Heinz-Gerd Smolka

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Heinz-Gerd Smolka (* December 13, 1940 - March 28, 2019 ) was a German chemist. He and Milan Schwuger invented the first phosphate- free detergents at Henkel KGaA in the early 1970s .

Smolka studied chemistry at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich and received his doctorate in 1969 under Peter Paetzold , whom he followed to Aachen. In 1969 he joined the Henkel company. From 1978 to 1981 he managed detergent production and built up zeolite production. He then held various positions at Henkel, including abroad (Henkel South Africa). In 1992 he became the sole managing director of Grünau Illertissen GmbH.

The invention of phosphate-free detergents by using the substitute zeolite A as an ion exchanger for water softening in 1972 was the result of a targeted search at Henkel, as phosphates led to over-fertilization and the death of lakes. Zeolite A was associated with the brand name "SASIL" (for sodium aluminum silicate ) and formed the basis for phosphate-free detergents and thus made an important contribution to environmental protection. In 1977 the first product (Prodixan) came onto the market, although it still had a slight yellow tinge that was eliminated in later detergents. His invention was included in the branch of the Deutsches Museum in Bonn as one of the 100 most important inventions after 1945.

Heinz-Gerd Smolka has been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon.

From 2002 Smolka sat as a CSU member in the city and district council. From 1994 to 2004 he was chairman of the industrial association in the Neu-Ulm district.

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