John H. Sinfelt

John H. Sinfelt (February 18, 1931, Munson, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania – died May 28, 2011, Morristown, New Jersey) was an American chemical engineer whose research on catalytic reforming^[1] was responsible for the introduction of unleaded gasoline.

Sinfelt worked for the Standard Oil Development Company (now Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering), where he specialized in developing techniques to speed up chemical reactions. He later patented that method.^[2]

Honors and Awards

• 1984 American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal^[3]
• 1986 E. V. Murphree Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

References

1. Sinfelt, J. H. (1999). "Catalysis: An Old but Continuing Theme in Chemistry". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 143 (3): 388–399. JSTOR 3181951.
2. Louise Story (June 9, 2011). "John H. Sinfelt, Who Helped Introduce Unleaded Gas, Dies at 80". The New York Times.
3. "Gold Medal Awards:". American Institute of Chemists. Retrieved 27 October 2014.