Donald L. Campbell
Encyclopedia
Donald L. Campbell was an American chemical engineer. He and his team of three other scientists in the same field are most known for having developed the fluid catalytic cracking
(FCC) process in 1942. This process provided a more efficient method for petroleum refiners to obtain high-octane gasoline
by through the conversion of crude oil. The team’s revolutionary creation is explained in US Patent No. 2,451,804, A Method of and Apparatus for Contacting Solids and Gases, and eventually transformed the way petroleum was developed. Their invention was especially important in World War II
, as refiners could finally provide enough fuel for the allies’ fighter planes to battle against the Axis. For his significant contributions to the field of chemical engineering, Campbell was inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999.
. Twelve million contestants participated to write on the advantages of joining the army. One of the judges was General John J. Pershing
. Out of this pool, Campbell came in first place. The first line of his essay read: “As Horace Greely once said, ‘Young man, go West.’ We now say, ‘Young man, join the Army.’” Later, he began his higher-level education at Iowa State University, where he majored in chemical engineering and came first in his class. Afterward, he earned his master’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed his education after attending Harvard Business School.
. Today, this technique is in wide-use and alone produces 500 million USgals (1,892,706 m³) of gasoline per day, which is roughly half the world’s demand.
HOMER Z. MARTIN
For 36 years, Martin worked as a chemical engineer at ER&E. During his career, he earned 82 patents. In 1931, at the Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago, he received his undergraduate education in chemical engineering. Later, he also acquired a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. After retirement, he became a member of the American Institute for Engineers and the American Chemical Society.
EGER V. MURPHREE
Murphree studied at Kentucky University, where he received his undergraduate education in chemistry and mathematics and a master’s degree in chemistry. He worked at ER&E for 32 years, 15 of which he served as the president. Towards the end of his career at ER&E, he had the responsibility of directing military projects pertaining to the guided-missile program, working with US Secretary of Defense Charles Wilson, and serving as a member of the organizing committee of the Manhattan Project.
CHARLES W. TYSON
After working as the director of the petroleum development division, he served as the assistant to the vice president of ER&E. He earned both his chemistry bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. By the time he retired, he had earned 50 patents.
because of the contributions he had made to the field of chemical engineering. Before moving into a nursing home, Campbell spent much of his time in Short Hills, New Jersey
. His son Michael said that his father never felt bitter about not making money off of his inventions. Michael then said, “He was just proud to have worked with very smart men and to have accomplished something.” Campbell died on September 14, 2002.
Fluid catalytic cracking
Fluid catalytic cracking is the most important conversion process used in petroleum refineries. It is widely used to convert the high-boiling, high-molecular weight hydrocarbon fractions of petroleum crude oils to more valuable gasoline, olefinic gases, and other products...
(FCC) process in 1942. This process provided a more efficient method for petroleum refiners to obtain high-octane gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
by through the conversion of crude oil. The team’s revolutionary creation is explained in US Patent No. 2,451,804, A Method of and Apparatus for Contacting Solids and Gases, and eventually transformed the way petroleum was developed. Their invention was especially important in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as refiners could finally provide enough fuel for the allies’ fighter planes to battle against the Axis. For his significant contributions to the field of chemical engineering, Campbell was inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999.
Early life
Donald L. Campbell was born in Clinton, Iowa on August 5, 1904. From an early age, he showed a great fascination towards invention and solving problems. He actively indulged himself in building and problem-solving experiments. At the age of 16, Campbell took part in a national essay contest, which was sponsored by the Department of WarUnited States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
. Twelve million contestants participated to write on the advantages of joining the army. One of the judges was General John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
. Out of this pool, Campbell came in first place. The first line of his essay read: “As Horace Greely once said, ‘Young man, go West.’ We now say, ‘Young man, join the Army.’” Later, he began his higher-level education at Iowa State University, where he majored in chemical engineering and came first in his class. Afterward, he earned his master’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed his education after attending Harvard Business School.
