At the end of January, the Scientific and Technical Council of Voronezh State University nominated the project by staff members from the Faculty of Chemistry of VSU and the Laboratory of Functional Materials Ionics at Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Development of innovative devices based on new membrane materials used for quality control of food and pharmaceutical products” for the award among young researchers by the Government of the Russian Federation 2020 in the area of science and technology.
The project team consists of: Anna Parshina, Associate Professor from the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry of Voronezh State University, Tatiana Kolganova, a lecturer from the same department, Ekaterina Safronova and Anna Lysova, senior researchers from Laboratory of Functional Materials Ionics at Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The head of the project is Olga Bobreshova, head research fellow at the Department of Analytical Chemistry of VSU.
The project was launched in 2009. The scientists developed potentiometric multisensor systems based on new hybrid materials, including ion-exchange membranes and various nanoparticles. The devices can be used to assess the quality of medicinal and food products, to analyse raw materials and processing media used in the production technology of amino acids, vitamins, and medicinal substances, as well as to monitor household sewage in order to control disposal of pharmaceutical substances.
Unlike the rapid-response analyser, which is present on the market, multisensor systems proposed by our researchers enable detecting a wide range of organic ions. Their advantages include high precision, fast generation of results, the absence of reagents, application of home-made materials and components, automation, and the possibility to conduct testing outside specialised laboratories.
The chemists concluded license agreements with OOO Voronezhselmash aimed at introducing the developed equipment into production. Among the expected effects of the extensive use of the results are an improved environmental situation, higher living standards by decreasing the number of counterfeited food and medicinal products, and the control of medical waste management.
