24/05/2026
Born in Everton, Sir John Brunner was a pioneer of the chemical industry, helping shape a legacy that continues to impact our world today 👏
His career began at Hutchinson’s Alkali Works in Widnes, where he rose to general manager before forming a partnership with chemist Ludwig Mond; a German-born British chemist. In 1873, they co-founded Brunner Mond & Co. at Winnington, Cheshire, where they manufactured sodium carbonate using the ammonia-soda process under licence from Ernest Solvay to produce soda ash.
Their company grew rapidly, absorbing competitors and expanding its products. By 1911, it had become the world’s largest producer of soda ash, powering industries from glassmaking to soap production.
During World War I, it focused on producing materials for munitions such as ammonium nitrate, TNT, and synthetic phenol. After further acquisitions, it merged in 1926 with other firms to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), later becoming its Alkali Division. In 1991, the soda ash business split from ICI to form Brunner Mond and Company Ltd, which later expanded independently before being acquired by Tata Chemicals in 2006.
This limited edition Brunner Mond Commemorative Goblet is number 677 of 1,000, that celebrates 100 years of Brunner Mond (1873 - 1973). See this and so many more artefacts in the Archives section at Catalyst
