After graduating he went to Gießen as preparateur to Justus von Liebig, with whom he elucidated the composition of paraldehyde and metaldehyde.

In 1839, on Liebig's recommendation, he was appointed to the chair of chemistry in the polytechnic in Stuttgart, a position he held for over 45 years.

[1] His earlier work included an investigation of succinic acid, and the preparation of phenyl cyanide (better known as benzonitrile), the simplest nitrile of the aromatic series.

Later his time was mainly occupied with questions of technology and public health rather than with pure chemistry.

He was a contributor to the Handwörterbuch of Liebig, Friedrich Wöhler and Johann Christian Poggendorff, and to the Graham-Otto Textbook of Chemistry.