El laboratorio de investigaciones bioquímicas de la Universidad de Zaragoza y los inicios de la Ciencia de Coloides e Interfases en España: un ejemplo de ciencia periférica, 1918-1936

Abstract

This article presents a historical approach to the beginnings of Colloid and Interface Science in Spain. The pioneer in the colloidal domain research was Antonio de Gregorio Rocasolano, professor of General Chemistry, and founder of the Biochemical Research Laboratory of the University of Zaragoza in 1918. The pioneering work carried out by Rocasolano with silver and gold sols synthesized in his own laboratory and the use of the ultramicroscope to follow the colloidal aggregation processes turned the Biochemical Research Laboratory into a research center capable of obtaining interesting scientific-technical results that have remained valid to the present day. It is an example of high-quality research carried out in the periphery of Spanish science. To this end, Professor Rocasolano surrounded himself with brilliant young researchers such as Juan Martín Sauras, Jes.s Camón Cano, María Antonia Zorraquino Zorraquino and José María Albareda Herrera, establishing solid collaborative relationships with prestigious foreign researchers such as Richard Adolf Zsigmondy and Heinrich Jakob Bechhold. In November 1936 Rocasolano agreed to be the president of the Purging Committee of the University staff (Committee A). This Committee purged at least 40% of the Spanish university teaching staff. This repressive activity of Professor Rocasolano overshadowed his brilliant scientific career, which is unknown to the vast majority of Spanish scientists.