Solvay, Ernest

Solvay, Ernest ĕrnĕstˈ sôlvāˈ [key], 1838–1922, Belgian industrial chemist and philanthropist. He originated the Solvay process and established (1863) near Charleroi, Belgium, the first plant for making soda by this process; later, plants were set up in many countries. He founded at Brussels the Solvay institutes of physiology (1893) and sociology (1901) and made large gifts to European universities.

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