ON THE 60 th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND METALLURGY

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1 Journal of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 44, 1, 2009, ON THE 60 th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND METALLURGY The beginning of teaching Analytical Chemistry has been set in 1945/46 school year when a Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry was established at the Industrial Chemistry Section of the State Polytechnics Machine Building Faculty. The first lecture was read in December 1945 by Professor Nikola Kolarov, lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry. In June 1947 Dr. Boris Zagorchev became an Associate Professor in Analytical Chemistry and both courses started their independent development. By a decree the former Department was divided in 1948 and Analytical Chemistry Department started its existence. HISTORIC SURVEY Development and consolidation of the Department as a fundamental educational unit Professor Dr. Boris Zagorchev was the founder and first Head of the Department. As an excellent lecturer, erudite scientist and administrator he had managed the Department for 26 years till his retirement. He was elected and had worked as the First Rector of the former Higher Institute of Chemical Technology. Professor Borislav Karadakov ( ), Professor D.Sc. Nadezhda Elenkova ( ), Professor Borislav Karadakov ( ), Associate Professor Dr. Liliya Dodova ( ), Associate Professor Dr. Sijka Popova ( ) headed the Department till Since then Associate Professor Dr. Tsvetanka Nedeltcheva has this responsibility. The beginning was challenging! The immediate task entrusted to the first academic teachers (from No 1 to No 7 in Table 1) was to organize and equip three laboratories for chemical analysis in which students obtained knowledge on classical qualitative macroanalysis and competence in applying the volumetric and weighing methods of the quantitative chemical analysis. In 1950 a course on Physical Methods in Analytical Chemistry was introduced to the students curriculum and this arranged the Department among the first one in the world in this respect. At that time it was based on spectrophotometry, polarography and potentiometry. The first lecture was read by Professor A.Trifonov. The first years of the Department were marked by intensive research activities and the staff s profes- sional development. For seven years Associate Professor Boris Zagorchev became a full Professor, Assistant Professor Christo Sheitanov became an Associate Professor, while Assistant Professor A.Lipchinski defended his Ph. D. thesis. A period of sharp increase of students and staff number started in Untill 1964 the staff of the Department increased to 27 academics (from No 8 to No 34 in Table 1). All efforts were focused on improvement of the teaching and the intended learning outcomes for the students. Macroanalysis in the laboratory sessions on qualitative analysis was substituted for semimicroanalysis, while problem solving classes were introduced to the tutorials on quantitative chemical analysis. The subsequent years were marked by uplift in teaching at the Department. Specialized educational/ research laboratories on instrumental analytical methods were founded. New textbooks and other studying texts were published. The research activities had advanced as well. Staff members had specialized abroad. The intensive international collaboration developed within that period of time brought about the successful defense of 11 Ph.D. theses. Another 9 Ph.D. theses were defended at the Institute. Until 1986 the habilitation of 13 of the doctors at the Department took place. The scientific degree Doctor of Chemical Sciences was conferred to Associate Professor Nadezhda Elenkova. Three years later she became a full Professor in Analytical Chemistry. Intensive investigations were carried out during the period of A large number of research projects found financial support. The efforts were aimed 103

2 Journal of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 44, 1, 2009 at analytical control improvement and resulted in achievements of practical importance. Tsvetanka Nedelcheva and Latinka Kostadinova were appointed research fellows. After doctoral theses defense both went through a competition in 1987 and became Assistant Professors. After 1987 the training at the Department of Analytical Chemistry changed drastically with the computer technique implementation. Interactive programs for problem solving found application. The staff development continued. Another Ph. D. thesis was defended. Associate Professor Rahila Borissova was conferred the scientific degree Doctor of Chemical Sciences. Lilyana Ilcheva, Borislav Karadakov and Rahila Borissova became full Professors. Two other staff members became Associate Professors. Five Assistant Professors (from No 37 to No 41 in the Table 1) joined the staff of the Department during the period of , new four (the last four in the Table 1) had been appointed since The Department s advances as well as its legalization as one of the fundamental educational units at the University were greatly affected by the technical assistants work. The efforts, initiative and diligence of 8 chemists and 17 laboratory assistants (see Table 2) contributed to the laboratory sessions good organization and the productive research work of the staff. Research activities The investigations carried out at the Department during all those years were in different fields of Analytical Chemistry: chemical equilibriums, chemical and instrumental methods, chemometrics. The basic contributions are in the field of separation, electrochemical and spectrometric methods. Separation and concentration methods (ion exchange, extraction, gas-liquid chromatography). The research activities at the Department of Analytical Chemistry started with the development of separation methods. The first experiments carried out by Professor B. Zagorchev and his team were in the field of ion exchange. Later some members of the staff started to investigate the potentials of extraction in solving different analytical problems and implemented gas-liquid chromatography. The studies aimed mainly at separating components of similar properties and developing selective and precise methods for microcomponents determination. Five Ph. D. theses were defended in this area. Electroanalytical methods (voltammetry, potentiometry, coulometrics, conductivity). The country s first Specialization Analytica 104

