Friedrich Bergius

Friedrich_Bergius_with_wife_1931

Friedrich Bergius
Born	October 11, 1884 Goldschmieden, Prussia
Died	March 30, 1949 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nationality	German
Alma mater	University of Leipzig
Known for	Bergius process
Awards	Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1931)
Scientific career
Fields	Chemistry
Doctoral advisor	Arthur Rudolf Hantzsch

Friedrich Bergius (October 11, 1884 – March 30, 1949) was a German chemist known for his development of the Bergius process for the hydrogenation of coal to produce liquid hydrocarbons. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1931, which he shared with Carl Bosch.

Early Life and Education

Friedrich Bergius was born in Goldschmieden, Prussia. He studied at the University of Breslau and later at the University of Leipzig, where he completed his PhD under the supervision of Arthur Rudolf Hantzsch in 1907. His doctoral thesis focused on the chemistry of high-pressure reactions.

Career

After completing his education, Bergius worked at the University of Hanover and later at the University of Karlsruhe. In 1914, he developed the Bergius process, a method for converting coal into liquid hydrocarbons through hydrogenation at high pressures and temperatures. This process was particularly significant during World War II when Germany faced shortages of petroleum.

Nobel Prize

In 1931, Friedrich Bergius was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Carl Bosch for their contributions to the chemical industry, particularly for their work on high-pressure methods.

Later Life and Death

After World War II, Bergius moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he continued his research until his death on March 30, 1949.

Legacy

Friedrich Bergius's work laid the foundation for the development of synthetic fuels and had a lasting impact on the chemical industry. The Bergius process remains a significant achievement in the field of industrial chemistry.

Related Pages

• Bergius process
• Carl Bosch
• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Hydrogenation
• Coal