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150 Innovations

Albert Leon Henne, Chemistry

Albert Leon Henne

Albert Leon Henne (1901-1967) was a professor in the Department of Chemistry at The Ohio State University. Henne was a part of a team that discovered and developed the use of Freon as a refrigerant. This discovery led to the worldwide use of Freon in both refrigerators and air conditioning. It also allowed refrigerators to become a popular household appliance that simplified the lives of homeowners.

At Ohio State, Henne taught organic chemistry and was an integral part of the Chemistry Department until his death in 1967. He began as a researcher associated with Professor Cecil E. Boord at the American Petroleum Institute Project at Ohio State in 1939. He was made a professor in 1942 and focused his research on fluorine-containing hydrocarbons and was recognized worldwide as a leader in his area of study.