Arnold, Lionel K. (Lionel Kenneth), 1895-1986

Lionel Kenneth Arnold was born to Arthur A. and Caroline Jakeway Arnold on December 30, 1895, in Bristow, Iowa. He graduated from Hampton High School and received his A.B. (1920) from Ellsworth (Community) College. Arnold received his B.S. in chemical engineering and his M.S. (1926) and Ph.D. (1930) in chemistry from Iowa State College (University).

Dr. Arnold joined the staff of Iowa State University in 1926 as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Chemical Engineering. He was promoted to Assistant Chemical Engineer (1926-1933) and Associate Chemical Engineer (193301939) in the Engineering Experiment Station and to Research Associate Professor (1939-1948) and Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. He officially retired in 1900, but continued to work on campus until 1973.

As a researcher, Dr. Arnold was noted for his work in plastics technology, solvent extraction of soybean oil, and the use of agricultural byproducts such as cornstalks and corncobs. He worked with Dr. O. R. Sweeney to develop a cornstalk insulating board and on a new process for soybean oil extraction. Dr. Arnold secured six patents, contributed to over 150 research papers, and authored two books: Introduction to Plastics (call no. TP1120 Ar64i) and History of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Iowa State University (call no. LD2543 A75x). He was also widely recognized as a consultant and expert witness in fire, explosion, and poisoning cases.

From the description of Papers, 1926-1980 (Iowa State University). WorldCat record id: 136973576