The Red Era, the Opening University Speech

Chapter 109 Isn't it an improved mosquito coil? How did it become a pesticide?

"Hey, don't look down on me." As soon as Xu Qing saw Li Mu's gaze, he knew what he was thinking. "Mi Qiao comes from an agricultural family. Both her parents are professors at the Agricultural College."

"Her grades are among the best in the Agricultural College, so she is more than capable of improving a mosquito coil."

Li Mu's thoughts were seen through, and he was a little embarrassed: "Who said I look down on people?"

"I just think there are not enough people and I'm afraid we may not be able to handle the research."

As soon as he finished speaking, the petite Mi Qiao suddenly closed the book in her hand and said, "Don't worry, if we just want to improve the mosquito coils, we have enough."

"Yes, Li Mu, let's try it first. If it doesn't work, we can ask the professor for help." Zhang Kai finally found an opportunity to interrupt and followed suit.

Even though they are few in number, they can still get help.

If you can't solve a problem yourself, there's no shame in asking the professor, right?

"Okay, then where should we place the laboratory? We can't use the classroom, right?" Li Mu asked again.

If you want to make pyrethroids, you definitely cannot do it without a laboratory.

The eyes of Xu Qing and the other three suddenly fell on him at the same time.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Li Mu was a little puzzled.

Zhang Kai coughed twice and laughed, "You are highly regarded by the dean. As long as you ask, they will definitely approve a laboratory for us."

"Maybe even the experimental materials can be prepared for us."

Li Mu was speechless when he heard this. This time Zhang Kai was well prepared and had taken all the problems in the laboratory into consideration.

He thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll go talk to the dean."

"But you have to come with me."

……

He took Xu Qing and the other three to Qian Shuyan's office.

Although Qian Shuyan was puzzled as to why Li Mu was interested in improving mosquito coils, since Li Mu had spoken up and the research was beneficial to agricultural production, he certainly supported it and immediately approved the use of the chemical laboratory.

He also promised to help prepare the experimental materials, but it would take time.

After receiving the keys, they went to the laboratory building first.

After entering the laboratory, Zhang Kai and Li Jian immediately looked around curiously, their faces full of nostalgia.

It had been several months since the last time they had worked together in the lab, which was last semester.

"Come over and have a small meeting first." Li Mu glanced at the four people.

It was common for Xu Qing to enter the laboratory, so his expression did not change at all.

Mi Qiao looked around, but soon showed disappointment.

After hearing what Li Mu said, several people walked to a small room set up in a separate laboratory and sat down.

He spoke first: "Tell me your ideas."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kai and Li Jian immediately lowered their heads deeply, just like when the teacher called on them to answer a question in class.

Only three days had passed, and they had spent a lot of effort looking for people, so they had no ideas at all.

To Li Mu's surprise, the first person to speak was the quiet Milan:

"The experimental equipment here is not enough. Not only experimental materials, but also more advanced instruments, such as a laser Raman spectrometer, which is used to analyze life substances..."

It’s hard to believe how Mi Qiao could remember such a long list of instrument materials.

Li Mu had never heard of those names.

Zhang Kai and Li Jian were even more stunned.

"Do you have these instruments in your Agricultural College? I think this part of the research can be carried out in your Agricultural College." Li Mu couldn't help but say after listening.

If I had known that so many instruments would be needed, I would have gone to the Agricultural College.

Although it is a bit troublesome, if I ask He Baiyi, he probably won't refuse.

"Yes, there is, but I've only seen it a few times..." Mi Qiao said.

This situation is normal in college.

The precision instruments used in the laboratory cannot be produced domestically and are non-renewable resources in the short term.

Although her parents are professors at the Agricultural College, they can let her look at it, but she is absolutely not allowed to use it.

Apart from necessary teaching, students have basically no chance to come into contact with these things.

"It's okay, I can go and communicate." Li Mu said directly.

It's fine as long as there is one. It's more convenient to go ask He Baiyi for help than to ask Qian Shuyan to do it.

"Ah?" Mi Qiao showed a surprised expression. It seemed a bit unrealistic to ask a student from Beijing Institute of Technology to use those sophisticated instruments.

"Don't worry, he can do it." Xu Qing said directly from the side.

Only she knew that Li Mu, who seemed to be just a sophomore student, had already made many achievements that shocked the whole country and was even valued by his superiors.

With such a large scale, even the dean of China Europe International Business University would not refuse to use a laboratory for such a task.

Maybe they will even try to find a way to poach Li Mu and bring him to their place to study for a master's degree.

