Biography
Adinath Lahiri, Indian chemist and technologist (Pabna, now Bangladesh 24 August 1916 – London 26 August 1975)
Recognized as an international authority on coal
Authored over 500 articles
Made important contributions to knowledge of the state of combination of carbon and hydrogen in the coal molecule and its derivatives
His studies led to many improvements in coal washing technology some of which have been internationally adopted
DEVELOPED WITH COLLEAGUES
A beehive coke oven
An activated carbon and ion exchangers for determination of water-based coal
A simple moving-bed devolatilizer without by product recovery
A narrow brick vertical retort employed in low temperature carbonisation technique for large scale production
Processes for the isolation and recovery of useful chemicals from the byproducts of coal
Processes for the production of products like resins, phthalic anhydride, anthraquinone, maleic anhydride, xylenes, cyanopyridines, nicotinic, isonicotinic and benzoic acids, benzonitrile, cresols, naphthol, resorcinol and other compounds
Inexpensive methods for converting low-grade coals into processed solid fuel
Technology of using non-coking coals for the production of blast furnace fuel
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
With G.G. Sarkar & S. Saha. A graphical method for determining optimum operating condition for washing mixed coals. J. Inst. Fuel 33:130-45, 1960
With S.K. Mukherjee et al. A continuous process for low temperature fluidized carbonization of coal. J. Scient. Ind. Res. 19 (12A): 611-5, 1960
With A.K. Chakraborty et al. A simple specific gravity indicator for use in heavy medium coal washing plants. Res. Ind. 6(7):239-41, 1961
With G.G. Sarkar. An index for the comparison and correlation of washability characteristic of coals (1962)
With P.N. Mukherjee & L.V. Ramachandran. A new method of production of nitrogeneous organic manure from cellulosic material. Chem. Ind. 18(7):41, 1963
With A.R. Ray et al. An improved process of coal flotation by use of grids. Indian J. Tech. 2(12):446-8, 1963
With P.N. Bose et al. A theoretical basis for predicting optimum proportions of constituents in coal blending. Ind. J. Tech. 2(3):110-2, 1964
With P.N. Mukherjee & J.N. Bhowmik. An improved process for the production of fertilizers from coal. Indian J. Tech. 3(3):90-2, 1965
With A. Sen Gupta & N.N. Das Gupta. A laboratory test oven for assessing the coking properties of coals. Indian J. Tech. 4:5, 1966
With G.G. Sarkar & H.P. Das. New washability diagram presenting the petrological constituents of coal CIM Bull. 64(705):757-65, 1971
With J. Chattopadhyay et al. An integrated process for simultaneous upgrading and dewatering of small coal (1972)
With S.K. Ray & H.S. Rao. An integrated scheme for the production of some fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and inseticides from light pyridine bases recoverable from coke oven saturated liquor (1972)
PATENTS
(Several innovations in fuel technology which earned him over 90 patents)
With N.G. Basak & A.C. Mazumdar. Improvements in or relating to the removal of organic sulphur from industrial gases GB803399 A (1956)
With D.K. Sen, C. Sreedharan, B. Nair & A.N. Basu. A process for the extraction of tar acids from the crude tar oils DE1297618 B (1961)
With A.K. Chakravarti, J. Chattopadhyay & G.G. Sarkar . Upgrading and dewatering of coal US3,3381,388 A (1966)
With A.K. Chakravarti, J. Chattopadhyay & G.G. Sarkar . Improvements in or relating to the upgrading and dewatering of coal. GB1114820A (1966)
With P.B. Chowdhury, D.K. Mukherjee, N.G. Basak, J.K. Sarma & A.N. Basu. Preparation of iron catalysts for hydrogenation of coal CA965767A (1970)
With D.K. Mukherjee, P.B. Chowdhury, J.K. Sarma, A.N. Basu & N.G. Basak. Hydrogenation of coal US3,775,286 (1971)
With S.K.Ray, G.S. Murty, H.S. Rao & S. C. Ray. A process relating to the production of benzonitrile from toluene a constituent of coke-oven benzole and petroleum (1972)
With T.K. Goswami, S.K. Ray, A. Bhattacharjee, T.J. Bhaduri, P.R. Kumar, K.K. Tiwari, M.P. Sharma, G.S. Murty, C.S.B. Nair & K.C. Bit. Improvements in or relating to a process for the isomerisation of sulphonic acids IN141861B (1973)
With T.K. Goswami, S.K. Ray, A. Bhattacharjee, T.J. Bhaduri, P.R. Kumar, K.K. Tiwari, M.P. Sharma, G.S. Murty, C.S.B. Nair & K.C. Bit. Improvements in or relating for the production of aromatic hydroxy compounds or salts thereof IN141862B (1973)
With T.K. Goswami, S.K. Ray, A. Bhattacharjee, T.J. Bhaduri, P.R. Kumar, K.K. Tiwari, M.P. Sharma, G.S. Murty, C.S.B. Nair & K.C. Bit. Improvements in or relating to a process for neutralisation of the products from sulphonation reaction IN141863B (1973)
With B. Konar, A.K. Sinha & G.G. Sarkar. A process for demineralisation of coals IN144163B (1974)
HONORS
Genus Lahirites Bharadwaj (Fossil Pollen & Sporae)
