Josef Redtenbacher

Josef Redtenbacher ( born March 12, 1810 in Kirchdorf an der Krems (Upper Austria ); † March 5, 1870 in Vienna) was an Austrian chemist.

Life

He graduated from the Stiftsgymnasium in Kremsmuenster and subsequently studied at the Vienna University of Medicine and was assistant in chemistry in 1834 by Joseph Franz von Jacquin on the chair of chemistry and botany at the University of Vienna. Previously, he had devoted himself mainly botanical subjects, but was also an avid student of the mineralogist Friedrich Mohs. 1840/41 he undertook a research and study trip that took him to various German and French laboratories, especially on that of Justus von Liebig in Giessen. In his absence he was appointed professor of chemistry at the University of Prague. After his return, he used his insights gained abroad to raise teaching chemistry at the University of Prague on a contemporary level.

In the course of major university reform in the Habsburg Monarchy 1848/49 the appointment Redtenbacher was on the chair of general and pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of Vienna. In addition, many of his former students Prager (eg Friedrich Rochleder, Johann Gottlieb, Franz Pless, Heinrich Hlasiwetz, Theodor Wertheim ) were appointed to other Austrian universities and universities and were able to modernize teaching chemistry in almost all of the Habsburg monarchy. This Redtenbacher can be considered the most important founders of modern chemistry in Austria.

Redtenbacher worked until his death as professor of chemistry at the University of Vienna from 1849. However, it was here a far less well- equipped laboratory available than in Prague and also the spatial situation is likely, as measured by the number of pupils have been worse for some in Vienna. This, together with the numerous duties as a consultant for the Ministry and other institutions that are likely to be the reason that the research performance Redtenbacher with his move to Vienna declined sharply. However, he produced many significant student here. Shortly before his death he was planning, together with Heinrich von Ferstel, nor the new university laboratory, whose completion Redtenbacher did not live. He died on 5 March 1870 in Vienna.

Redtenbacher scientific achievements fall especially in its Giessen and Prague time. In his first major investigation he tried jointly with Justus von Liebig to determine the atomic weight of carbon. Other important achievements were the discovery of acrolein, acrylic acid, and the fermentation of glycerol by yeast He also studies on taurine.

In 1847 he was member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences appointed him in 1854 as a corresponding member.

Joseph was the brother of entomologist and physician Ludwig Redtenbacher.