed Lavoisier. He quickly bowed and said, "Oh, Mr. Lavoisier, so you're here too."

"Oh, yes, but I must take my leave now." Lavoisier bowed with his hand on his chest. "His Highness has taught me a method for producing Soda Ash, and I just want to fly back to my laboratory immediately."

"Soda Ash?" Mirabeau was acquainted with DuPont and had some knowledge of the Chemical industry. "That's really something. Soda Ash is an essential component for many Chemical industries."

Upon hearing the words "Chemical industry," Joseph's heart skipped a beat. He pulled Lavoisier upstairs, saying, "Don't rush into experiments. If we're going to get into the Chemical industry, we absolutely need your expert opinion."

"But..."

Lavoisier reluctantly entered the office of the Industrial Planning Bureau, still pondering the "Royal Alkali Process"—a new name Joseph had given to the "Solvay Process," since Mr. Solvay was not yet born.

However, his attention was immediately drawn to Mirabeau when Joseph asked Joseph about the Gas Streetlight project.

"Then the supporting Coal Tar processing laboratory needs to be expedited," Joseph said. "Mr. Murdoch obtained the coal distillation Patent last month, and we aim to start construction of the Paris Gas Streetlight before the end of the year."

Mirabeau hesitated, then said, "Your Highness, I have actually purchased all the experimental equipment according to the standards of the University of Paris laboratories, but the kind of 'benzene' you mentioned is something no chemist has ever heard of..."

Joseph quickly looked at Lavoisier beside him, only to find that the latter also looked bewildered.

He was immediately filled with a sense of helplessness. It seemed that organic chemistry in this era was still a wasteland, and even benzene, the most basic organic compound, had not yet been discovered.

He had no choice but to patiently explain to Lavoisier that Coal Tar contains a large amount of benzene, as well as other organic compounds such as Aniline and Phenol, which could be extracted.

Lavoisier's eyes immediately lit up. "You mean, there's a new substance in Coal Tar that we don't yet know about?"

"Yes, it's a bit complicated." Joseph didn't know where to begin introducing organic chemistry for a moment, as it was, after all, a very large subject.

Finally, he had no choice but to cut to the chase. "When you distill Coal Tar, you'll find benzene in the distillate at different temperatures. Oh, and in this process, you'll also discover some other new substances."

Lavoisier's breathing quickened. As a chemist, discovering a new substance was enough to make him famous in the academic world, but the Crown Prince casually told him that simple operations could yield many new substances!

Either His Highness was just spouting nonsense, or it must be a God revelation!

He instinctively made the sign of the cross on his chest and said urgently, "Your Highness, please entrust me with the experiment on processing Coal Tar!"

Joseph hesitated, "I really hope you can help me, but you also need to help me design the production process for Soda Ash."

"This..." Lavoisier was unwilling to give up, and hurriedly said, "My wife can help. Please believe me, she has excellent experimental skills. Oh, and I have many other excellent students. I certainly won't delay the commissioning of the Royal Alkali Process!"

Joseph immediately smiled. The Lavoisier and their students meant that nearly half of France's top chemistry experts had joined his project.

He nodded to Lavoisier and said, "Since you're so interested, then I'll entrust you with taking over the Coal Tar laboratory. You can apply directly to Earl Mirabeau for the necessary funding."

Coal Tar can be refined to extract a large number of valuable compounds such as Aniline and Phenol, which are used to produce disinfectants, dyes, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals.

Especially the first two. Phenol, as the earliest medical disinfectant, has saved countless lives—it's much cheaper than Alcohol, after all, it's a product of Coal Tar waste utilization, and can be used on a large scale for disinfection of entire buildings or entire Camp.

Aniline, as a raw material for dye production, has an incredibly high economic value. Currently, purple dye extracted from plants and used in the fashion industry can be more expensive than the garment itself!

Even among the Nobility of the Versailles Palace, wearing a full purple outfit was a matter of great prestige. It wasn't until the advent of Mauveine, made from Aniline, that purple clothing finally entered the homes of ordinary people.

If this dye goes into production, it will become a powerful tool for the France Textile to compete with the United Kingdom!

Joseph stopped his daydreaming. The organic chemistry industry was still a long way off—even Lavoisier didn't know what benzene was, and it was unknown how long it would take to develop an industry. Right now, the most urgent task was to implement Soda Ash production as soon as possible, establish a Chemical Industrial Chain using Soda Ash, and reap the benefits from it.