Catalytic cracking affects everyone’s daily lives in more ways than one. Cleveland’s William M. Burton did extensive chemistry work at Johns Hopkins University, leading him to become the president of Standard Oil in Indiana. It was there where he discovered a larger amount of gasoline could be produced from a smaller portion of crude oil through catalytic cracking, a process by which oil is heated to more than 700 degrees to break down its components.
This revelation saved the automobile industry, since, at the time, the need for gasoline soared following the mass production of low-cost automobiles under Gerald Ford’s administration and the retirement of John D. Rockefeller. By 1912, Burton had filed a patent for the scientific process to be adopted over simply distilling crude oil and, in 1913, catalytic cracking was regulated for other refining companies to use.
Why It Matters: Petroleum retrieved from catalytic cracking has less sulfur and is produced at a lower temperature. Without Burton, gas could potentially be scarcer, since he greatly improved the process of yielding more fuel.
Cleveland Inventions: Catalytic Cracking Adds Fuel to the Fire
After starting at John Hopkins University, Cleveland's Willam M. Burton became the president of Standard Oil in Indiana.
