RESEARCH INTERESTS

Main research topics:
• Synthesis of micro/mesoporous and nanostructured oxides.

• Development of methods for functionalization with different organic groups of nanosized mesoporous silica materials with different morphology.

• Modification of mesoporous materials with nanosized transition metal/ metal oxide species.

• Physicochemical characterization of modified materials (temperature gravimetrical analysis, temperature programmed reduction, infrared spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, adsorption methods etc.).

• Investigation of catalytic properties of modified nanocomposite materials:

- Methanol conversion to hydrocarbons, hydrogen, CO and methane as a source of alternative ecological fuel from renewable sources and industry supply with gas mixtures;
- Catalytic combustion of different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for environmental protection;
- Conversion of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons for petrochemical industry;
- Selective oxidation of alcohols and olefins in gas or in liquid phase for the preparation of intermediates for pharmacy and chemical industry.

• Investigation of the relation between catalyst composition, structure and catalytic behaviour. Genesis of the catalytic sites and mechanism of the catalytic processes.

• Preparation of new drug delivery systems on the basis of mesoporous silicas with different structure, morphology, particle size and surface functionality.

• Study on the optimization of the loading capacity and release properties of loaded drugs - antibiotics, glucocorticoids, anti-inflammatory non-steriods and antioxidants.

Laboratory members

Head:

Prof. DSc. Tanya Tsoncheva

(+359 2) 979 6640

409

[email protected]

Name	Room	Phone	Е-mail*
Prof. Tanya Hristova, DSc, Head	409	979 6640	tsoncheva
Prof. Margarita Popova, PhD	411	111	mpopova
Assoc. Prof. Momtchil Dimitrov, PhD	410	111	md2
Assist. Prof. Gloria Issa, PhD	402	109	issa
Assist. Prof. Ivalina Trendafilova, PhD	411	111	ivtrendafilova
Assist. Prof. Radostina Ivanova, PhD	402	111	radostinaiv
Aleksandara Mileva, PhD student	409	979 6640	amileva
Christina Lazarova, chemist	411	111	lazarova

Projects

Selected publications (Q1)

2018

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials,
263, 28-33

Nanostructured silver silica materials as potential propolis carriers

Applied Catalysis A: General, 560,
119-131

Efficient solid acid catalysts based on sulfated tin oxides for liquid phase esterification of levulinic acid with ethanol.

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials,
263, 96-105

Novel SO₃H functionalized magnetic nanoporous silica/polymer nanocomposite as a carrier in a dual-drug delivery system for anticancer therapy

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials,
270, 40-47

Amino-modified KIT-6 mesoporous silica/polymer composites for quercetin delivery: Experimental and theoretical approaches

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials,
259, 9-16

Activated carbons from used motor oil as catalyst support for sustainable environmental protection

Biomass and
Bioenergy,
109, 135-146

Activated carbon from Bulgarian peach stones as a support of catalysts for methanol decomposition