Elemental Micro-analysis of Organic Compounds: TheAustralian Experience

Abstract

Combustion methods for elemental analysis developed in Europewere adopted by Australian chemists, some of whom undertook training in the Pregl laboratory in Graz, the centre of microanalytical expertise. Microanalytical services developed slowly at the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne. After World War 2 the University of Melbourne and Australia's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research combined to bring German experts to Australia. One of them, Dr K. W. Zimmermann, headed the Australian Microanalytical Service in Melbourne that met the needs of Australian chemists and some overseas customers for four decades. Zimmermann also trained a chemist from Singapore, MRS Tong Hee Keong, wh..