French Chemist Francois Eugene Turpin (1848-1927) in his Laboratory - French Gas warfare specialist - WWI. France broke the Hague Conventions in August 1914 and used 26mm gas grenades containing liquid explosive 'Turpinite'. In 1885, based on research of Hermann Sprengel, Turpin patented the use of pressed and cast picric acid in blasting charges and artillery shells. In 1887 the French government adopted it under the name melinite, with addition of gun cotton.