Lazăr Edeleanu, deschizător de drumuri în chimizarea petrolului
Lazarus Edeleanu, pioneer in oil chemicalization

Summary/Abstract: Lazar Edeleanu was born in Bucharest, on Septem ber 1861. He attended St. Sava High School in Bucharest and he studied Chemistry at Berlin University being the student of famous professors: A.W. Hofmann, H.L. Helmotz, C.H. Wichel haus, J.K.F.Tiemann and C.F. Rammelsberg. His master’s degree paper “The study of some derivates of the phenylmetacrylic and phenilisobutiric acids” described an application of Pro fessor Hofmann method “Hofmann degradation on amine”. During his research, Edeleanu discovered the composite called phenylisopropylamine, used nowadays in the manufacture of amphetamines. Lazar Edeleanu was lecturer at the Royal Artillery College, assis tant of Dr. Constantin I. Istrati at the University of Bucharest, director of the chemistry laboratory for the Department of Mining. In 1906 he was appointed executive director of Vega Refinery in Ploiesti. In 1908, Lazar Edeleanu invented a new oil refinery method based on using liquid sulphur dioxide. In 1960 there were 80 Edeleanu installations in various countries in the world. Dr. Edeleanu’s work in the field of oil technology concretized in 57 patents and 77 scientific works. In 1932, the Institution of Petroleum Technologists awarded him the Redwood Medal. On that occasion Dr. Dunston, President of the Institution, charac terized the Romanian scientist first as a great chemist, no less important than Davy or Faraday, secondly, as a great technolo gist, who was able to apply the principles of pure science to the development of an important industrial method. Lazar Edeleanu died in Bucharest on the 7th April 1941, after a life time dedicated to science and technological progress.

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