Laboratory for Functional Aluminosilicate Nanomaterials

• We have researched triple «water – hydrotrope – oil» systems: we have studied the location of the stratification interface, compositions of equilibrium phases, inter-phase tension.
• Our researchers have studied emission of hydrotrope from halloysite nanotubes and estimated stability of oil-water emulsions that are formed in the presence of hydrotropes and stabilized hydrophobized alloysite nanotubes. On the basis of these results we have developed a method for synthesizing a composition for cleaning oil spills.
• We have developed a methods for synthesizing one- and two-layer cation-exchange polymer membranes modified with halloysite nanotubes with various fillers and produced test samples.
• Through experiments we have found and theoretically justified effects of asymmetry of diffuse permeability and volt-ampere curve of two-layer cation-exchange membrane with layers of different compositions.
• We have studied impact of surface roughness of cation-exchange membranes modified with halloysite and nanoparticles of metals on symmetry of its transport qualities.
• Our researchers have a method to synthesize substrates for spectroscopy for giant combination scattering based on aluminosilicate nanotubes.
• Produced substrates have been tested both on model analytes (colorants) and on biological objects including clinically (bacteria) and industrially (yeast) relevant.
• We have produced hybrid mesoporous materials with skeleton base of halloysite nanotubes.
• Our researchers have conducted research of new types of catalysts based on aluminosilicate nanotubes with hydrophobized external surface and nanoparticles of metals in the internal space. Such systems can act as «nanoreactors» in hydrating aromatic compounds in the presence of water. We have developed a method for increasing specific area, thermal and mechanical stability of functional aluminosilicate materials by forming a layer of arranged mesoporous silicon oxide around halloysite nanotubes. Using this method we have synthesized and research photocatalysts with enhanced characteristics as well as catalysts for aromatic compounds oxidation.

Implemented results of research:

• Russian Federation Patent No. 2670300 «A method of production of ion-exchange two-layer membranes». Authors: D. A. Petrov, A. N. Filippova, P. A. Puschin, E. V. Ivanov, A. A. Novikov, V. A. Vinokourov).
• Application for a Russian Federation Patent No 2018147172 «A method for producing a composite for eliminating oil spills».

Education and career development:

• We have issued a textbook «Kinetics and analysis».
• 1 candidate dissertations and 3 masters dissertations have been defended.
• Leading scientist Prof. Lvov has delivered 4 lectures and a seminar at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas in 2017. Electronic materials can be found at https://www.nanomaterials-lab.org/.

Organizational and structural changes:

• The project is conducted using equipment of the Shared Utilization Center «Research of catalytic and biocatalytic processes» (http://ckp-rf.ru/ckp/74868/, https://www.katbio-ckp.org) of the Gubkin University.
• As a part of implementing the project with have purchased modern equipment for the Laboratory:

1. SDT (Kruss) tensiometer for measuring inter-phase tension using the spinning drop method.

2. «Unisit» laboratory catalytic device (Russia).

3. «Photocor» photon correlation spectroscopy complex (Russia).

4. Thermo Scientific ARL Quant’X energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyzer

5. Gas chromatographs and supplementary equipment

Other results:

