A 19th-century inventor used recycled steam to revolutionize how sugar is refined
In 1843, inventor Norbert Rillieux revolutionized the sugar industry by developing a vacuum system that recycled steam, making production safer and more efficient than ever before.
Born in New Orleans as a free man of color, Norbert Rillieux fundamentally changed chemical engineering with his invention of the multiple-effect vacuum evaporator. His system used latent heat across sealed pans to lower boiling points, allowing sugar to be refined using a fraction of the fuel required by older methods. This innovation replaced the dangerous 'Jamaica train' process, where workers handled scorching syrup in open vats.
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