Head of Department   Telephone: + 380 44 422-96-09 Fax: + 380 44 424-35-67 E-mail:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Department staff is 16 co-workers including 1 DSc, 9 PhDs, and 1 PhD student.  The Department includes Laboratory of Chemisorption  (Head of Lab DSc V. A. Tertykh). From 1986, the Department researchers published 1 book, several chapters in 4 collective monographs, 170 scientific articles; 1 doctor and 4 candidate dissertations were defended

Directions of investigations

The main direction of the department’s research is the development of scientific principles of directed synthesis of hybrid organic-inorganic materials using sol-gel and template methods and multicomponent systems. Such hybrid materials are of significant practical interest for sorption technologies (selective removal of toxic and precious metal ions, rare earth and radioactive elements; selective absorption of organic molecules from vapour and gasses, etc.), eco-analytical chemistry (quality control of food, drinking water, etc.), chromatography (of proteins, etc.), chemo- and biosensors (medical diagnostics), catalysis (eg, creating selective catalysts with super acidic centres), biotechnology (enzymatic catalysts).

Main results for the recent years

On the basis of the sol-gel and template methods there were developed one-stage techniques for the synthesis of mesoporous silica with complexing and ion-exchange groups (amine, mercapto, ammonium, phosphonic, and thiourea) in the surface layer. Methods of AFM and electron microscopy were applied to study the morphology of the obtained hybrid organic-inorganic materials. Vibrational and solid-state NMR spectroscopy were used to analyze the composition, structure of structural units and the behavior of the surface layer. There were studied the absorption properties of the synthesized materials towards some heavy ions, noble metals and actinides. It was shown that such sorbents are easy to regenerate without significant changes in their structure and the surface layer.

Hydrolytic copolycondensation reaction of tetraethoxysilane with relevant trifunctional silanes in ammonia medium (modified Stöber method) was used to produce spherical silica particles (average diameter 140-270 nm) with different functional and complexing groups in the surface layers: hydrophobic fluorine-containing groups, amino and sulfur-containing groups. It was shown that the course of of hydrolytic polycondensation reaction with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (formation of gel or particles) depends on the concentration of ammonia in the initial solution. It was determined than in the case of amino groups, the particle size depends on the geometry and basicity of functional groups, the order of reacting components introduction and the mixing time of the suspension. It was shown that the silica spheres with fluorine-containing groups absorb benzene, spheres with amino groups adsorb nickel (II) and copper (II) ions of from aqueous solutions, and with thiol groups - silver (I) ions.

The developed method of hydrolytic polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane with corresponding trifunctional silanes was used for coating of the surfaces of Fe₃O₄magnetic particles with bifunctional layers of ≡Si(CH₂)₃NH₂/≡SiCH₃ and ≡Si(CH₂)₃NH₂/≡SiC₃H₇-n. The formation of polysiloxane bonds and the presence of functional groups (1.6-2.2 mmol/g) in the surface layers of magnetite nanoparticles were confirmed by IR spectroscopy and acid-base titration. The presence of methyl (or n-propyl) groups along with amine groups in the surface layer enhances the sorption capacity on samples to human serum albumin. The obtained powders retain their magnetic properties and are promising for application in medical practice.

There were determined the basic factors affecting the amount of urease and cholinesterase binding; residual activity of these enzymes during immobilization in polysiloxane matrices, on the surface of mesoporous silica and magnetite with functional groups. There was suggested a technique of one-stage immobilization of urease on non-porous surfaces using hydrolytic polycondensation reaction of alkoxysilanes that involves the introduction of native enzyme in the original reaction solution of alkoxysilanes. During the further course of hydrolytic polycondensation the enzyme is included in polyorganosiloxane matrix. Immobilization of urease occurs with high levels of enzyme binding (50-90%), and its residual activity is about 50-70%.

The hydrolytic polycondensation reaction of tri- and tetrafunctional silanes was used to form the active layers on the surfaces of flat ceramic membranes (based on Al₂O₃). The method involves obtaining fine sol by acid hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and 3-mercaptopropylrtimethoxysilane. It was determined that at the ratio of reacting components "tetraethoxysilane/3-mercaptopropyl-rtimethoxysilane" in the functionalizing sol equaled to 1:1 (mol) there was observed the formation of 70 nm nanoparticles on the surfaces of flat ceramic membranes. IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of polysiloxane network and complexing mercapto groups. Such membranes were also functionalized with polysiloxane and polysilsesquioxane layers containing 3-aminopropyl groups. SEM images indicate the formation of polysiloxane or polysilsesquioxane layers on the membranes surface with thickness of 0.35 μm and 4.4 μm, respectively. Infrared spectroscopy data confirmed the presence of the polysiloxane network and functional groups introduced during synthesis. Measurements of the contact angles on the membranes surfaces showed that the hydrophilicity of the active layer is practically independent of the type of the structuring agent (tetraethoxysilane or 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane), and the introduction of the methyl groups increasing the hydrophobicity of the surface layer.

