Phase behavior of surfactant solutions at different temperatures
Scientific research
The scientific research practical training is included in the students’ compulsory curriculum. According to the program, it takes place during the winter semester of the fourth year of study.
The best and most motivated students have the opportunity to start research activity much earlier, even as first-year students, in one of the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy departments.
By participating in a research activity, students see in practice how they can apply the knowledge gained during their studies, and acquire specific skills for working with the most modern equipment in Bulgaria, which is rarely available even elsewhere.
The research activity includes solving various scientific and scientific-applied tasks. Most of the time, those tasks are in cooperation with international companies from the cosmetic, food and chemical industries. For instance, the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering has long-standing collaborations with the following companies:
- Unilever – an international company developing and producing many products, including those sold under the brands: Dove (personal care and cosmetics), Cif and Domestos (home care), Rexona (deodorants), Lipton (tea), Hellmann’s (mayonnaise), OMO (washing powders), Ben & Jerry and Magnum (ice creams) and many others. Revenues of the Unilever company for 2023 amount to 59.6 billion euros.
- BASF – the largest international company for the production of chemical products. The company's revenues for 2023 amount to 68.9 billion euros.
- Saint Gobain – one of the leading international companies for the production of construction and industrial materials.
The results obtained during the students' research activities can serve as the basis for a thesis, with which the students complete their bachelor's degree (instead of taking an exam).
Current research activities
The complete list of current topics for student research activities at the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy is available here.
Cleaning agents
Prof. S. Tcholakova
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
sc@lcpe.uni-sofia.bg
Phase transitions
Investigating phase transitions in different groups of organic molecules – in bulk and in disperse systems
Dr. D. Cholakova
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
dc@dce.uni-sofia.bg
Hydrogen storage
Creating new materials for hydrogen storage
Dr. S. Todorova, Prof. T. Spasov
Department of Applied Inorganic Chemistry
nhtst@chem.uni-sofia.bg, nhtts@chem.uni-sofia.bg
Inclusion complexes
Synthesis and complex characterization of inclusion complexes with applications in pharmacy
Dr. T. Sarafska, Prof. T. Spasov, chemist S. Ivanova
Department of Applied Inorganic Chemistry
nhtth@chem.uni-sofia.bg, nhtts@chem.uni-sofia.bg
Enzymatic degradation
Enzymatic degradation of drugs in the gastrointestinal tract
Associate Professor Z. Vinarov
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
zv@lcpe.uni-sofia.bg
Amorphous drugs
Investigating the behavior of amorphous drugs in the gastrointestinal tract
Associate Professor Z. Vinarov
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
zv@lcpe.uni-sofia.bg
Foaming
Foaming properties of surfactant mixtures
Prof. S. Tcholakova
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
sc@lcpe.uni-sofia.bg
Rheology
Phase behavior and rheology of sugar ester solutions
Dr. N. Pagureva, Prof. S. Tcholakova
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
nbb@dce.uni-sofia.bg, sc@lcpe.uni-sofia.bg
Nanoporous materials
Nanoporous materials for energy storage
Prof. T. Spasov
Department of Applied Inorganic Chemistry
nhtts@chem.uni-sofia.bg
Electrocatalytic materials
Electrocatalytic materials (amorphous, nanocrystalline, high entropy) for hydrogen and oxygen production by electrolysis
Dr. E. Vasileva, Associate Professor L. Mihailov
Department of Applied Inorganic Chemistry
nhtlm@chem.uni-sofia.bg
Corrosion
Investigating corrosion processes in functional materials, including high entropy alloys
Dr. L. Lyubenova, Prof. T. Spasov
Department of Applied Inorganic Chemistry
nhtll@chem.uni-sofia.bg, nhtts@chem.uni-sofia.bg
Solid phase reactions
Investigating phase transitions and solid-phase reactions with applications in pharmacy
Dr. V. Rangelova, Prof. T. Spasov, chemist M. Spasova
Department of Applied Inorganic Chemistry
nhtvr@vhem.uni-sofia.bg, nhtts@chem.uni-sofia.bg
Solubilization
Solubilization of hydrophobic drugs in intestinal fluids
Associate Professor Z. Vinarov
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering
zv@lcpe.uni-sofia.bg