Adolph Wilhelm Hermann Kolbe (born in Elliehausen close to Hanover the September 27th 1818 - died with Leipzig the November 25th 1884) was a German Chimiste .

After having studied the Chemistry with Friedrich Wöhler, Kolbe became assistant of Robert Wilhelm Bunsen with the Université of Marbourg in 1842. He was then assistant of Lyon Playfair at the university of London, and of 1847 to 1851 he contributed to the edition of the Handwörterbuch DER reinen und angewandten Chemie (Dictionary of Chemistry Pure and Applied) written by Friedrich Wöhler and Justus von Liebig. Kolbe succeeded Bunsen with Marburg then, then obtained a station at the university of Leipzig in 1865.

At that time, it was thought that the made up organics and the inorganic compounds were independent and that the organic compounds could be created only by the living organisms. Kolbe thought that the made up organics could be obtained directly or indirectly starting from the inorganic compounds by processes of substitutions. It validated this theory by converting into several stages of the Disulfure of carbon (CS₂) in Acid acetic (1843-1845). By introducing a new representation of the radical , it contributed to the establishment of the structural theories. He also predicts the existence of the alcohol S secondaries and tertiary sectors. Its research on alcohols was worth the Davy Médaille to him in 1884.

Kolbe also worked on the electrolysis of fatty-acids and others Acide S (electrolysis of Kolbe). It prepared Salicylic acid (component of the Aspirine) by a process known under the name of Synthèse of Kolbe or Réaction of Kolbe-Schmitt.

He discovered with Edward Frankland that the Nitrile S can be hydrolized to form the corresponding acids. He becomes foreign member of the Royal Society the December 13rd 1877.