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Emil Christian Hansen (May 8, 1842 – August 27, 1909) was a Danish mycologist and fermentation physiologist.

Born in Ribe, he financed his education by writing novels and he was awarded a gold medal in 1876 for an essay on fungi.

Employed by the Carlsberg Laboratory in Copenhagen, he discovered that yeast was composed of different kinds of fungi and that the yeast culture could be cultivated. He isolated a pure cell of yeast and, after combining it with a sugary solution, produced more yeast than was in a yeast bank. It was known as Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, and is used in lager beers. See Fermentation, Yeast.

Literature

• Clausen, N.Hjelte (1932) Emil Christian Hansen, pp. 161-164 in: Meisen, V. Prominent Danish Scientists through the Ages. University Library of Copenhagen 450th Anniversary. Levin & Munksgaard, Copenhagen

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