Izaak Kolthoff

Izaak Maurits (Piet) Kolthoff (February 11, 1894 – March 4, 1993) was an <a href="/facts/Analytical_chemistry/MHQf3YP6">analytical</a> <a href="/facts/Chemist/N09K7Bdm">chemist</a> and <a href="/facts/Chemistry_education/YgoLzRnp">chemistry educator</a>. He is widely considered the father of analytical chemistry for his large volume of published research in diverse fields of analysis, his work to modernize and promote the field, and for advising a large number of students who went on to influential careers of their own.
Kolthoff's best-known research contribution was the development of the "cold process" for producing <a href="/facts/Synthetic_rubber/58Fq4XYx">synthetic rubber</a>, which he undertook under the U.S. synthetic rubber program during <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>. He was also active in social causes, including promoting world peace and opposing nuclear weapons testing.
Kolthoff received a <a href="/facts/PhD/paJumdN8">PhD</a> in <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a> from the <a href="/facts/University_of_Utrecht/SfvqmD0l">University of Utrecht</a> in his native <a href="/facts/Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands/q08uRoR9">Netherlands</a>. In 1927, he immigrated to the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>, joining the faculty at the <a href="/facts/University_of_Minnesota/vN1uQvP5">University of Minnesota</a>, where he worked for more than 60 years.

Izaak Kolthoff open-in-new

Izaak Kolthoff