Carleton Ellis (September 20, 1876 – January 13, 1941) was an American inventor and a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry. He was involved in the development of margarine, polyester, anti-knock gasoline, paint and varnish remover, and holder of 753 patents.[1] A native of Keene, New Hampshire, he was the valedictorian of his high school class, and later a graduate of MIT. He then set up the Ellis Laboratories in Montclair, New Jersey.
Ellis's contributions were in the improvement of existing technology. He developed gasoline that reduced engine knock, longer lasting housepaint, more durable polyesters and plastics, improved printing inks, methods for flameless combustion, methods for hydroponics for plant growth without soil, and a healthier and more palatable version of margarine. Prior to 1913, there were substitutes for butter that had been made from animal fats that had high grease content and was often hard to digest. Ellis found a way to synthesize margarine from vegetable oils, and it is said that he helped create what is now a multi-billion dollar industry.[2]
In 1933, he was issued the first American patent (USP 1897977) for an unsaturated polyester, followed by a patent for polyester co-polymers in the year before his death (USP 2195362).[3] Ellis died of influenza at the age of 64, while vacationing at Miami Beach. A merchant marine tanker, the Liberty ship S.S. Carleton Ellis, was later named in his honor during World War II. Time magazine eulogized him by writing, "Chemist Ellis' inventions gave birth to more than 100,000 compounds. He developed Standard Oil's tube-&-tank process of cracking oil, found the formula for cheap acetone to fireproof airplane wings in World War I, and made plastics an exact and lucrative science."[4]
The Hydrogenation of Oils, Catalyzers and Catalysis, and the Generation of Hydrogen and Oxygen (Scientific Books, 1915)
Synthetic Resins and Their Plastics (Chemical Catalog Company, 1923)
The Chemical Action of Ultraviolet Rays (Chemical Catalog Company, 1925)
The Hydrogenation of Organic Substances (Van Nostrand, 1930)
The Chemistry of Petroleum Derivatives (Chemical Catalog Company 1934)
The Chemistry of Synthetic Resins (Reinhold, 1935)
Printing Inks: Their Chemistry (Reinhold, 1940)
(with Joseph V. Meigs) Gasoline and Other Motor Fuels(Van Nostrand, 1921)
(with Miller W. Swaney) Soilless Growth of Plants (Reinhold, 1939)
(with Herbert R. Simonds) Handbook of Plastics (Van Nostrand, 1943)
Referencesedit
^B. Zorina Khan, The Democratization of Invention: Patents and Copyrights in American Economic Development, 1790-1920 (Cambridge University Press, 2005) pp209-210
^http://www.hsccnh.org, Historical Society of Cheshire County, website, retrieved September 1, 2007
^"Milestones, Jan. 27, 1941". Time. January 27, 1941.
^"Carleton Ellis - Plastics Hall of Fame". Plastics Hall of Fame. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
April 28, 2024
carleton, ellis, september, 1876, january, 1941, american, inventor, pioneer, field, organic, chemistry, involved, development, margarine, polyester, anti, knock, gasoline, paint, varnish, remover, holder, patents, native, keene, hampshire, valedictorian, high. Carleton Ellis September 20 1876 January 13 1941 was an American inventor and a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry He was involved in the development of margarine polyester anti knock gasoline paint and varnish remover and holder of 753 patents 1 A native of Keene New Hampshire he was the valedictorian of his high school class and later a graduate of MIT He then set up the Ellis Laboratories in Montclair New Jersey Contents 1 Contributions 2 Highlights 3 Publications 4 ReferencesContributions editEllis s contributions were in the improvement of existing technology He developed gasoline that reduced engine knock longer lasting housepaint more durable polyesters and plastics improved printing inks methods for flameless combustion methods for hydroponics for plant growth without soil and a healthier and more palatable version of margarine Prior to 1913 there were substitutes for butter that had been made from animal fats that had high grease content and was often hard to digest Ellis found a way to synthesize margarine from vegetable oils and it is said that he helped create what is now a multi billion dollar industry 2 Ellis was the author of The Hydrogenation of Oils in Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry 1912 and a 1920 book of the same name citation needed Highlights editIn 1933 he was issued the first American patent USP 1897977 for an unsaturated polyester followed by a patent for polyester co polymers in the year before his death USP 2195362 3 Ellis died of influenza at the age of 64 while vacationing at Miami Beach A merchant marine tanker the Liberty ship S S Carleton Ellis was later named in his honor during World War II Time magazine eulogized him by writing Chemist Ellis inventions gave birth to more than 100 000 compounds He developed Standard Oil s tube amp tank process of cracking oil found the formula for cheap acetone to fireproof airplane wings in World War I and made plastics an exact and lucrative science 4 He was awarded the Edward Longstreth Medal in 1916 citation needed He was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1974 5 Publications editThe Hydrogenation of Oils Catalyzers and Catalysis and the Generation of Hydrogen and Oxygen Scientific Books 1915 Synthetic Resins and Their Plastics Chemical Catalog Company 1923 The Chemical Action of Ultraviolet Rays Chemical Catalog Company 1925 The Hydrogenation of Organic Substances Van Nostrand 1930 The Chemistry of Petroleum Derivatives Chemical Catalog Company 1934 The Chemistry of Synthetic Resins Reinhold 1935 Printing Inks Their Chemistry Reinhold 1940 with Joseph V Meigs Gasoline and Other Motor Fuels Van Nostrand 1921 with Miller W Swaney Soilless Growth of Plants Reinhold 1939 with Herbert R Simonds Handbook of Plastics Van Nostrand 1943 References edit B Zorina Khan The Democratization of Invention Patents and Copyrights in American Economic Development 1790 1920 Cambridge University Press 2005 pp209 210 http www hsccnh org Historical Society of Cheshire County website retrieved September 1 2007 http www bakelite world 2001 tripod com Archived 2018 06 26 at the Wayback Machine retrieved September 2 2007 Milestones Jan 27 1941 Time January 27 1941 Carleton Ellis Plastics Hall of Fame Plastics Hall of Fame Retrieved 6 December 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carleton Ellis amp oldid 1217316302, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
