Vladimir Haensel

Vladimir Haensel(1 September 1914 – 15 December 2002) was an Americanchemical engineerwho invented theplatformingprocess - aplatinum catalytic process for reformingpetroleum hydrocarbons into gasoline. In addition, he was influential in the creation ofcatalytic convertersfor automobiles.

Life

Haensel was born 1 September 1914 inFreiburg,Germany,but grew up inMoscowwhere his fatherPaul Haenselwas a university professor ofeconomics.He emigrated to the US in 1930 when his father took up an academic position. He received aBSdegree in generalengineeringfromNorthwestern University,and a master's inchemical engineeringfromMassachusetts Institute of Technologyin 1937, joining theUniversal Oil Products Company(UOP) the same year. While there he worked for aPh.D.inchemistryfrom Northwestern University, which was awarded in 1941.

Following World War II, Dr. Haensel went to Europe under the auspices of the U.S. Petroleum Administration for War to evaluate German research on synthetic fuels.

In UOP he progressed to become vice-president and director of research (1969) and vice-president for science and technology (1972–79). In 1980 he became professor of chemical engineering at theUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst,a position he held until his death, on 15 December 2002. He was survived by his wife, Hertha Skala Haensel.

Work

Haensel worked on surfacecatalysts,patenting various methods for improving chemical processes in the oil industry.Platinumwas known to chemists as a catalyst, but was considered too expensive for industrial use. Haensel, however, understood that only the surface mattered, so produced ceramic supports with tiny amounts of platinum metal on the surface, eventually showing that 0.01% could be effective. It has since been realised that the platinum was in the form ofnanoparticles,long before this idea was common. The metal combined with the acid surface ofaluminato carry out two chemical processes, resulting in the production ofgasolinewith a higheroctane rating.At that time, octane rating was improved by the addition ofanti-knock agentssuch astetraethyllead.The development of the platforming process allowed the eventual removal of lead from gasoline. In addition,hydrogenwas produced, which was valuable in itself but also helped to removesulfur,giving a cleaner, moreenvironmentally friendlyprocess.

Furthermore, the catalyst produced aromatic compounds such asbenzene,valuable for thechemical industryand the developingplastics industry.Thus Haensel had a major impact on three industries, and on the US economy. This was recognised in his receipt of the first National Academy of Sciences Award for Chemistry in Service to Society, 1981, "For his outstanding research in thecatalytic reformingof hydrocarbons, that has greatly enhanced the economic value of our petroleum natural resources ".

In the 1950s the source ofphotochemical smogwas established as automobile exhaust emissions. In his senior position in UOP, from 1956 to 1974, Haensel directed the research programs which led tocatalytic converters.

He was the inventor or co-inventor of 145 US patents.

In his later years (1981–1998), Haensel was an educator, encouraging undergraduates and postgraduates while remaining in touch with industry as a part-time consultant. His success was shown by receiving the Chancellor's Outstanding Teacher Award of the University of Massachusetts.

Honors and awards

• member of theUS National Academy of Sciences
• member of theNational Academy of Engineering
• American Chemical SocietyACS Award in Petroleum Chemistry1952
• American Chemical SocietyE. V. Murphree Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 1965
• Perkin Medal1967
• Golden Plate Award of theAmerican Academy of Achievement1967
• National Medal of Science1973
• NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society1981
• Charles Stark Draper Prize1997
• American Institute of Chemical EngineersProfessional Progress Award

References

• A Biographical Memoir of Vladimir Haenselwritten by Stanley Gembiki, published by the National Academy of Sciences in 2006.
• The Campus Chronicle Dec 20, 2002Professor Vladimir Haensel dead at 88
• National Academy of Engineering Website1997 Recipient of the Charles Stark Draper Prize