Reply To: understanding of blast chemistry in 1873

[Paul Rondelez]

Dear Quentin,

Not my speciality but the publication The Metallurgy of Iron and Steel (p. 402-403) by H. S. Osborn, published in 1869, seems to have all the ingredients Verne needed: the end product of combustion [in the blast furnace] is carbonic oxide [carbon monoxide], this carbonic oxide will react with any oxides within the furnace.

Catalan forge/Corsican method was frequently used to describe any bloomery process in the late 19th century, which I am assuming Verne was doing. And charcoal, not coal, is the fuel for this process. As you say, the various term for ‘coal/charcoal’ can be confusing in various languages but Verne’s use of ‘charbon’ (for charcoal) would seem correct. The translations as ‘coal’, however, are not.

Kind regards,

Paul