3 In the chemical laboratoty electrochemical studies in the field of Analytical Chemistry were carried out in Professor A.Trifonov, Professor A.Lipchinski, Associate Professor Hr.Sheitanov and Professor N. Elenkova worked in this field. Their achievements impact on the members of the staff results in further investigations focused mainly on electrode and equilibrium processes, on development of analytical control procedures applicable to natural and technological systems, on creation of analytical instruments. Work on ten doctoral theses was carried out in this area. They were successfully defended. Spectrometric analytical methods (spectrophotometric, atom-absorption and luminescent methods). In early 60-ies the work of Professor B.Karadakov and his group marked the beginning of spectral methods application to solution of various analytical problems. Later the atom-absorption and luminescent methods were also implemented. The studies in this field were mainly aimed at evaluating stability constants and developing procedures for determination of admixtures and traces of organic and inorganic compounds. Twenty-five Ph. D. theses have been defended. The research results obtained by the staff members were published in Bulgarian and international journals, they have been reported at Bulgarian and international conferences and symposia. PRESENT AND PROSPECTS Educational activities In the jubilee 2008 the staff of Analytical Chemistry Department includes 3 Associate Professors, 7 Assistant Professors and 4 laboratory assistants. In the voltammetry laboratory BSc. students from all specializations at the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy as well as MSc. students following two compulsory and two elective courses are taught at the Department of Analytical Chemistry. The elective broad-profiled course on Modern instrumental methods in research is very popular among the Ph. D. students at the University. The fundamental task of the staff is to achieve high quality training in Analytical Chemistry. Problem solving classes are organized. They are based on calculations of significance for the theory and practice of chemical equilibriums, chemical and instrumental methods of analysis. The sessions on Chemical methods are carried out individually which allows mastering of chemical analysis practice. The teaching on instrumental methods is carried out in specialized well equipped laboratories on spectrophotometry, potentiometry, voltammetry and atomic spectrometry. ECTS is introduced in correspondence with the European educational standards. Members of the Department s staff participate actively in training of Bulgarian and foreign students in French and German. Associate Professor R.Chavdarova is one of those colleagues who initiated the first in Bulgaria specialization taught in French. Training in English is to be introduced soon. The University is authorized to train doctors in Analytical Chemistry and at present there are three part-time postgraduate students. One of the members of the staff is working on her Ph. D. thesis. In correspondence with the traditions many chemists and chemical engineers working for various companies increase their qualification at the Depart- 105

4 Journal of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 44, 1, 2009 Table 1. Academic staff (year of appointment) 1. Prof. Dr. Boris Zagorchev (1947) 2. Prof. Hristo Vasilev (1948) 3. Assoc. Prof. Christo Sheitanov (1948) 4. Assist. Prof. Stanka Kobarelova (1949) 5. Prof. Aleksandar Lipchinski (1949) 6. Prof. Asen Trifonov (1949) 7. Prof. D.Sc. Nadezhda Elenkova (1953) 8. Prof. Borislav Karadakov (1958) 9. Assist. Prof. Dancha Boikova (1958) 10. Assist. Prof. Nadejda Todorova (1958) 11. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Valchev (1958) 12. Prof. Dr. Lilyana Ilcheva (1959) 13. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Angelina Aleksieva (1959) 14. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nedialka Ruseva (1959) 15. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gergana Todorova (1959) 16. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Balush Balushev (1959) 17. Assist. Prof. Dr. Emilia Mitropolitska (1959) 18. Assist. Prof. Elena Topalova (1959) 19. Assist.Prof. Elena Danova (1959) 20. Assist. Prof. Stoyan Nedev (1959) 21. Assist. Prof. Penka Mosheva (1960) 22. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deshka Venkova (1960) 23. Assist. Prof. Dr. Magdalena Konstantinova (1960) 24. Prof. Dr. Rahila Borissova (1960) 25. Assoc. Prof. R. Chavdarova (1961) 26. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liliya Dodova (1962) 27. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikola Ivanov (1962) 28. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sijka Popova (1962) 29. Assoc. Prof. Ivan Botev (1962) 30. Assist. Prof. Dr. Petrana Nenova (1962) 31. Assoc. Prof. Radka Tzoneva (1964) 32. Assist. Prof. Dr. Milka Veleva (1964) 33. Assist. Prof. Dr. Maria Koeva (1964) 34. Assist. Prof. Dr. Donka Kancheva (1964) 35. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tsvetanka Nedelcheva (1987) 36. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Latinka Kostadinova (1987) 37. Assist. Prof. Anna Marinova (1990) 38. Assist. Prof. Dr. Tinka Kolusheva (1996) 39. Assist. Prof. Mariana Atanasova (1996) 40. Assist. Prof. Zoya Kerenska (1996) 41. Assist. Prof. Lilia Nikolova (1997) 42. Assist. Prof. Andriana Surleva (2000) 43. Assist. Prof. Dr. Latinka Vladimirova (2001) 44. Assist. Prof. Stela Georgieva (2004) 45. Assist. Prof.Maria Christova (2005) Table 2. Technical assistants Chemists Anka Zagorcheva, Ganka Kiateva, Rositza Georgieva, Mariana Atanasova, Maksim Kolev, Latinka Vladimirova, Tzvetanka Petkova, Vania Jivkova Laboratory assistants Anka Zagorcheva, Tzvetana Paiakova, Yanka Hazan, Rositza Popova, Penka Tzacheva, Radka Naidenova, Jivka Nikolova, Simona Gancheva, Stefka Vasileva, Stanka Chakarova, Maria Petrova, Liubka Jotova, Krasimira Ilieva, Vania Koleva, Monika Borisova, Valentina Parusheva, Petia Atanasova 106

