Best presentation: UNN chemists turn carbon dioxide into a useful product

Young scientists from Lobachevsky University presented their projectto develop new materials for capturing and processing carbon dioxide. Their research was highly appreciated and awarded a diploma for the best poster presentation at the 22nd International Research Conference "New Polymer Composite Materials. Mikitaev Readings". The event took place in Elbrus (Kabardino-Balkarian Republic).

Anastasia Golovkina, a master’s student from the Laboratory of Engineering Chemistry at the UNN Faculty of Chemistry, became the winner in the competition for young scientists. She presented research findings on developing functional ionic polymers for capturing and catalytically processing carbon dioxide.

The study has resulted in the development of new functional materials that efficiently extract carbon dioxide from gas mixtures and use it as a raw material for producing cyclic carbonates, popular products in the modern chemical industry. These materials exhibit high sorption capacity and catalytic efficiency, achieving an epoxide conversion rate of over 85% with a selectivity exceeding 98%. The research is carried out within UNN’s strategic focus on developing new functional materials and technologies for the rational use of carbon dioxide. The results contribute to advancing domestic solutions for low-carbon chemistry and meet the goals of the Priority 2030 programme.

This research was supported by the Priority 2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Programme of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, as part of the youth project "Development of functional materials for technological processes of concentration and processing of carbon dioxide from various sources" led by Associate Professor Olga Kazarina.