Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1998, 37, 2069-2071
Dr. L. K. Doraiswamy In the 100-year history of chemical engineering, few individuals have influenced the course of our profession more deeply and more broadly than Dr. L. K. Doraiswamy. Indeed, the sheer scope of his impact and seminal nature of many of his contributions are major motivations for this special issue. The areas associated with Dr. Doraiswamy’s remarkable achievements range from chemical engineering science and fundamentals (especially chemical reaction engineering), to process and product development, to leading a major national laboratory, to engineering education. Over the years his gentlemanly and scholarly approach has influenced, even touched, an enormous number of collaborators and colleagues. This special issue is a collection of papers by many, but by no means all, of his colleagues and friends, who have been inspired by his penetrating and broad intellect, generous nature, and charming good humor. This preface merely sets the stage for their comments by focusing on the man rather than his work. On May 13, 1927, Laxmangudi Krishnamurthi Doraiswamy was born in Bangalore, India. Prof. Doraiswamy’s father was a geologist stationed in the princely state of Hyderabad, which was ruled by His Exalted Highness the Nizam. His father worked in a small village called Lingsagur, where Doraiswamy received his first three to four years of primary education. Prof. Doraiswamy’s father then moved to the capital city of Hyderabad, where Dr. Doraiswamy continued his education, eventually graduating from the Methodist Boys High School. Prof. Doraiswamy did well in all subjects. However, he received special praise from the American missionary at the school for his English. Upon graduation from high school, he attended the prestigious Nizam College and received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. At this point in his life, Dr. Doraiswamy made a decision for which we are all very grateful. He was quite enamored of organic chemistry and applied to do his Master’s work under the direction of the famous organic chemist Prof. T. R. Seshadri (F.R.S.) at the Presidency College in Madras. However, because he was very interested in the quickly developing field of chemical engineering, he also applied to the Algappa Chettiar College of Technology in Madras. At this time, the Algappa S0888-5885(98)00023-2 CCC: $15.00 © 1998 American Chemical Society Published on Web 04/09/1998
2069
2070 Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., Vol. 37, No. 6, 1998
Chettiar College and the University Department of Chemical Technology in Bombay were the only two places in India to study chemical engineering. Both had extraordinarily high entrance requirements, and enrollments were very limited. Doraiswamy was in a terrible quandary when he was accepted at both institutions in Madras. Apparently, he agonized over his decision for a few weeks but luckily for us chose chemical engineering. While still a student, he was selected to receive a scholarship from the Nizam’s government in Hyderabad to study in the United States. Dr. Doraiswamy had an uncle who had received his Ph.D. in chemistry from University of Wisconsin. This uncle encouraged and helped him receive admittance to the Department of Chemical Engineering at University of Wisconsin. Prof. Doraiswamy arrived in Madison, WI, in Dec 1948 at the age of 21. Dr. Doraiswamy considers his meeting Olaf Hougen, Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of Wisconsin, as one of the most significant events in his professional career. It was indeed a defining moment in this man’s life. Hougen kept in constant touch with Doraiswamy’s father, informing him (often in very flattering words) of his son’s progress at University of Wisconsin. When in 1950 Doraiswamy received his Master’s of Science degree, the Nizam’s government recalled him to serve his homeland. Prof. Hougen, however, was determined that Doraiswamy stay for his Ph.D. Hougen stepped in and said that if Hyderabad would not support Doraiswamy, then University of Wisconsin would. What a wonderful beginning of a remarkable career. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1952, Dr. Doraiswamy worked for a short time at the R. L. Carlisle Chemical and Manufacturing Company Inc. in Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Carlisle, the president of the company, wanted Dr. Doraiswamy to stay on and entertained thoughts of adopting him as his kid brother. This, of course, did not happen because Dr. Doraiswamy was most anxious to go back and start on a career of research in chemical engineering in India. In 1954, he joined the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune, India. He quickly moved up the ranks from senior scientist, to assistant director (1961), to deputy director (1966), and finally, in 1978, to director, a position he held for more than 11 years. He was the first engineer to hold the directorship of this major institution. During the time he was associated with NCL, he was also directing many graduate students from universities in India and carrying out a complete research agenda of his own. In India, several attempts were made to get him to Delhi in order to participate in the government bureaucracy. He was once called by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who offered him the director generalship of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, perhaps the most coveted scientific position in the country. But he had no desire to accept a job, however powerful, that would require fulltime administration. He was also offered more than one senior position in the U.S. but had no desire to leave NCL and India at that time. In 1989, after retiring from NCL at the age of 62, he joined the faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Iowa State University as the Glenn Murphy Professor of Engineering. He took this position because he desired a quiet academic life and was convinced that a good American university located in a small town was the ideal place for him. In 1992, he became the first Herbert L. Stiles Professor of Chemical Engineering there. In 1996, he added the title Anson Marston Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Iowa State University. Dr. Doraiswamy has authored eight books with more in the works, directed over 45 Ph.D. students, helped develop several industrial processes, published nearly 200 refereed papers in international journals, held visiting professorships at six different universities, served on numerous editorial boards, and still serves as a director on boards of several companies and private foundations. His fundamental contributions to chemical reaction engineering include gas-solid catalytic reactions, gas-solid noncatalytic reactions, solid-solid reactions, phase-transfer catalysis mediated reactions, fluidization, stochastic modeling, adsorption and catalysis, and catalytic reactor analysis. Other contributions include highly acclaimed work in thermodynamic and transport property estimation. One of his current projects is the ordering of a new area, organic synthesis engineering, which will soon result in the publication of his text defining the true marriage of chemistry and chemical engineering in this enormously complex and industrially important area. His many successes in bringing the latest technology to market include a new continuous process for dimethylaniline, a fluidized-bed process for methylchlorosilanes, a new continuous process for ethylenediamine, a new process for vitamin B6, a complete process for four acrylate esters, and a new zeolite catalyst. He still retains his Indian citizenship.
Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., Vol. 37, No. 6, 1998 2071
For his many achievements, Prof. Doraiswamy has been recognized by colleagues around the world. He has received every major scientific and technical award in India, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for lifetime achievement in engineering and technology (1987) and the prestigious Padma Bushan of the Government of India for achievements in the field of science (1990). The latter is roughly equivalent to the National Medal of Science in the United States. He was awarded the Richard H. Wilhelm Award from AIChE in 1990. In 1988, he received the Personal Achievement Award from the McGraw-Hill publication Chemical Engineering, in which he was named one of the 10 most distinguished chemical engineers in the world. He holds two honorary doctorates, one from University of Salford, Salford, U.K., and another from University of Wisconsin, in addition to his Ph.D. He has held visiting professorships and given scores of special or endowed lectures around the world. The respect that L. K. Doraiswamy enjoys among his colleagues in the chemical engineering profession here and abroad is based on more than his remarkable accomplishments. His record of scholarly achievement, success in developing new technologies, and impact on society speaks for itself. More than a scholar, however, he is a perfect gentleman: considerate, compassionate, patient, and a delightful companion. His love of students is obvious in the way he invites groups of them into his home for discussions of science, engineering, politics, and philosophy. In return, their deep respect and affection for him is manifested as lifelong friendships and the highest loyalty. Prof. Doraiswamy is generous in spirit and humble in the face of all his success and, foremost, is an educator in the truest sense of the word. We delight in honoring him with this special edition.
Terry S. King Dean, College of Engineering Kansas State University 146 Rathbone Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-5104 IE980023A
