Meet Carroll L. Wilson

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Carroll L. Wilson (September 21, 1910 – October 3, 2003) was an American chemical engineer who made several significant contributions to the field of chemical engineering, including the development of processes for the production of several important chemicals. He contributed to fundamental work in the modeling of world energy supplies and enlisted governmental and industrial leaders from around the world in studies of global energy prospects through the year 2000.

Some of his greatest contributions and notable achievements include:

Wilson and H.A. Atwater developed the process for the production of maleic anhydride, a chemical used in the manufacture of resins and plastics.

Wilson, together with W.K. Lewis, developed the concept of ideal stages in distillation, which is used to design and optimize distillation processes.

Wilson served as a consultant to several major chemical companies and played a key role in the development of new chemical processes, including the production of synthetic rubber and high-density polyethylene.

Wilson was awarded the National Medal of Science for his contributions to the field of chemical engineering.

Wilson is the author of a landmark study on the world coal supply which determined that coal may be used without danger to the environment at half the price of oil. 

Awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement.