Paul Grange was born in Lyon during the war. He graduated from the University of Lyon, which, in 1970 granted him a PhD, for a work done at the Institut de Recherche sur la Catalyse, in Villeurbanne-Lyon. This was later followed by a post-doctoral position in the Laboratory of Catalysis and Solid State Chemistry in the then newly split Louvain University. In the course of years, the scientific activity of Professor Grange progressively shifted away from solid state chemistry, his initial interest during his PhD. Later his results in the synthesis of high transition temperature superconductors and outstanding success with highly dispersed nitrides, oxynitrides and the very original synthesis of more complicated compounds schematically represented by AlPON – ZrPON – AlGaPON – VAlON, made this background crucial. In the course of 31 years, he changed position no less than seven times. In spite of that, or because of that, he could manage to have some sort of a “sabbatical leave”, in 1983–1984, at INTEVEP in Caracas, a stay rich in fruitful teachings. The last change was in 1996, on his promotion to Full Professor (“Professeur Ordinaire”). From that time on, the remarkable dynamism of Professor Grange led him to combine fundamental research on selected advanced subjects of catalysis (especially oxynitrides, basic catalysis) with more application-oriented developments. In most cases the work was directly related to specific problems of industry, but nevertheless permitted the completion of 29 PhD theses and 43 graduate research programs, and the publication of 418 articles. Paul Grange engaged in an impressive development of activities, initiating co-operative programs in Belgium and with foreign universities (Bucharest, Tunis, Caen, Argentina), and creating one of the activity branches of CERTECH, a university subsidiary for applied research. In UCL, he became member of various committees, was selected as member of the Research Advisory Council of the university, where he was elected Chairman of the Department of Applied Chemistry and Bio-Industries a few days before his death. In less than seven years Paul Grange was able to fully develop his broad capacities. He certainly felt that as a deserved compensation after many years of uncertainties. But the price was worries and work overload, with that terrible end in July.
Written by B. Delmon (original text has been abreviated)