5 The staff of the department in the jubilee 2008 year. From left to right: 1 st raw: Assist. Prof. Stela Georgieva, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Latinka Kostadinova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tsvetanka Nedelcheva, Assoc. Prof. R. Chavdarova, Assist. Prof. Andriana Surleva; 2 nd raw: Assist. Prof. Maria Christova, Assist. Prof. Anna Marinova, Assist. Prof. Dr. Tinka Kolusheva, Assist. Prof. Dr. Latinka Vladimirova, Assist. Prof. Lilia Nikolova, Laboratory assistants: Liubka Jotova, Krasimira Ilieva, Valentina Parusheva, Petia Atanasova. ment. Analytica is one of the parallel specializations which have been very successful for the last 10 years. It was organized under the initiative of Professor L.Ilcheva. Research activities The investigations carried out at the Department of Analytical Chemistry are aimed at the training and further skills development of the young members of the staff. Being in correspondence with the requirements of the 21 st Century they are mainly in the field of environmental protection and the development of new materials and technologies. Analytical control of superconducting materials oxygen content (Associate Professor Dr. Tzvetanka Nedelcheva, Assistant Professor Dr. Latinka Vladimirova, Assistant Professor Stela Georgieva). Sensitive methods for determining oxygen content in superconducting materials to be used in the field of electronics are under investigation. Joint studies with researchers from the Institute on Solid State Physics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are carried out. They are aimed at improving the materials production technology and accelerating its introduction to various industrial branches. Some of the results obtained will be included in a Ph.D. thesis. Investigation and application of equilibrium systems (Associate Professor Dr. Latinka Kostadinova, Assistant Professor Dr. Tinka Kolusheva, Assistant Professor Anna Marinova, Assistant Professor Maria Christova). This group is working in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Textile and Leathers of the University. The complexes of tannic acid and other ligands are under study. Analytical procedures for determining the composition of products of interest to the leather industry are under investigation. The aim is to create benign technologies. The results obtained will be summarized in two Ph. D. theses. Voltammetric determination of complexes composition and stability (Associate Professor Dr. Tzvetanka Nedelcheva, Assistant Professor Lilia Nikolova, Assistant Professor Stela Georgieva). Contemporary voltammetric methods are applied to the study of step-by-step complexation. Bioorganic analysis (Assistant Professor Dr. Tinka Kolusheva, Assistant Professor Anna Marinova). The studies are carried out in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University and the Institute on Livestock Breeding Sciences in Kostinbrod. Procedures for analyzing 107

6 Journal of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 44, 1, 2009 the presence of organic compounds in biological samples are under development. Analytical control of pollutants. This is the research field of Assistant Professor Andriana Surleva. The work is proceeding in collaboration with a research group from the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. New generations of ion-selective sensors and analytical procedures for quantitative determination of cyanide containing pollutants are under investigation. The results obtained will be summarized in a Ph.D. thesis. Analytical control of residual quantities from veterinary preparations. This is the Ph. D. thesis area of a part-time postgraduate student at the Department. The investigations are carried out in collaboration with a research team from the Central Laboratory on Veterinary- Sanitation Expertise and Ecology. Chromatographic analytical procedures for control of foods of animal origin are under development. They are aiming at further validation. The Department of Analytical Chemistry has a lot of achievements in the educational and research activities carried out for 60 years. Its students have acquired good theoretical knowledge and practical skills in Analytical Chemistry. A highly competent assistance has been provided in many cases of interest to research and industrial groups. The Department s staff is carrying out research studies in a well outlined field in collaboration with teams from other institutes and laboratories. The indisputable success acknowledged in the country and abroad as well as the potential and commitments of the staff afford to trust in the future fruitful development of the Department of Analytical Chemistry. 108