Friedrich Bergius Chemist Date of Birth: 11.10.1884 Country: Germany

1. Childhood and Education
2. University Studies and Early Research
3. Breakthroughs with High Pressure
4. Hydrogeneration of Oils
5. Coal Hydrogenation
6. Industrialization
7. Nobel Prize and Later Research
8. Postwar Career and Legacy

Childhood and Education

Born in Goldschmieden, Germany (now Poland), Friedrich Karl Rudolf Bergius was the son of Heinrich and Marie (Haase) Bergius. After completing elementary and secondary school in Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland), he worked at his father's chemical factory, igniting his passion for industrial processes.

University Studies and Early Research

In 1903, Bergius began studying chemistry at the University of Breslau under Albert Ladenburg and Richard Abegg. After military service, he transferred to the University of Leipzig, where he earned his doctorate in 1907 under Arthur Hantzsch, focusing on concentrated sulfuric acid as a solvent.

Breakthroughs with High Pressure

Bergius worked as an assistant to Walter Nernst in Berlin and Fritz Haber in Karlsruhe, studying high-pressure applications for ammonia synthesis. In 1909, he investigated calcium peroxide dissociation under high pressure at the University of Hanover. Inspired by his research, he developed a sealed apparatus for creating and maintaining high pressure conditions.

Hydrogeneration of Oils

Bergius established his own laboratory in Hanover, where he focused on two areas: the conversion of heavy oils into lighter ones (ultimately gasoline) and the effects of high pressure and temperature on coal and peat formation. By adding hydrogen to crude oil during refining, Bergius increased gasoline yield and patented a high-pressure hydrogenation process.

Coal Hydrogenation

Bergius's experiments on coal formation convinced him of its potential as a raw material for producing hydrocarbons. In 1913, he successfully liquefied coal using hydrogen under pressure. With financial support, he built a plant in Rheinau to scale up the process.

Industrialization

After setbacks due to the economic downturn following World War I, Bergius secured additional funding and developed industrial-scale equipment for coal hydrogenation. However, his process proved economically unviable. In 1925, he sold his patents to BASF, which continued its development.

Nobel Prize and Later Research

Bergius and Carl Bosch were jointly awarded the 1931 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their pioneering work on high-pressure chemistry. Later, Bergius explored the hydrolysis of cellulose to produce sugar, alcohol, and yeast. He established a plant in Rheinau for this process, which provided Germany with vital resources during World War II.

Postwar Career and Legacy

After the war, Bergius worked in Austria, Spain, and Argentina as a chemical consultant. He died in Buenos Aires in 1949. His groundbreaking research laid the foundation for the development of synthetic fuel technologies and earned him numerous honors, including the Liebig Medal of the German Chemical Society and honorary degrees from Heidelberg and Hanover Universities.