Anselme Payen

Anselme Payen ( born January 17, 1795 in Paris, † May 13, 1871 ) was a French chemist.

Payen studied at the École Polytechnique in physics, chemistry and mathematics. At twenty he was manager of a borax factory where he invented a synthetic route for borax and boric acid from sodium hydroxide. He also discovered a new method for the purification of sugar, invented a Decolorimeter and purification of starch and ethanol from potatoes, as well as a method for the detection of nitrogen.

Payens was best known for the discovery of the first enzyme, diastase, and for his discoveries concerning pulp and paper.