Chemurgy

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Chemurgy is a branch of applied chemistry that deals with the industrial processing of agricultural and forestry products and with the development of new plant varieties for industrial use. The term was mainly used in the first half of the 20th century and is unusual today despite the increasing importance of the industrial use of renewable raw materials .

History of origin

The term was probably coined by the chemist William J. Hale in his book The Farm Chemurgic in 1934 . With the statement " Anything that can be made from a hydrocarbon could be made from a carbohydrate " (a quote that is often attributed to Henry Ford ), Hale pointed out that plant material mainly consists of the carbon-based materials cellulose , starch , sugar , oil and protein exists and can therefore easily be used as a starting material for chemical products.

At that time they looked for ways to use the growing agricultural surpluses. Beginning in the 1920s, some Americans, like agricultural journalist Wheeler McMillen , campaigned for closer ties between farmers and industry. Henry Ford had begun testing agricultural crops for industrial potential by 1930 and found soybeans particularly promising. The Roosevelt government saw the National Farm Chemurgic Council, founded by Hale in 1935, as a political threat because it challenged the policies of the US Department of Agriculture .

George Washington Carver was one of the most famous scientists in this field.

supporting documents

  1. ^ William Jay Hale: The Farm Chemurgic: Farmward the Star of Destiny Lights Our Way. The Stratford company, University of California 1934 ( digitized from Google Books ).

literature

  • To advance the industrial use of American farm products through applied science ; issued by the National Farm Chemurgic Council ; Columbus, Ohio
  • Chemurgic digest journal ; New York, 1942-1970
  • Proceedings of the second Dearborn Conference of Agriculture, Industry and Science, Dearborn, Mich., May 12, 13, 14, 1936
  • Ernest N. Hutchinson : Pacific Northwest Chemurgic Conference with Washington State Planning Council ; Washington, 1937
  • Carroll W. Pursell , Jr .: The Farm Chemurgic Council and the United States Department of Agriculture, 1935-1939

Web links