Department staff

Dudarko Oksana A., PhD, Research Associate,

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Melnyk Inna V., PhD, Senior Researcher,

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Nazarchuk Galyna I., Junior Researcher,

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Sliesarenko Valeria V., leading engineer,

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Stolyarchuk Natalia V., Junior Researcher,

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Tomina Veronika V., leading engineer,

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Postgraduate student

Boyko Yulia V., tel:+38 (044) 4229630, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Laboratory of Chemisorption staff 

Tertykh Valentyn A., DSc, Chief Scientist,

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Bolbukh Iuliia M., PhD, Senior Researcher,

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Budnyak Tetyana M., PhD, Junior Researcher,

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Korobeinyk Alina V., PhD in Chemistry of Brighton University (Great Britain),

Research Associate, tel.:+38 (044) 4249468; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kozakevych Roman B., PhD, Research Associate,

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Kuzema Pavlo O., PhD, Senior Researcher,

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Polishchuk Lilia M., PhD, Junior Researcher,

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Protsak Iryna S., PhD, leading engineer,

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Sevostyanov Stanislav V., leading engineer,

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Recent Publications

1. R.P. Pogorilyi, I.V. Melnyk, Y.L. Zub, G.A. Seisenbaeva, V.G. Kessler. Immobilization of urease on magnetic nanoparticles coated by polysiloxane layers bearing thiol- or thiol- and alkyl-functions // J. Mater. Chem. B. – 2014. – 2. – Р.2694-2702

2. R.P. Pogorilyi, I.V. Melnyk, Y.L. Zub, S. Carlson, G. Daniel, P. Svedlindh, G.A. Seisenbaeva, V.G. Kessler. New product from old reaction: uniform magnetite nanoparticles from iron-mediated synthesis of alkali iodides and their protection from leaching in acidic media // RSC Advances. – 2014. – 4. – Р.22606-22612.

3. O.A. Dudarko, C. Gunathilake, V.V. Sliesarenko, Yu.L. Zub, M. Jaroniec. Microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal synthesis of ordered mesoporous silicas with P-containing functionalities // Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects. – 2014. - 459. - P.4-10.

4. G.I. Nazarchuk, I.V. Melnyk, Yu.L. Zub, O.I. Mokridina, A.I. Vezentsev. Mesoporous silica containing ≡Si(CH2)3NHC(S)NHC2H5 functional groups in the surface layer // Journal of Colloid аnd Interface Science. – 2013. – 389. – P.15–120.

5. V.V. Sliesarenko, O.A. Dudarko, Y.L. Zub, G.A. Seisenbaeva, V.G. Kessler, P. Topka, O. Šolcova. One-pot synthesis of mesoporous SBA-15 containing protonated 3-aminopropyl groups // J. Porous Mater. – 2013. - V. 20. - P. 1315-1321.

6. R.P. Pogorilyi, I.V. Melnyk, Y.L. Zub, G.A. Seisenbaeva, V.G. Kessler, M. M.Shcherbatyik, A. Košak, A. Lobnik. Urease adsorption and activity on magnetite nanoparticles functionalized with monofunctional and bifunctional surface layers //Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology. – 2013. - V.68, №3. - P. 447-454.

7. I.V. Melnyk, Y.L. Zub. Preparation and characterisation of magnetic nanoparticles with bifunctional surface layer ≡Si(CH₂)₃NH₂/≡SiCH₃ (or ≡SiC₃H_7–n) // Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. – 2012. – V.154. – P.196–199.

8. I.V. Melnyk, V.P. Goncharyk, N.V. Stolyarchuk, L.I. Kozhara, А.S. Lunochkina, Yu.L. Zub, B. Alonso. Dy³⁺ sorption from water solutions by mesoporous silicas functionnalized by phosphonic acid groups // Journal of Porous Materials. – 2012. – V.19. – P.579–585.

9. I.V. Melnyk, M. Fatnassi, T. Cacciaguerra, Y.L. Zub and В. Alonso. Spray-dried porous silica microspheres functionalised by phosphonic acid groups // Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. – 2012. – V.152. – P.172–177.

10. V.V. Tomina, G.R. Yurchenko, A.K. Matkovsky, Yu.L. Zub, A. Kosak, A. Lobnik. Synthesis of polysiloxane xerogels with fluorine-containing groups in the surface layer and their sorption properties // Journal of Fluorine Chemistry. – 2011. – 132. – Р.1146–1151.

11. Yu.L. Zub, N.V. Stolyarchuk, M. Barczhak, A. Dabrowski. Surface heterogeneity of polysiloxane xerogels functionalized by 3-aminopropyl group // Appl. Surf. Sc. – 2010. – V.256. – Р.5361–5364.

12. G.I. Dobryanskaya, V.P. Goncharik, L.I. Kozhara, Yu L. Zub, A. Dabrowski. Complex formation involving Hg²⁺ ions on the surface of the polysiloxane xerogels functionalized by 3-mercaptopropyl groups // Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry.- 2009-. - Vol. 35, N 4. - P. 264–271.

13. I.V. Melnyk, Y.L. Zub, E. Véron, D. Massiot, T. Cacciagarra, B. Alonso. Spray-dried mesoporous silica microspheres with adjustable textures and pore surfaces homogenously covered by accessible thiol functions // J. Mater. Chem. – 2008. – 18. – P.1368–1382.

14. Yu.L. Zub, I.V. Melnyk, M.G. White, B. Alonso. Structural features of surface layers of bifunctional polysiloxane xerogels containing 3-aminopropyl groups and 3-mercaptopropyl groups // Ads. Sci. Technol. – 2008. – V. 26, No ½. – P.119–133.