Adolf Martin Pleischl

Who was Adolf Martin Pleischl?

Adolf Martin Pleischl was a chemist and medical doctor.

In 1815 he obtained his medical doctorate from the University of Prague, where he later served as a professor of general and pharmaceutical chemistry. At Prague he is credited with improvement and redevelopment of the chemical-pharmaceutical institute. In 1838 he relocated to the University of Vienna, where he also redeveloped and modernized its chemical and pharmaceutical facilities. As an instructor, two of his better-known students were Johann Florian Heller and Johann August Natterer.

While at Prague he performed the first scientific analysis of its water. He also analyzed the thermal springs of Bohemian spa sites, and was an enthusiastic recruiter for spa treatment at Karlsbad, Marienbad, Franzensbad and Teplitz. His endorsement of Karlsbad water helped lead to a lucrative source of income through the export of bottled water and soda products.

Pleischl is credited with the creation of a safe non-metallic enamel for coating metal dishes. Also, he attempted to liquefy carbon dioxide by means of pressure and low temperature, a process that was later successfully achieved by his pupil, Johann August Natterer.