William Sage Rapson (14 August 1912 – 25 June 1999) was a New Zealand and South African chemist. His initial career was in organic chemistry but he moved into inorganic chemistry with particular emphasis on gold. His research interests ranged from fish oil through coal liquefaction to X-ray diffraction.
Rapson was one of seven children raised on a small farm in Kaihu, New Zealand. He attended Mount Albert Grammar School where he was a Rawlings Scholar and later Senior National Scholar. He then went on to Auckland University College as a Junior University Scholar, Senior University Scholar, Duffus Lubecki Scholar and lastly Sir George Grey Scholar. He attained his master's degree at the age of 20 and in 1933 he became lecturer in chemistry at the University College.[1]
In 1934 he went to Oxford to study organic chemistry with Robert Robinson. He developed the Rapson-Robinson synthesis, while completing his thesis in 1935 at the age of 23. He was then appointed lecturer in organic chemistry at the University of Cape Town (1935–41).[1]
Researchedit
In 1946 he became professor designate of Chemistry after having been a Senior Lecturer. He did pioneering work on fruit and fish resource of the Western Cape region which became the foundation for South Africa's fish oil industry. He also researched coal liquefaction and collaborated with physicists at the University of Cape Town on the development of X-ray diffraction.[1]
Aerial view of mine tailings dumps
He was the first director of the National Chemical Research Laboratory of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria. His research areas included South African water and mineral resources. In particular, deacidification and desalination methods for waste dumps and rivers. He identified a type of grass that would grow in the acidic sand of gold mine tailings dumps around Johannesburg to assist with preventing the sand from polluting the nearby rivers.[1]
In 1958 he was promoted to vice-president of CSIR. He was then appointed Research Advisor to the Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines, with the aim of improving production and reducing waste. His research, in collaboration with T. Groenewald was published in the journals Gold Bulletin and Gold Technology. In 1978 Rapson and Groenewald co-authored the book Gold Usage, the first textbook on gold to be published since Die Edelmetalle und Ihre Legierungen[2] by E. Raub (1940). Rapson later went on to translate Die Edelmetalle und Ihre Legierungen into English but that version was only published after his death.[1]
Private lifeedit
In 1937 Rapson married Joyce Rachel Abey, who had been permanently disabled in a motorcycle accident prior to them meeting. They had two daughters. She died in 1996. Rapson died in 1999.[1]
Selected worksedit
Rapson, William Sage; Robinson, Robert (1935). "307. Experiments on the synthesis of substances related to the sterols. Part II. A new general method for the synthesis of substituted cyclohexenones". Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed): 1285. doi:10.1039/JR9350001285.
Rapson, W. S. and Groenewald, T. (1978) Gold Usage. Academic Press. ISBN0-12-581250-7.
Sourcesedit
Austin, Brian (2001) Schonland – Scientist and Soldier, IOPP, Bristol, ISBN0-7503-0501-0
Referencesedit
^ abcdef Raub, Christoph J (1999). "Appreciation: Dr William S Rapson (1912 – 1999) A very versatile scientist" (PDF). Gold Bulletin. 32 (4): 111–114. doi:10.1007/BF03214795. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ Raub, E. (1940). Köster, W. (ed.). Die Edelmetalle und ihre Legierungen (in German) (VI ed.). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. p. 323. ISBN978-3-642-51392-3. Retrieved 7 June 2019. Reine und angewandte Metallkunde in Einzeldarstellungen
January 01, 1970
bill, rapson, william, sage, rapson, august, 1912, june, 1999, zealand, south, african, chemist, initial, career, organic, chemistry, moved, into, inorganic, chemistry, with, particular, emphasis, gold, research, interests, ranged, from, fish, through, coal, l. William Sage Rapson 14 August 1912 25 June 1999 was a New Zealand and South African chemist His initial career was in organic chemistry but he moved into inorganic chemistry with particular emphasis on gold His research interests ranged from fish oil through coal liquefaction to X ray diffraction William Sage RapsonBorn 1912 08 14 14 August 1912Kaihu Northland New ZealandDied25 June 1999 1999 06 25 aged 86 Alma materAuckland University CollegeUniversity of OxfordKnown forRapson Robinson synthesisSpouseJoyce Rachel Abey married 1937 died 1996 Scientific careerFieldsChemistryInstitutionsAuckland University CollegeUniversity of OxfordUniversity of Cape TownCSIRDoctoral advisorRobert Robinson Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Research 3 Private life 4 Selected works 5 Sources 6 ReferencesEarly life and education editRapson was one of seven children raised on a small farm in Kaihu New Zealand He attended Mount Albert Grammar School where he was a Rawlings Scholar and later Senior National Scholar He then went on to Auckland University College as a Junior University Scholar Senior University Scholar Duffus Lubecki Scholar and lastly Sir George Grey Scholar He attained his master s degree at the age of 20 and in 1933 he became lecturer in chemistry at the University College 1 In 1934 he went to Oxford to study organic chemistry with Robert Robinson He developed the Rapson Robinson synthesis while completing his thesis in 1935 at the age of 23 He was then appointed lecturer in organic chemistry at the University of Cape Town 1935 41 1 Research editIn 1946 he became professor designate of Chemistry after having been a Senior Lecturer He did pioneering work on fruit and fish resource of the Western Cape region which became the foundation for South Africa s fish oil industry He also researched coal liquefaction and collaborated with physicists at the University of Cape Town on the development of X ray diffraction 1 nbsp Aerial view of mine tailings dumps He was the first director of the National Chemical Research Laboratory of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR in Pretoria His research areas included South African water and mineral resources In particular deacidification and desalination methods for waste dumps and rivers He identified a type of grass that would grow in the acidic sand of gold mine tailings dumps around Johannesburg to assist with preventing the sand from polluting the nearby rivers 1 In 1958 he was promoted to vice president of CSIR He was then appointed Research Advisor to the Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines with the aim of improving production and reducing waste His research in collaboration with T Groenewald was published in the journals Gold Bulletin and Gold Technology In 1978 Rapson and Groenewald co authored the book Gold Usage the first textbook on gold to be published since Die Edelmetalle und Ihre Legierungen 2 by E Raub 1940 Rapson later went on to translate Die Edelmetalle und Ihre Legierungen into English but that version was only published after his death 1 Private life editIn 1937 Rapson married Joyce Rachel Abey who had been permanently disabled in a motorcycle accident prior to them meeting They had two daughters She died in 1996 Rapson died in 1999 1 Selected works editRapson William Sage Robinson Robert 1935 307 Experiments on the synthesis of substances related to the sterols Part II A new general method for the synthesis of substituted cyclohexenones Journal of the Chemical Society Resumed 1285 doi 10 1039 JR9350001285 Rapson W S and Groenewald T 1978 Gold Usage Academic Press ISBN 0 12 581250 7 Sources editAustin Brian 2001 Schonland Scientist and Soldier IOPP Bristol ISBN 0 7503 0501 0References edit a b c d e f Raub Christoph J 1999 Appreciation Dr William S Rapson 1912 1999 A very versatile scientist PDF Gold Bulletin 32 4 111 114 doi 10 1007 BF03214795 Retrieved 7 June 2019 Raub E 1940 Koster W ed Die Edelmetalle und ihre Legierungen in German VI ed Berlin Heidelberg Springer Verlag p 323 ISBN 978 3 642 51392 3 Retrieved 7 June 2019 Reine und angewandte Metallkunde in Einzeldarstellungen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Rapson amp oldid 1218061965, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