• We have received 7 grants: «Developing new catalysts using nanostructured materials, study of their physical and mechanical characteristics and catalytic activity» (Grant of the President of the Russian Federation, 1.2 million rubles), «Developing methods to identify and classify microorganisms by statistical processing of data on their lipid structure» (Grant of the President of the Russian Federation, 1.2 million rubles), «Synergism of components as the basis for synthesizing new highly efficient reagents for inhibition of formation of gas hydrates» (Grant of the President of the Russian Federation, 1.200 million rubles), «Developing an express method for analysis of microbiological objects based on giant combinatory scattering spectroscopy» (Grant of the President of the Russian Federation, 1.2 million rubles), «Research of the method for identifying microorganisms using giant combinatory scattering spectroscopy» (Grant of the Russian Science Foundation, 3 million rubles), «Research of modified aluminosilicate nanotubes, ordered mesoporous silicon and zirconium oxides as components desulphurizing additives to catalysts of petroleum cracking» (Grant of the Russian Science Foundation, 3 million), «Modeling of electroosmotic permeability and specific electrical conductivity of membranes using cellular methods» (Grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, 700 thousand rubles).
• The Laboratory 3 state assignments within the mega-grant 4.9230.2017/[p220 «Researchers ensuring functioning of scientific laboratories created within the governmental «Mega-grant» program (Research of dynamic surface tension of equilibrium phases in «water-hydrotrope-toluol» systems (5.5 million ruble), in «water-hydrotrope-decane» systems (5 million rubles), and in «water-hydrotrope-cyclohexane» systems (5.2 million rubles).
• We have received 2 scholarships from the President of the Russian Federation for young researchers and postgraduates: projects «Synthesizing nanostructured substrates for giant combinatory scattering spectroscopy» (821 thousand rubles) «Developing synthesis methods and research of hybrid composite membrane materials functionalized with natural cyclohexane» (821 thousand rubles).
• We have received 7 R&D grants: «Developing new hierarchical materials and catalysts based on them for processes of isomerization and oxidation of of aromatic raw materials into semiproducts for manufacturing of monomers» (75 million rubles), «Developing methods for analysis of petroleum aromatic raw materials and products of its processing as well as proposals and recommendations for their usage in isomerization and oxidation of of aromatic raw materials into semiproducts for manufacturing of monomers» (2.55 million rubles), «Developing a technology for synthesizing new nanocomposite materials based on natural raw materials» (150 million rubles), «Developing scientifically justified proposals for production of enhanced quality products using nanofibrillar cellulose» (13.5 million rubles), «Developing a complex technology for cultivation and processing biomass of microalgae and water plants for producing high octane additives for engine fuel and other highly valuable products» (45 million rubles), «Assessment of efficiency of the complex technology for cultivating and processing of biomass of microalgae and water plants to synthesize high octane additives for engine fuel and other highly valuable products» (4.2 million rubles), «Assessment of prospects of usage of materials and coatings with controllable wetting ability for separating drop and vapor phases of hydrocarbon (С5+) and water from associated petroleum gas flows» (2.61 million rubles).
• Employees of the Laboratory have participated in international conferences: 6th International Conference on Multifunctional, Hybrid and Nanomaterials (Spain, 2019), 255th American chemical society national meeting and exposition (USA, 2018), 3rd Scientific-technological symposium «Catalytic Hydroprocessing in Oil Refining» (France, 2018), 5th International Conference on Colloid Chemistry and Physicochemical Mechanics (Russia, 2018), Nanophotonics and Micro/Nano Optics International Conference 2018 (Italy, 2018), International Conference on Nanochemistry and Nanotechnologies Nanocon 2018 (Czech Republic, 2018), 8th International IUPAC Symposium «Macro- and Supramolecular Architectures and Materials» (Russia, 2017), International Conference on Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology (Spain, 2017), International Conference Ion Transport in Organic and Inorganic Membranes (Russia, 2017), IV International Conference: Catalysis for Renewable Sources: Fuel, Energy, Chemicals (Italy, 2017), ECBO-2017: European Conferences on Biomedical Optics (Germany, 2017), 13th National Congress on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (Bulgaria, 2017), 31st Conference of the European Colloid & Interface Society (Spain, 2017) and others.

Collaborations:

• Moscow State University(Russia), Novosibirsk State University (Russia), Kazan Federal University (Russia), Kuban State University (Russia), Institute for Catalysis of the Siberian Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), Institute for Inorganic Chemistry of the Siberian Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia),
• Institute of Oil and Gas Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), University of Maryland (USA), Louisiana Tech University (USA), Texas A&M University (USA), University of New Orleans (USA), Technical University of Valencia (Span), University of Alicante (Span), University of Palermo (Italy), KU Leuven (Belgium), Beijing University of Chemical Technology (China PR): joint research and publications