Analytical Chemistry Department

First studies related to analytical chemistry have been performed at Kazan University in 19th century by eminent Russian scientists K.K.Klaus (1796-1864) and F.M.Flavitsky. As a separate division, Analytical Chemistry Department was founded together with Physical Chemistry Chair in 1919. Professor Alexey Vasiliev (1882-1956) was the first Head of Analytical Chemistry Department at Kazan University. Under his supervision the investigations related to inorganic analysis were conducted in accordance with demands of local enterprises, i.e., gunpowder works, soap factory, later on, of the rubber resin production. From 1950s, the analysis of organic complexes of metals with optical and then electrochemical tools have become a primary attention. This has pre-determined the current investigations performed at the Analytical Chemistry Department and related to all the aspects of electroanalytical chemistry and bioassay.

Many specialists of analytical chemistry well-known in the former USSR and Russia started their scientific carrier at the Analytical chemistry Department , e.g., N.A.Porfiriev, V.B.Gorokhovskaya, Ju.M.Kargin, and A.A.Popel. Some of them moved then to the Kazan scientific technological university (former Kazan Chemical-Technological Institute).

After A.M.Vasiliev, Prof. V.F.Toropova and Prof. H.C.Budnikov were the heads of the Department. Now Prof. Gennady Evtugyn is in charge. The staff of the department includes 4 senior doctors of chemistry and 7 doctors (candidates of science). Besides general compulsory courses on analytical chemistry for the Chemistry Institute students, the staff is involved in teaching analytical chemistry and se­lected analysis techniques for the students of biology, geology, and ecology and geography institutes of Kazan University. The list of the courses involves electroanalytical chemistry, trace analysis, ecological monitoring and environmental chemistry, spectral analysis, flow injection techniques and biosensorics.

The graduates from the Analytical Chemistry Department are demanded in industrial laboratories and analytical services of the biggest chemical enterprises of Kazan city and local region, including regional divisions of the Russian Ministry Ecology, pharmaceutics production, and forensic laboratory of the Expert Center of the Russian Ministry of Home Affairs.

Scientific activity of the teaching stuff and research personnel is mainly related to electrochemical methods of analysis especially in medicine, environmental monitoring and food quality testing. Main attention is paid to the development and examination of chemical sensors and biosensors devoted to the detection of potential hazards related to the toxic substances (metal ions, pesticides, drug residues, pathogenic microorganisms), disease biomarkers (antibodies, specific proteins, metabolites) and food quality parameters (antioxidant capacity, vitamins, pharmaceuticals). Besides, new chemical reagents for specific separation and concentration of heavy metals and organic acids are synthesized and examined in extraction, membrane transportation and as ionophores in ion-se­lective electrodes.