Alographia dos álkalis... de Frei Conceição Veloso: um manual de química industrial para produção da potassa no Brasil colonial The production of potash from plants in colonial Brazil as described in fray Conceição Veloso's Alographia dos alkalis...

Abstract

Potassium carbonate, or potash, was the most important industrial chemical of the 18th century. It was essential for producing glass, soap, saltpeter, dyes, several drugs, and also used for bleaching linens, paper, and sugar. We examine here a book in which Brazilian author José Mariano da Conceição Veloso gathered his translations into Portuguese of English and French articles, letters, patents, and pamphlets with instructions on how to prepare potash. We discuss especially his version of Richard Watson's essay entitled 'Of saline substances', and Veloso's own 'Flora Alographica', a description of the Brazilian plants that could be used to prepare potash.

Keywords

• history of technology
• science in Brazil
• Portuguese Empire