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. Margarita Popova

(+359 2) 960 6111

411

Margarita.Popova@orgchm.bas.bg

Name	Room	Phone	Е-mail*
Prof. Margarita Popova, DSc, Head	411	111	Margarita.Popova
Assoc. Prof. Momtchil Dimitrov, PhD	410	111	Momchil.Dimitrov
Assoc. Prof. Gloria Issa, PhD	402	109	Gloria.Issa
Assist. Prof. Consolato Rosmini, PhD	402	109	Consolato.Rosmini
Ivalina Trendafilova, PhD	411	110	Ivalina.Trendafilova
Assist. Manuela Oykova	411	111	Manuela.Oykova
Assist. Oyundari Tumurbaatar	515		Oyundari.Tumurbaatar
Assist. Ivan Dimitrov	410	111	Ivan.Dimitrov
Assist. Gregoria Theochari	411	111	Gregoria.Theochari
Stela Grozdanova, chemist	411	111	Stela.Grozdanova
Associated members
Prof. Tanya Hristova, DSc	409	979 6640	Tanya.Tsoncheva

Projects

Selected publications

2024

Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy,350,
123904

Unveiling the synergistic effects of pH and Sn content for tuning the catalytic performance of Ni0/NixSny intermetallic compounds dispersed on Ce-Zr mixed oxides in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol

2022

Carbon,196,
186-202

Mesoporous Ce–Fe–Ni nanocomposites encapsulated in carbon-nanofibers: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior in oxygen evolution reaction

2021

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces,13, 1,,
1838–1852

Formation of Catalytic Active Sites in Hydrothermally Obtained Binary Ceria–Iron Oxides: Composition and Preparation Effects

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