Chemical Industry Collection

Female ICI employees enjoy a dance, South Yorkshire, 1957. Artist: Michael Walters
Female ICI employees enjoy a dance, South Yorkshire, 1957. A couple of girls from the ICI Detonator factory in Denaby Main (near Doncaster)

Advertisement for Sunlight household soap, c1890. The advertisement recommends the soap it to the housewife by claiming it would make life easier

Worshipful Company of Salters armorial
This is the coat of arms of the Worshipful Company of Salters, as presented in a publication dated around 1800. The Worshipful Companies are trade associations based in the City of London

Gas compressor servicing. Engineers checking a compressor at a petrochemical factory. Compressors are usually used to compress gases, such as natural gas for transportation

Chemical plant storage tanks. The industrial-scale manufacture of chemicals requires specialised engineering to meet a wide range of storage requirements

Coke Chemical Complex - Electromechanical Shop, 1923. Creator: Unknown
Coke Chemical Complex - Electromechanical Shop, 1923. The "Kuzbass" autonomous industrial colony was created in 1921

Coke Chemical Complex - Electromechanical Shop, 1923. Creator: Unknown
Coke Chemical Complex - Electromechanical Shop, 1923. The "Kuzbass" autonomous industrial colony was created in 1921

Coke-Chemical Complex. Opening Ceremony, 1924. Creator: Unknown
Coke-Chemical Complex. Opening Ceremony, 1924. The "Kuzbass" autonomous industrial colony was created in 1921. It was organized by American workers

Chemical industry of the USSR on January 1, 1933, 1934. Creator: Mikhail Alekseevich TSvetkov
Chemical industry of the USSR on January 1, 1933, 1934. From the atlas "Industry of the USSR at the beginning of the 2nd Five-Year Plan

Lead chamber for production of sulphuric acid, 1866. Also known as Oil of Vitriol or H2S04, sulphuric acid was one of the most important industrial chemicals

The Wider Image: Cash and chemicals: banana boom a blessing and a curse
A worker plunges bananas into a chemical bath at a packing line at a banana plantation operated by a Chinese company in the province of Bokeo, Laos April 24, 2017

A work table in the chemical laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1880, Historic
1900s, 19th-century, building, buildings, businesses, chemical corporation, chemical factory, chemical group, chemical industries, chemical industry, chemical plants, companies, company, depiction

Chaptal. Late Professor of Chemistry at Montpellier, 19th century. Creator: C Cook
Chaptal. Late Professor of Chemistry at Montpellier, 19th century. Portrait of French politician and chemist Jean Antoine Chaptal (1756-1832)

Dr Lowe of ICI being presented with a camera, Denaby Main, South Yorkshire, 1962. ICI produced detonators at their Denaby Main site for many years until its closure in the late 1960s

Presentation to a female worker at the ICI Detonator works, Denaby Main, South Yorkshire, 1962. A Female worker is presented with a bunch of flowers

Assembling trackwork in an ICI factory, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 1963. Artist
Assembling trackwork in an ICI factory, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 1963

Installation of trackwork in an ICI Plant, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 1963. Artist
Installation of trackwork in an ICI Plant, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 1963

Awards ceremony dinner for ICI employees, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, 1962. Artist
Awards ceremony dinner for ICI employees, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, 1962. At an awards ceremony for safe driving by ICI employees, guests are photographed before the dinner and presentations

A petrochemical plant towering over residential housing, Baglan Bay, Wales, 1975. By the late 1960s British Petroleums (BP) plant at Baglan Bay, near Swansea

The St Rollox chemical works, Glasgow, c1880. The factory produced bleaching powder. A print from Great Industries of Great Britain, Volume I, published by Cassell Petter and Galpin, (London, Paris)

A laboratory worker holds a separating funnel of oil, Dunkirk refinery, France, 1950s

Sectional view of lead chambers for large-scale production of sulphuric acid, 1870. Also known as Oil of Vitriol or H2S04, sulphuric acid was one of the most important of industrial chemicals

Sectional view of Gay-Lussacs lead chambers and absorption towers, 1870. These were for the large-scale production of sulphuric acid also (Oil of Vitriol or H2SO4)

Lead chambers for large-scale production of sulphuric acid, 1874. Sectional view showing the process from beginning to end from the furnace (left) to the denitrating (or Glover) tower (right)

Platinum still for concentrating sulphuric acid (Oil of Vitriol or H2S04), 1844. The view shown here was at the Felling Chemical Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. From British Manufacturers by George Dodd

Production of sulphuric acid (Oil of Vitriol or H2S04), 1844. View of the passage between two lead chambers, Felling Chemical Works, Newcastle, England. From The Penny Magazine. (London 1844)

Distillation of Oil of Vitriol (sulphuric acid or H2S04), 1651. An iron retort with cover, detail at C, D, is placed in a furnace and connected to a receiver at A

Producing salt by evaporating natural brine by pouring it into a pit of burning charcoal, 1556. A rather impure product resulted. From De re metallica by Agricola (Georg Bauer). (Basel, 1556)

Crystallization of saltpetre (nitre, potassium nitrate, or KN03), 1683. Saltpetre is the principal ingredient in gunpowder, and is still used in the preservation of some foods

