Kotaro Shimomura
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese chemical engineer known for many famous inventions.
. He took the degree of B.S. He went to Johns Hopkins University
where he worked in organic chemistry under Prof. Ira Remsen
. He also obtained practical technique of Solvay
in Bruxelles.
on a large scale in quality and hardness equal to best English and German coke by suitable blending of materials and suitable method of heating, which eventually superseded the foreign articles entire
He erected the first by-product ovens in Japan, and when built and started, the enterprise was considered to be a reckless endeavor. But gradually the number of ovens has increased and there were more than a thousand coke-ovens of by-product type. This method of blending was adopted by all the subsequent manufacturers.
in Japanese soils was not very well recognized. He was not an expert in tar distillation and was among the first to produce naphthalene
in powder, balls and cakes at a time when its smell was objected to as something unbearable.
He was the first to put up a plant to extract benzene
from coke-oven gas, when it was thought that it would not sell. This fear was subsequently contradicted by increased demand for benzene as solvent, motor oil and also as an important raw material for dyestuffs. In the time of the world war, Japan was amply provided with benzene obtained from coke-oven gas to make the manufacture of dyestuffs independent of foreign supply.
In the year 1909 he determined to devote the surplus gas of the by-product ovens of the Seimi Works of two companies, the Osaka Gas and the Seimi, and by means of a compressor which had been used for riveting a gas-holder, about 200,00 c. ft. were sent out daily under high pressure. This is regarded as the first attempt in Japan to use the high-pressure conveyance, the method since then becoming so prevalent in this country,
:
Osaka Seimi Works Company (amalgamation with the Osaka Gas Company):
Osaka Gas Company:
Toyo (Oriental) Wood Preserving Company:
Kobe Gas Company:
Japan Dyestuff Manufacturing Company (amalgamation with the Sumitomo Chemical
):
Early life and education
When about 12 years of age, he attended the Kumamoto Yogakko where American soldier Capt. L. L. James was engaged. In 1876, he was studying theology in Doshisha. He went to America in 1885 when 25 years of age, and he entered the Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities...
. He took the degree of B.S. He went to Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
where he worked in organic chemistry under Prof. Ira Remsen
Ira Remsen
Ira Remsen was a chemist who, along with Constantin Fahlberg, discovered the artificial sweetener saccharin. He was the second president of Johns Hopkins University.-Biography:...
. He also obtained practical technique of Solvay
Solvay
Solvay may refer to* Solvay , an international chemicals and plastics company* the Solvay process* Ernest Solvay, its inventor* Solvay Conference* the Solvay Business School* Solvay, New York* Solvay Hut, on the Matterhorn...
in Bruxelles.
Coke-oven and Coke manufacture
Dr. Shimomura was the first to produce cokeCoke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
on a large scale in quality and hardness equal to best English and German coke by suitable blending of materials and suitable method of heating, which eventually superseded the foreign articles entire
He erected the first by-product ovens in Japan, and when built and started, the enterprise was considered to be a reckless endeavor. But gradually the number of ovens has increased and there were more than a thousand coke-ovens of by-product type. This method of blending was adopted by all the subsequent manufacturers.
Ammonium sulphate, naphthalene and Benzene
Dr. Shimomura was one of the eariest workers on ammonium sulphate to produce it on a large scale and put it on the market as a fertilizer in the days when its superiority to sodium nitrateSodium nitrate
Sodium nitrate is the chemical compound with the formula NaNO3. This salt, also known as Chile saltpeter or Peru saltpeter to distinguish it from ordinary saltpeter, potassium nitrate, is a white solid which is very soluble in water...
in Japanese soils was not very well recognized. He was not an expert in tar distillation and was among the first to produce naphthalene
Naphthalene
Naphthalene is an organic compound with formula . It is a white crystalline solid with a characteristic odor that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm by mass. As an aromatic hydrocarbon, naphthalene's structure consists of a fused pair of benzene rings...
in powder, balls and cakes at a time when its smell was objected to as something unbearable.
He was the first to put up a plant to extract benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
from coke-oven gas, when it was thought that it would not sell. This fear was subsequently contradicted by increased demand for benzene as solvent, motor oil and also as an important raw material for dyestuffs. In the time of the world war, Japan was amply provided with benzene obtained from coke-oven gas to make the manufacture of dyestuffs independent of foreign supply.
Gas Industry
When Dr. Shimomura became connected with Osaka Gas Company, it was producing to supply about 700,000 c. ft. per day of gas. As a director, he was responsible for the extensions up to the several millions c. ft. a day. With the Osaka Seimi Works Company a similar growth took place and he was responsible for the works development from one battery to three batteries, from 16 to 73 ovens, of from 600 tons of coke to 6000 tons per month.In the year 1909 he determined to devote the surplus gas of the by-product ovens of the Seimi Works of two companies, the Osaka Gas and the Seimi, and by means of a compressor which had been used for riveting a gas-holder, about 200,00 c. ft. were sent out daily under high pressure. This is regarded as the first attempt in Japan to use the high-pressure conveyance, the method since then becoming so prevalent in this country,
Wood Preserving Industry
The importance of subjecting railway sleepers to some preserving process was insisted on by Dr. Shiga, and a company was formed to use creosote oil mixed with Zinc compound; but owing to the lack of tar oil, the enterprise was in a precarious condition, when Dr. Shimomura was enabled to put a large quantity of creosote oil to its use, resulting in the formation of the Toyo Wood Preserving Company. The wood preserving business has steadily developed.Dyestuff Manufacture
In his travels abroad, besides investigating coke-ovens, he took every opportunity to get a glimpse of the dyestuffs works and was favored with rare chances of inspecting inside of some works in England. When the world war broke out, he was found to be one of the very few among native chemists who had given any attention to the preparation of dyestuffs and was asked to take the position of the managing chief chemist to start the works of company, - the Japan Dyestuff Manufacturing Company. In view of the extraordinary circumstances, he consented to do so in spite of the impaired eyesight under which he was suffering. Thus was inaugurated the manufacturing of the dyestuffs on a large scale, one of the most ambitious projects that Japan had ever undertaken in competition with the West.Positions held
Doshisha UniversityDoshisha University
, or is a prestigious private university in Kyoto, Japan. The university has approximately 27,000 students on three campuses, in faculties of theology, letters, law, commerce, economics, policy, and engineering...
:
- The sixth president of Doshisha University (1904 - 1907
Osaka Seimi Works Company (amalgamation with the Osaka Gas Company):
- Chief Engineer (1899-1907)
- Managing Director and Chief Engineer (1905-1923)
- President (1923)
Osaka Gas Company:
- Consulting Engineer (1905-1907)
- Chief Engineer (1907-1916)
- Director (1919)
- Managing Director (1926-1928)
Toyo (Oriental) Wood Preserving Company:
- Technical Adviser (1907-1918)
- Director (1918)
- Chairman of the Board of Directors(1924)
Kobe Gas Company:
- Technical Advisor (1910-
Japan Dyestuff Manufacturing Company (amalgamation with the Sumitomo Chemical
Sumitomo Chemical
Sumitomo Chemical is a Japanese company. It's a member of the Sumitomo group and is listed on the Nikkei 225. The company is one of Japan's major chemical companies and was founded in 1913.-Company Milestones:...
):
- Managing Chief Chemist (1916-1918)
- Technical Advisor (1918-