Chemistry: 1907

Buchner, Eduard pronounced BUK nuhr, (1860-1917), a German chemist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1907 for his researches into the biochemistry of fermentation.

Buchner's research demonstrated that fermentation could take place in the presence of oxygen. Buchner also showed that fermentation does not need to take place in the yeast cell itself, but in the presence of enzymes contained in yeast. An enzyme is a substance that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms. Buchner's research proved that an enzyme called zymase causes sugar to change into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Buchner's writings on fermentation include The Influence of Oxygen on Fermentations (1885), On Alcoholic Fermentation Without Yeast Cells (1897), and Zymosis (1903).

Buchner was born in Munich. He studied at the University of Munich and taught there from 1889 to 1893. He also held posts at the University of Kiel and the University of Tubingen. In 1898, Buchner became professor of general chemistry at Berlin's Agricultural College. He later taught and researched at the universities of Breslau and Wurzburg. Buchner was killed while serving in Romania during World War I (1914-1918).