Checking the quality of saltpetre (nitre, potassium nitrate, or KN03), 1683. Saltpetre is the principal ingredient in gunpowder, and is still used in the preservation of some foods

Laboratory for refining gold and silver, showing typical laboratory equipment, 1683. 1) Athanor or Slow Harry, a self-feeding furnace maintaining a constant temperature

Production of saltpetre (nitre, potassium nitrate, or KN03), 1683. Nitre beds, heaps of manure mixed with chalky earth. These were watered with urine and manure water

Distillation of Nitric Acid, 1683. Also known as Aqua Fortis or Parting Acid, nitric acid was widely used in the refining and assaying of metals

Athanor or Slow Harry, a self-feeding furnace maintaining a constant temperature, 1683. Centre: 1) Athanor or Slow Harry ; 2) side chambers containing reagents; 3) glass receivers

Christian Friedrich Schonbein, German chemist, c1898. Schonbein (1799-1869) began his investigation of ozone in 1839. He worked on nitrocellulose and produced gunoctton for use in firearms in 1846

Alfred Moritz Mond, 1st Baron Melchett, British industrialist, c1926
Alfred Moritz Mond, 1st Baron Melchett, British industrialist and politician, c1926. The son of Ludwig Mond, Lord Melchett (1868-1930) became the first Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI)

Rock Salt: Miners at work in salt mine, Wieliczka, Galicia, Poland, 20th century. Cigarette card c1920

The Cathedral, Marston Salt Mine, Northwich, Cheshire, England, 19th century
The Cathedral, Marston Salt Mine, Northwich, Cheshire, England, showing the pillars of salt that have been left to support the ceiling of the cavern which has been left after the excavation of rock

Producing salt by evaporating sea water in salt pans, 1556
Producing salt by evaporating sea water in salt pans. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola (Georg Bauer). (Basel 1556)

Evaporating pots of brine in a natural hot spring to obtain salt, 1556
Evaporating pots of brine in a natural hot spring to obtain salt. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola (Georg Bauer). (Basel, 1556)

Salt Works, Amsterdam, 1660. Right: quality of product is being shown to potential customer: Left: women are refining brine in a boiler

Evaporating sea water in iron pots to obtain salt, 1556
Evaporating sea water in iron pots to obtain salt. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola (Georg Bauer). (Basel, 1556)

Joseph Crosfield & Sons soap factory at Bank Quarry, Warrington, Cheshire, 1886. 1: general view of works; 2: display at Liverpool Exhibition; 3: frame room; 4: stamping; 5: packaging room; 6

Gas lighting, 1814. Fig. 1: Samuel Cleggs (1781-1861) gas apparatus (1808). Fig. 7: B Cooks gas apparatus. Figs 8&9: Furnace for producing tar as a gas by-product. From Encyclopaedia Londinensis

Alfred Nobel, Swedish chemist and inventor. In 1866 Swedish chemist and industrialist Nobel (1833-1896) invented a safe and manageable form of nitroglycerine he called dynamite

Wallace Hume Carothers, American industrial chemist, c1927-1937. Carothers (1896-1937), seen here in the laboratory, discovered nylon while working for the Dupont Company in 1927

General view of an Alum works in the Whitby area, Yorkshire, 1814. Artist: Havell & Son
General view of an Alum works in the Whitby area, Yorkshire, 1814. Steeping crumbled ore in water in pits to dissolve out salts which will be processed to produce alum

Soap manufacturing, c1905. The Vinolia Soap Companys London laboratory where raw materials and essential oils were tested

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The chemical industry has always been a fascinating and dynamic field, with countless stories to tell. In this captivating journey through time, we catch a glimpse of the rich history and diverse aspects that make up this ever-evolving sector. In 1957, female employees at ICI gather together for a joyous dance in South Yorkshire. The artist Michael Walters beautifully captures their spirit and camaraderie, showcasing the inclusivity within the industry. The armorial of the Worshipful Company of Salters reminds us of the long-standing traditions and prestigious heritage associated with chemicals. It symbolizes excellence and expertise that have been passed down through generations. Gas compressor servicing highlights the importance of maintenance in ensuring smooth operations within chemical plants. These intricate machines play a vital role in facilitating various processes involved in production. Speaking of production, storage tanks at chemical plants stand tall as silent witnesses to countless innovations and breakthroughs. They hold within them raw materials or finished products ready to be distributed across industries worldwide. Venturing beyond borders, we find ourselves at Haifa petrochemical plant—a testament to global collaboration and technological advancements. This facility serves as an example of how different nations come together to meet growing demands while prioritizing sustainability. Traveling back in time, we step into Leipzig's chemical laboratory from 1880—an era where scientific discoveries were being made on every corner. This digitally restored reproduction allows us to appreciate the dedication and meticulous work carried out by chemists during those times. Delving further into history takes us to 1866 when lead chambers were used for sulphuric acid production—a significant milestone that revolutionized industrial chemistry forever. Such inventions paved the way for future developments within the field. However, it is not all about progress; sometimes challenges arise alongside growth. The banana boom depicted in "Cash and Chemicals" showcases how success can bring both blessings and curses—highlighting environmental concerns linked with increased demand for agricultural chemicals.