Beginning of Career
His intelligence and interest in chemical engineering eventually led him to work for Exxon. He spent 41 years of his life there, 25 of which he spent in the Exxon Research and Engineering Company (ER&E). There, he became part of a team of four chemical engineers. Together, the four developed a breakthrough invention called the cracking process. Eventually, as a result of their valuable contributions and efficient teamwork, the four inventors were dubbed the “four horsemen” by their colleagues. By the end of his career, Campbell owned 30 patents.Major Invention
In 1942, while working at ER&E, the “four horsemen” developed a landmark creation in the field of chemical engineering known as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). This crucial conversion process enables petroleum refineries to obtain gasoline, aviation fuel, and olefinic gases through the conversion of hydrocarbon fractions at high temperatures. Specifically, the system consists of using high temperatures to break down large molecules of hydrogen carbon into smaller ones. This method was patented as the “Method of and Apparatus for Contacting solids and Gases Catalytic Cracking” number 2,451,804. Fortune magazine claimed that this invention is “what many engineers consider the most revolutionary chemical-engineering achievement of the last 50 years.” In 1940, using the work of Campbell and his crew, M. W. Kellogg Company operated a pilot plant in the Exxon refinery located in Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. Today, this technique is in wide-use and alone produces 500 million USgals (1,892,706 m³) of gasoline per day, which is roughly half the world’s demand.
The Four Horsemen
After joining ER&E, Campbell joined three other chemical-engineers to develop FCC. The three other contributors to this success were: Homer Z. Martin, Eger V. Murphree, and Charles W. Tyson.HOMER Z. MARTIN
For 36 years, Martin worked as a chemical engineer at ER&E. During his career, he earned 82 patents. In 1931, at the Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago, he received his undergraduate education in chemical engineering. Later, he also acquired a master’s and doctoral degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. After retirement, he became a member of the American Institute for Engineers and the American Chemical Society.
EGER V. MURPHREE
Murphree studied at Kentucky University, where he received his undergraduate education in chemistry and mathematics and a master’s degree in chemistry. He worked at ER&E for 32 years, 15 of which he served as the president. Towards the end of his career at ER&E, he had the responsibility of directing military projects pertaining to the guided-missile program, working with US Secretary of Defense Charles Wilson, and serving as a member of the organizing committee of the Manhattan Project.
CHARLES W. TYSON
After working as the director of the petroleum development division, he served as the assistant to the vice president of ER&E. He earned both his chemistry bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. By the time he retired, he had earned 50 patents.
Significance in WWII
The creation of the FCC was especially vital at the time it was created. During World War II, as the Allies were attempting to overpower the Axis in aerial warfare, the United States suffered a shortage of aviation fuel. At this time, the testing of this new system had been successful for three years. Consequently, FCC was used to increase the national output of aviation fuel by 6,000 percent, providing enough sufficient fuel for the war efforts. Many historians argue that the increase in the efficiency of acquiring petroleum contributed to the Allies’ air victory. In addition, this process caused greater production of synthetic rubber for petroleum, therefore making the US independent of Southeast Asia’s unstable source of rubber.Later years
Aside from his work, Campbell participated in other academic activities. For example, he shared thoughts with a group of academics from several fields, including filmmaking and other fields in science. He focused much of his inventive potential into the bridge games he so loved. He was a husband to Elizabeth Duff Campbell, a father to a son named Michael Duff Campbell and a daughter named Mary Louise Macom, a grandfather to eight grandchildren, and a great-grandfather to nine great-grandchildren. In 1999, he was awarded the Ronald H. Brown American Innovator Award and inducted into the National Inventors Hall of FameNational Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
because of the contributions he had made to the field of chemical engineering. Before moving into a nursing home, Campbell spent much of his time in Short Hills, New Jersey
Short Hills, New Jersey
Short Hills is an unincorporated area located within the township of Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. It is a popular commuter town for residents who work in New York City...
. His son Michael said that his father never felt bitter about not making money off of his inventions. Michael then said, “He was just proud to have worked with very smart men and to have accomplished something.” Campbell died on September 14, 2002.