[One hundred years of biotechnology in the chemical industry in the example of E. Merck, Darmstadt].

The purposeful use of microorganisms as producers of pure substances began about one hundred years ago with the production of lactic acid, followed by citric acid and by sorbose for the synthesis of vitamin C. The growth of pure cultures of microorganisms in a technical scale became available nearly fifty years ago by the development of the fermenter. By this it became possible to produce penicillin and other antibiotics, to transform substances in steroid syntheses and to get many enzymes, alkaloids, and other substances from microorganisms. The development of some of the older processes as basis of actual use of biotechnology at E. Merck is described, followed by some facts of the early situation in Germany and some remarks on the inclusions of biotechnology within the chemical industry.