"Okay." Mi Qiao nodded.

Xu Qing continued the topic:

"The main ingredients of current mosquito coils are 'organophosphorus', which are organic compounds containing carbon-phosphorus bonds. These compounds are highly toxic and polluting, and can cause considerable harm to the human body."

"This compound is commonly used in pesticides, which is the 1605 insecticide currently used in our country."

"If we want to study and improve mosquito coils, we can start from how to reduce their toxicity and pollution."

As a student majoring in chemistry, she has this knowledge at her fingertips.

"Then do you think it is possible to make an insecticide that is highly effective, has a wide spectrum, is low in toxicity and is biodegradable?" Li Mu said with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Qing said directly: "Impossible, if there is, foreign countries have already made it, why wait until we do it."

"Yeah, if we just research a new pesticide, can that still be called improvement?" Zhang Kai couldn't help but ask.

Although Li Jian didn't say anything, his expression clearly said, "Me too."

Li Mu smiled and said, "It's not that there are none abroad, but they have not been applied to agriculture yet."

"In 49, MS Shecott of the U.S. Empire synthesized the first commercial analogue, allethrin, and later on, a number of similar compounds were synthesized."

Hearing this, Mi Qiao suddenly said, "I know. My father mentioned this compound. But like natural pyrethroids, it is easily decomposed and ineffective under light. It can only prevent pests under indoor conditions."

"Since you know it clearly, then it will be easy." Li Mu smiled. It was indeed easy.

The more Mi Qiao knew, the easier it would be for him to use her to develop pyrethroids.

"As long as we solve its shortcomings, won't it be the best pesticide?" Li Mu said with a smile.

"This..." Zhang Kai opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Weren't they just planning to improve mosquito coils? Why did they suddenly seem to be developing pesticides?

After a long while, Xu Qing was the first to speak: "I think we can give it a try."

"Even if it doesn't work, I can come back and continue researching organophosphorus." "But what if it does work?"

Her words seemed to have some kind of magic, which made Zhang Kai and Li Jian feel excited.

After deciding on the research direction, Li Mu and his five-member temporary experimental team quickly took action.

The first thing to do is to extract pyrethrins from the dried pyrethrum flowers.

Li Mu was not in a hurry to leave.

The progress from natural pyrethrins to pyrethroids is not a leap forward.

At least for now, the first problem they need to solve is how to synthesize chlorpyrifos.

Even though it was developed abroad in 49, there is still a blank in this regard in China.

It was not until 93 that the first self-developed methrin product was launched.

……

Qian Shuyan was very quick and prepared all the experimental materials they needed the next day and sent them to the laboratory.

Li Mu was originally planning to find an excuse to go back home today, but as soon as he went out, he saw Xu Qing and three others coming over, so he had no choice but to continue accompanying them to the laboratory.

They did theoretical research yesterday, and now what they need to do is to experiment again and again.

Zhang Kai and Li Jian were so anxious when they saw the chemical formula they couldn't understand, but seeing Li Mu and the other two working seriously on the experiment, they could only calm down and continue their research.

The result was undoubtedly failure.

After a day of experiments, everyone was exhausted.

Li Mu and Xu Qing have extensive laboratory experience. Mi Qiao often watches her parents do experiments and knows that this is normal, so she will not be discouraged.

But Zhang Kai and Li Jian were a little discouraged.

When they followed Li Mu to improve the electric drill and incandescent lamp, they didn’t find it that difficult!

"Why don't you give us an idea like before?" Zhang Kai finally couldn't help but said to Li Mu.

Li Mu was speechless: "How can it be that simple? This is not like a hand drill and an incandescent lamp. It requires understanding of complex chemical reactions and changes."

"And even if we understand it, we still need to keep experimenting to make it. It's impossible to achieve success overnight."

He didn't plan to take out the information so quickly.

In addition to the fact that the longer you delay, the lower the risk, there is another reason, which is to correct the "bad habits" of Zhang Kai and Li Jian.

It was so easy to succeed with the electric drill and incandescent lamp before that I couldn't help but feel that the experiment was just that simple.

This attitude is extremely detrimental to their growth.

"Okay, then let's keep working hard!" After hearing what Li Mu said, Zhang Kai and Li Jian realized their own problems and quickly got back to the experiment.

However, Li Mu did not plan to accompany them.

It's finally the weekend, so even if it's a little late, he still has to go home. To be honest, he has really gradually developed a sense of closeness to his current family, and he really misses them after not seeing them for a long time!
Xu Qing and Mi Qiao still have classes at school tomorrow, so they can only come after school.

