When Liebig moved to the University of Munich in 1852, Muspratt went with him and studied medicine there[1] where he gained the degree of PhD[2] He then returned to Liverpool to work with his father in his businesses.
[1] He married Frances Jane Baines and together they had eight children, including Suffragists, Nessie Stewart-Brown, Julia Solly[3] and Liberal MP, Max Muspratt.
During this time Edmund studied metallurgy at Owens College, Manchester and invented methods of separating nickel, cobalt and copper from the waste by–products from his factories.
[7] In 1860 when the governments of Britain and France formed a treaty to raise duties on materials made from salt, Muspratt was prominent in the establishment of an alkali manufacturers' association.
[8] In 1876 Muspratt was a witness giving evidence to the Royal Commission enquiring into the pollution caused by the Widnes factories.
[1] Muspratt became interested in politics, being influenced by the writings of John Stuart Mill and was a believer in free trade.