Anselme Payen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 January 1795 |
| Died | 12 May 1871 (aged 76) Paris,France |
| Known for | Discovereddiastase andcellulose |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | École Centrale Paris CNAM |
Anselme Payen (French:[pa.jɛ̃]; 6 January 1795 – 12 May 1871) was a Frenchchemist known for discovering the enzymediastase, and the carbohydratecellulose.
Payen was born inParis, the son of Jean-Baptiste Pierre Payen and Marie-Francoise Jeanson de Courtenay.[1] He began studying science with his father, a graduate of theCollege de Navarre, when he was a 13-year-old, and later studiedChemistry at theÉcole Polytechnique under the chemistsLouis Nicolas Vauquelin andMichel Eugène Chevreul.[2]
At the age of 23, Payen became manager of aborax-refining factory, where he developed a process for synthesizing borax fromsoda andboric acid. Previously, all borax had been imported from theEast Indies exclusively by theDutch. Payen's new method of synthesizing borax allowed him to sell the mineral at one third the going price, and break the Dutch monopoly.
Payen also developed processes for refiningsugar, along with a way to refinestarch andalcohol frompotatoes, and a method for determination ofnitrogen. Payen invented a decolorimeter, which dealt with the analysis, decolorization, bleaching, and crystallization of sugar.
Payen discovered the firstenzyme,diastase, in 1833.[3][4] He is also known for isolating and naming the carbohydratecellulose.[5]
In 1835, Payen became a professor atÉcole Centrale Paris. He was later elected professor at theConservatoire National des Arts et Métiers. He died in Paris on May 13, 1871.
The rue Anselme Payen, near theGare Montparnasse, Paris, is named after him.
TheAmerican Chemical Society's Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division has established an annual award in his honor, theAnselme Payen Award.[6]