"Let's go." After packing up their things and saying goodbye to Zhang Kai and Li Jian, Li Mu, Xu Qing and Mi Qiao walked out of the laboratory and went back to their homes.

Coincidentally, Li Mu and Xu Qing's homes were on the same route.

……

Riding bicycles, the two of them walked through the streets of Kyoto, one in front of the other.

When he reached an intersection, Li Mu turned to the side and stopped in front of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Looking at the long line, the meat should not be sold out yet.

After parking the car, he was about to queue up when he heard the sound of brakes from behind.

"You want to buy meat too?" Li Mu turned around and saw it was Xu Qing.

Xu Qing was speechless and said, "No, I want to ask you about allethrin. Why are you running so fast?"

She chased him for a long time, but Li Mu rode so fast that she didn't even have the chance to speak.

"Oh, so that's the case. Sorry, that's great, let's talk while waiting in line." Li Mu looked at the long line and estimated that it would take at least half an hour to wait.

Instead of waiting, it is better to communicate with Xu Qing.

The two of them lined up at the back of the team, and then Xu Qing couldn't wait to say, "I noticed that you hesitated to speak during the experiment. Are you hiding something?"

"With your level, even if you don't find the research idea of ​​propylene glycol so quickly, you shouldn't end up making no progress in the whole day."

But she knew clearly that Li Mu had once developed photoresist, and his chemical ability was definitely better than hers.

His theoretical talent has won unanimous praise from a number of experts and professors.

"Ahem." Li Mu coughed twice awkwardly. He didn't act much like a pig, but he was found out.

His mentality still hasn't changed, but he is now an "expert"!
Li Mu explained:
"Zhang Kai and Li Jian worked with me on the two-way electric drill and incandescent lamp before, and they got a little too proud of themselves. You know, this is not a good thing for their future."

"Of course, another reason I didn't tell you is that I wanted to test it experimentally before discussing it, so as not to dampen their enthusiasm."

Xu Qing crossed his arms and said, "They have never been in the laboratory. I can understand why you do this, but you don't have to hide it from me, right?"

Judging from her expression, she won't give up until I get the truth.

Li Mu thought about it and felt that it would be okay to reveal it to her first. At most, he could add some interference items:

“I think the production of allethrin requires three steps: saponification, acidification and esterification.”

"First, chrysanthemic acid ethyl ester, alkali solution and ethanol are heated and stirred for a certain period of time, and then the ethanol is recovered, acidified with acid, extracted with solution, and the solvent is removed to obtain chrysanthemic acid."

"Then, chrysanthemic acid is chlorinated with phosphorus trichloride and phosgene...Finally, it is dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and desolventized under reduced pressure to obtain allethrin."

Li Mu did not speak fast, and the various incomprehensible terms he used made the people in the queue in front and behind him look at him sideways.

But as soon as I saw the school badge on their chests, I immediately understood.

College students are just awesome!
Xu Qingye actually didn't quite understand it. She seemed to have only heard the word chrysanthemic acid ethyl ester, and then suddenly got propylene thiocyanate.

"Wait a minute, how did you come up with these steps?" she asked.

Li Mu smiled and said, "It's very simple, theoretical deduction."

"But theory alone is not enough, experiments are also needed, such as how long to heat and stir, how to extract the solution, and what conditions are required for the acyl chlorination of phosgene. These are all things I cannot deduce theoretically."

With the crown of a super genius on his head, he no longer has to be as cautious as before.

"Say it again and I'll write it down." Xu Qing decisively took out his notebook from his bag and wrote down the experimental principles that Li Mu repeated.

After taking note, she left the team without looking back and headed towards Beijing Institute of Technology.

Judging from the looks of it, they probably plan to conduct experimental verification overnight.

……

Soon, the line reached Li Mu, and he took out the meat ticket: "Comrade, three pounds of pork, two pounds of chicken, and I want the chicken legs!"

"Here you go." The salesperson quickly tied up the pork and chicken and handed them to Li Mu.

Amid the envious looks of the people around him, he put the heavy bag of meat on the back seat of the bicycle and then rode slowly back home.

Thanks to the book friend "Change your name once for 1600 yuan" for rewarding points
Thanks to the book friend "Battlefield Ghost" for rewarding 100 points
At the same time, I would like to thank all the specialists who voted for this book through monthly tickets and recommendation votes!
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(End of this chapter)