Walter Frank Rittman (December 2, 1883 – September 26, 1954) was an American chemical engineer with the United States Bureau of Mines.

Walter Frank Rittman
Rittman c. 1916
Born(1883-12-02)December 2, 1883
DiedSeptember 26, 1954(1954-09-26) (aged 70)
EducationSandusky High School
Ohio Northern University
Swarthmore College
Columbia University (PhD)
OccupationElectrical engineer
Parent(s)Christ Rittman
Louisa Rittman

Biography

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He was born in Sandusky, Ohio, on December 2, 1883, to Louisa and Christ Rittman. He attended Sandusky High School then Ohio Northern University. He received a master's degree from Swarthmore College in 1909 and his Ph.D. from Columbia University. In 1915 he invented a process which increased the amount of gasoline distilled from crude oil.[1] He died on September 26, 1954, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Dr. W.F. Rittman Finds Way to Treble Independent Refiners' Gasoline Production. Gets from Petroleum Toluol and Benzol, Now Coal-Tar Products. German Monopoly Doomed". The New York Times. March 1, 1915. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  2. ^ "Walter Frank Rittman". Sandusky History. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-19.