Carl Scheibler
Encyclopedia
Carl Wilhelm Bernhard Scheibler (16 February 1827 – 2 April 1899) was a German
chemist. Scheibler's research focused on sugar, including the technical chemistry of sugar production and the composition of molasses
.
Scheibler was born the son of Friedrich August Theodor Scheibler (1788–1864) and Anna Gertrud Eschweiler (1806–1877) in Gemereth/Eupen
, at that time a small town close to the Belgian border. He went to school in Aachen
and studied chemistry at the University of Berlin. He received his PhD for his work De Wolframiatibus. Scheibler worked with Gustav Werther in Königsberg
and from 1858 at the Pommersche Provinzial-Zuckersiederei in Stettin.
In 1866 Scheibler founded the Zuckerchemische und technische Laboratorium (Laboratory for sugar chemistry and technology) in Berlin, which was financed by the Verein der Deutschen Zuckerrübenindustrie (Association of the German Sugar Beet
Industry). It was one of the first institutes dedicated to the chemistry of sugar. In 1870 Scheibler became professor at the Gewerbeakademie Berlin and at the University of Agriculture Berlin and he also was a member of the imperial patent office in Berlin between 1877 and 1882.
After a conflict with the Verein der Deutschen Zuckerrübenindustrie in 1882, he only worked privately at his institute, but he was able to patent several inventions in that time. For example he helped his relative Carl Johann Heinrich Scheibler invent a fertiliser, and he also improved smokeless powder
for Otto von Bismarck
in 1888.
His most influential patents were based on the technical production of sugar from beets. The crystallisation of sugar from molasses was difficult and therefore the sugar had to be separated from the molasses. In 1863 Scheibler invented the elution
method. During his research on molasses he discovered several compounds in molasses, for example betaine, asparaginic acid, glutamic acid
, arabinose
, arabinic acid, dextran
, phosphoglyceride and cholesterol
.
He improved the strontia saccharate process, in which strontium hydroxide
is mixed with the molasses and strontium di-saccharate precipitates and can be separated from the molasses. Prior to World War I
the beet sugar industry used 100,000 to 150,000 tons of strontium hydroxide for this process per year.
Scheibler died in Berlin on 2 April 1899.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
chemist. Scheibler's research focused on sugar, including the technical chemistry of sugar production and the composition of molasses
Molasses
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
.
Scheibler was born the son of Friedrich August Theodor Scheibler (1788–1864) and Anna Gertrud Eschweiler (1806–1877) in Gemereth/Eupen
Eupen
Eupen is a municipality in the Belgian province of Liège, from the German border , from the Dutch border and from the "High Fens" nature reserve...
, at that time a small town close to the Belgian border. He went to school in Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
and studied chemistry at the University of Berlin. He received his PhD for his work De Wolframiatibus. Scheibler worked with Gustav Werther in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
and from 1858 at the Pommersche Provinzial-Zuckersiederei in Stettin.
In 1866 Scheibler founded the Zuckerchemische und technische Laboratorium (Laboratory for sugar chemistry and technology) in Berlin, which was financed by the Verein der Deutschen Zuckerrübenindustrie (Association of the German Sugar Beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
Industry). It was one of the first institutes dedicated to the chemistry of sugar. In 1870 Scheibler became professor at the Gewerbeakademie Berlin and at the University of Agriculture Berlin and he also was a member of the imperial patent office in Berlin between 1877 and 1882.
After a conflict with the Verein der Deutschen Zuckerrübenindustrie in 1882, he only worked privately at his institute, but he was able to patent several inventions in that time. For example he helped his relative Carl Johann Heinrich Scheibler invent a fertiliser, and he also improved smokeless powder
Smokeless powder
Smokeless powder is the name given to a number of propellants used in firearms and artillery which produce negligible smoke when fired, unlike the older gunpowder which they replaced...
for Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
in 1888.
His most influential patents were based on the technical production of sugar from beets. The crystallisation of sugar from molasses was difficult and therefore the sugar had to be separated from the molasses. In 1863 Scheibler invented the elution
Elution
Elution is a term used in analytical and organic chemistry to describe the process of extracting one material from another by washing with a solvent ....
method. During his research on molasses he discovered several compounds in molasses, for example betaine, asparaginic acid, glutamic acid
Glutamic acid
Glutamic acid is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids, and its codons are GAA and GAG. It is a non-essential amino acid. The carboxylate anions and salts of glutamic acid are known as glutamates...
, arabinose
Arabinose
Arabinose is an aldopentose – a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms, and including an aldehyde functional group.For biosynthetic reasons, most saccharides are almost always more abundant in nature as the "D"-form, or structurally analogous to D-glyceraldehyde.For sugars, the D/L...
, arabinic acid, dextran
Dextran
Dextran is a complex, branched glucan composed of chains of varying lengths...
, phosphoglyceride and cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
.
He improved the strontia saccharate process, in which strontium hydroxide
Strontium hydroxide
Strontium hydroxide, Sr2, is a caustic alkali composed of one strontium ion and two hydroxide ions. It is synthesized by combining a strontium salt with a strong base...
is mixed with the molasses and strontium di-saccharate precipitates and can be separated from the molasses. Prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the beet sugar industry used 100,000 to 150,000 tons of strontium hydroxide for this process per year.
Scheibler died in Berlin on 2 April 1899.
Further reading
- Rudolf Vierhaus: Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopädie, S. 793, 2. Ausgabe, K.G. Saur, München, ISBN 3-598-25030-4