Scientists at the Kazan Federal University in the mid-Volga area have been pushing a range of advanced research projects in the petrochemical sector and in biophysical chemistry. The latter has the potential to help find solutions to fight deadly neurodegenerative diseases.

The Kazan Federal University (KFU) in Tatarstan, in the mid-Volga area, has been focused on a range of advanced research projects its scientists conduct in the petrochemical sector and in biophysical chemistry.

In the petrochemical area, KFU research activity is expected to help boost the yield of hydrocarbons in heavy oil fields and reduce the density and viscosity of oil and its sulfur and nitrogen content. These and other improvements are likely to facilitate both oil transportation and refining.

KFU labs are reported to be focused on research into oil burning processes and the physical-chemical properties of oil and bitumen when exposed to high temperatures and pressure. This is a way to developing new oil production technologies, KFU emphasized.

The researchers are actively bringing their solutions to Tatarstan’s petrochemical industry. Nizhnekamskneftekhim, one of the region’s leading companies in the sector, is KFU’s key industrial partner in this area of research.

In October 2014, KFU and TAIF, a local group of companies, pooled efforts, expertise and money in the setup of their proprietary catalyst production. Local catalysts for petrochemical firms, produced at Kataliz-Prom, their JV, are said to have beaten the competition from Shell and BASF in the domestic market, and have been used since then by Nizhnekamskneftekhim on a routine basis.

In addition to petrochemical studies, research in biophysical chemistry is also in focus in Kazan. Experts believe that it has the potential to help find solutions to fight deadly neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Another breakthrough the scientists are shooting for in their work is a considerable increase in the stability of enzymes used in biotechnology when exposed to external impact. The enzymes are catalysts of a number of important chemical reactions used in industry.

On top of that, the Kazan university is working on a number of innovative next gen drugs, which could be marketed as low-toxic reagents for MRI scanning, and as anti-fungus and anti-bacterial medical solutions.