Leonid Andrussow

Leonid Andrussow ( born November 28, 1896 in Riga, † December 15, 1988 in Paris) was a German chemical engineer. He developed the eponymous method for preparing hydrocyanic acid by oxidation of ammonia and methane.

Life

Leonid Andrussow was born in Riga, capital of Latvia. His father Woldemar was a lawyer, his mother's name was Caroline Ulmann, they had 9 children. The name " Andrussow " is probably the Russified form of the Swedish name " Anderson ". He graduated from in Chemical Engineering at the University of Riga. In the times of the Russian Revolution he fought against the Communists. After his capture, he was taken to a Cheka prison in Moscow. Probably by relatives in Germany succeeded in the release. He went to Berlin -Charlottenburg and received his doctorate at the Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg in 1925 with Walter Nernst in chemistry. In 1927 he started his practical activity in the ammonia BASF laboratory, then IG Colors, Ludwig -Oppau and lived in Mannheim. From 1946 he lived in Grenoble, and later in Paris. He also worked at the company room in Frankfurt am Main. From 1975 to 1981 he lived in Mannheim- Feudenheim, but then moved back to Paris. He died in Paris at the age of 92 years.

Work

• Due to the 1927 elaborated theory quickly running catalytic processes, the oxidative synthesis of hydrocyanic acid was found in 1930 from ammonia and methane, and designed to operational readiness. This well-known today as " Andrussow process " process is the most important method for the large scale production of hydrocyanic acid as a precursor of polyamide 66 (nylon) and acetone cyanohydrin as a precursor for polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas ) dar.
• 1932 work on the catalytic alkylation using ether for the industrial production of the purest dimethylaniline.
• Conversion of tetrachloroethane to methylene chloride and trichlorethylene.
• Numerous work on rocket fuels, including the introduction of the system of nitric acid and amines or other fuels. Assisting in the development of Vengeance Weapon 2 (V2 ) in Stromberg. Addition of nitrous oxide to rocket fuels to significantly increase the speed of flight at high altitude.
• Advisory activity in France associated with the development of the theory of catalytic processes: sulfuric anhydride, formaldehyde, ammonia synthesis.
• Extensive studies of the transport properties of gases and liquids, including macromolecules.
• Author of a band of the table work Landolt- Bornstein.

Patents

• U.S. Patent 1,934,838 ( the production of hydrocyanic acid) of 1930