William Merriam Burton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Merriam Burton
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| Born | November 17, 1865 |
| Died | December 29, 1954 (aged 89) |
| Awards | Willard Gibbs Award (1918) Perkin Medal (1922) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | Standard Oil |
William Merriam Burton was an important American chemist. He lived from 1865 to 1954. He invented a special way to get much more gasoline from crude oil. This invention changed how we get fuel for cars!
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Burton was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865. He loved science and studied chemistry. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science, from Western Reserve University in 1886. Later, he got his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1889. A PhD is a very high degree in a specific subject.
Working at Standard Oil
After finishing school, Burton started working for Standard Oil. This was a very big oil company. He worked at their refinery in Whiting, Indiana. A refinery is where crude oil is turned into useful products. Later, he became the president of Standard Oil. He was president from 1918 until he retired in 1927.
Burton's Big Invention: Thermal Cracking
What is Crude Oil?
Crude oil is a thick, dark liquid found deep underground. It is used to make many things, especially gasoline. Gasoline is the fuel that powers most cars.
The Problem Before Burton
Before Burton's invention, it was hard to get a lot of gasoline from crude oil. There wasn't enough gasoline for all the new cars being made. People needed a better way to produce more fuel.
How Thermal Cracking Works
William Burton found a clever way to solve this problem! He invented a process called "thermal cracking."
- Thermal means using heat.
- Cracking means breaking something down.
Burton's process used very high heat and pressure. This broke down the heavy parts of crude oil. It turned them into lighter, more useful products like gasoline. He received a U.S. patent for his process on January 7, 1913.
The Impact of His Invention
This invention was a huge deal! It doubled the amount of gasoline that could be made from the same amount of crude oil. This meant more fuel for cars and helped the world use oil more efficiently.
Other Cracking Methods
It's interesting to know that the first thermal cracking method was invented earlier. A Russian engineer named Vladimir Shukhov created it in 1891. However, Burton's process became very widely used and important for the oil industry.
Later Life
William Burton died in Miami, Florida, in 1954. His work greatly impacted the way we use oil today.
See also
- Cracking (chemistry)
- Burton process
- Shukhov cracking process
