Head of the Department

Prof. Lyubov K. Altunina

poly@ipc.tsc.ru
Phone: 7 (3822) 491721, 491623

The development of polymer and petrochemical industries in West Siberia, construction and run-up of the Tomsk Petrochemical Plant set the task of training the specialists and enlarging researches in the field of high-molecular compounds and petroleum chemistry.

To train the specialists, the Department of High-Molecular Compounds and Petroleum Chemistry at the Tomsk State University was started in 1970. Prof. Mikhail F. Shostakovsky, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, was the first Head of the Department. The researches in the field of chemical modification of polymers and the study of the properties of the products obtained were initiated under his direction.

At present the scientific traditions of polymer chemistry and petroleum chemistry have being followed and developed by Chair’s staff led by Prof. L.K. Altunina, Head of the Chair, and Prof. A.G. Filimoshkin.

One of the most important problem – enhanced oil recovery by physicochemical methods – is worked under the direction of Lyubov K. Altunina. L.K. Altunina suggested a novel scientific approach to the creation of efficient oil-displacing systems based on the surfactants and alkaline buffer systems. A complex of original devices and methods intended to study physicochemical and rheological properties of surface and volumetric phases in the system "oil-rock-surfactant solution" have been created. High-efficiency systems for EOR at the oil fields of West Siberia have been developed. Seven novel industrial EOR technologies based on the application of the products of the large-tonnage home industry and industrial waste have been devised. The technologies of the stimulation of production and enhanced oil recovery have been successfully tested at 23 pilot lots of the oil fields of West Siberia, in Komi Republic and 'White Tiger' oil field in Vietnam.

The technologies created are applied in real practice of the development of the oil fields of West Siberia. The technologies are commercially applied in oil fields of West Siberia by Oil Companies Lukoil and Yukos. In 1992-2002 more that 500 wells in the oil fields of West Siberia were treated using the technologies developed at IPC. Using these technologies over 1.5 million tons of additional oil was produced in the last 5 years. The expenses for technology application are recovered in 5-12 months.

For some years the researches of the processes of polyconjugated system formation and study of their properties were carried out under the direction of Prof. Yu.G. Kryazhev. The processes of chemical transformation of some important polymers were studied in detail. The photosensitive products of chemical modification were produced and successfully tested as high-sensitive negative photoresistors at ‘Vostok’ high-tech company.

Under the direction of Prof E.E. Sirotkina the methods for the production of N-polyvinyl carbazole-based materials which are of importance for national economy have been developed, the research of the application of ultrafine metal powders as the catalysts for petrochemical processes as well as the works to solve the ecological issues in oil industry are carried out.

Basic research of the chemical reactions occurring in macromolecules performed under the direction of Prof. A.G. Filimoshkin has fundamentally changed the concepts on the microstructure and reactivity of the copolymers of maleic anhydride and created the prerequisites for a breakthrough in the study of this class of the polymers. Within the frame of the methodology of the polymer science some original approaches have been developed including a complex application of up-to-date instrumental, chemical, kinetic, thermodynamic, quantum-chemistry methods as well as the method of computer simulation of the mechanisms of intermolecular and chemical interactions. An important contribution was made in the theory of polymer solutions and in the understanding of the mechanisms of cooperative reactions, some additions were made in the notions of aromatic state.

The lecturers of the Chair, in collaboration with the Institute’s scientists, study the composition, structure, and chemical transformations of hydrocarbon and heteroatomic oil components.

The results of the investigations carried out by the Chair's staff were reported at international conferences and symposia, at all-Union, all-Russian and regional conferences. More than 60 papers were published in foreign and national journals, more than 20 author’s certificates and patents were granted.

The educational process is intimately related to the scientific research work. Curricula are developed on the base of analysis of the programs on high-molecular compounds and oil chemistry taught at leading Russian higher education institutions and European universities. Curricula take into account general issues of academic education and regional problems.

The Chair is located on the premises of the Institute of Petroleum Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Employment of the modern equipment available at IPC allows to the lecturers of the Chair to carry out laboratory and scientific works in accordance with the program of a multilevel education. Academic and scientific works are carried out in Chair's laboratories and in IPC. Students work on their annual and diploma theses in scientific laboratories of the Department and IPC under the direction of high-skilled staff. The direct participation of the students in the development of important scientific research topics promotes their quick advances in educational and scientific skill and determines a high qualification of Chair's graduates. More than 250 graduates successfully work at high-tech companies, academic and scientific research institutes.

The Chair of High-Molecular Compounds and Petroleum Chemistry of the Tomsk State University in cooperation with the Institute of Petroleum Chemistry is involved in the realization of the project "Development of the Fundamental Science and Higher Education on the Base of the Integration of Tomsk State University and Academic Institutions" (the Federal Program "Integration").

To make the education more basic, students, magisters, post-graduate students and Chair's staff are involved into research carried out at the Institute of Petroleum Chemistry. The most talented students were given references for the post-graduate school of IPC.

University and post-graduate education form a continuous chain: a student – a graduate –a post-graduate student – a scientist - a potential for doctor's degree.

The specialists in oil chemistry and high-molecular compounds are trained by 5 Professors and 7 Doctors of Sciences (Ph.D.). 5 persons attend post-graduate courses at the Chair.