Norbert Rillieux from New Orleans, an African American inventor and one of the earliest chemical engineers, invented an improved method for evaporating and concentrating juices and syrups during the manufacture of sugar. Rilieux more efficient system created better quality sugar at a much lower cost. The previous method, known as the Jamaica Train method, required significant labor from slaves, used considerably more fuel, and was more dangerous. His invention has been compared to changing sugar industry as much as Eli Whitney’s cotton gin changed the cotton industry.
His method for sugar manufacturing was later adopted for other industries, including soap, glue, and condensed milk. An African-American inventor during the time of slavery, Rillieux left the South in the lead up to the Civil War as laws limited the status of free blacks.
