France, (1856–1937)
Jean-Baptiste Senderens was “a chemist, canon and Doctor of Science and Philosophy,” and “had great manual skill, consistency and perseverance” in his laboratory work.” (3) In 1899, Jean-Baptiste Senderens worked with Paul Sabatier (1) and developed a “method of organic synthesis employing hydrogenation and a heated nickel catalyst. [It is still] employed commercially for hydrogenating unsaturated vegetable oils to make margarine.” (4) Sabatier and Senderens had both studied under Filhol, a Professor of Chemistry in Toulouse, and it is said that their work is so close that it is impossible to distinguish the work of either man. (3)(0)
Jean-Baptiste was “one of the most active workers in the field of contact catalysis.” (2) “In 1908 Poulenc Frères gave Senderens the title of Engineer and asked him to set up their laboratories and organic chemistry industry. Manufacturing was done at the Catholic University by three or four chemists working under Senderens” (3) “In 1923 Senderens was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour for his contributions to Poulenc's manufacture of war materials.” (3b)
However, very little information can be found about him today, and while Sabatier was awarded a Nobel Prize (5), it is unclear what level of recognition Senderens got for doing an equitable amount of work on the same project.
(1) Senderens, Jean Baptiste https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/senderens-jean-baptiste
(2) Obituary https://www.nature.com/articles/141148a0
(3) Jean Baptiste Senderens https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Senderens
(4) Sabatier-Senderens process http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100435402
(5) Paul Sabatier - Nobel Lecture https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1912/sabatier-lecture.html
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