Hans Gaffron

Hans Gaffron
Born	May 17, 1902 Lima, Peru
Died	August 18, 1979 (aged 77)[1] Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA
Nationality	German
Occupation	Chemist Biological Researcher.
Spouse(s)	Clara Ostendorf (m. 1932–79)[2]

Dr. Hans Gaffron was born in Lima, Peru, on May 17, 1902, and was a son of the German physician Eduard Gaffron and his wife Hedwig von Gevekot.^[3]

He was one of the earlier researchers trying to elucidate the mechanistic and biochemical details of photosynthesis and plant metabolism.^[4] His most notable finding was the discovery of a process whereby unicellular green algae can produce molecular Hydrogen (H2) in the presence of light, and that the precursors were derived from photosynthetic water-splitting.^[5] Applications based on his work have led to many efforts to develop H2 as a renewable biofuel.^[6]

Works

• Research in photosynthesis. New York, Interscience Publ., 1957. OCLC 252395040
• Photosynthesis. Boston, Heath, 1965. OCLC 3038933
• …

Notes

1. Rürup, p. 200
2. Rürup, p. 94
3. Rürup, p. 199
4. Govindjee, p. 119
5. http://www.fotomol.uu.se/Forskning/Biomimetics/solarh/photobio.shtm
6. http://www.fotomol.uu.se/Forskning/Biomimetics/solarh/photobio.shtm

References

• "Hydrogen metabolism of green algae: discovery and early research a tribute to Hans Gaffron"; Govindjee, J.T. Beatty, H. Gest, J.F. Allen. Discoveries in Photosynthesis Springer, 2006. ISBN 978-1-4020-3323-0, pp. 119–129
• "Hans Gaffron" in Reinhard Rürup, Schicksale und Karrieren: Gedenkbuch für die von den Nationalsozialisten aus der Kaiser-wilhelm-gesellschaft Vertriebenen Forscherinnen und Forscher, Wallstein Verlag, 2008. ISBN 978-3-89244-797-9