Science lunch at St Petersburg University: eco-friendly solvents of the future
Scientists from St Petersburg University have come up with new methods for using deep eutectic solvents to determine the presence of contaminants in food products, conduct clinical analysis, and control the quality of biodiesel fuel.
Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are mixtures of two or more compounds that have a melting point significantly lower than the original components. They are cheap, non-toxic and excellent at dissolving a wide variety of materials, from metals to natural compounds. DESs are useful because they replace harmful organic solvents, reducing damage to the environment. They are used in green chemistry, waste recycling, pharmaceuticals and even in new battery technologies.
Scientists from St Petersburg University, headed by Andrei Shishov, Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at St Petersburg University, are developing new methods for using DESs in practice. They have developed a method for determining heavy metals in food products. They have also developed a new DES that can help determine therapeutic concentrations of one of the most common anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid) in human blood plasma.
- Date: 24 April 2025
- Time: 1.30pm
- Venue: Atrium, 6 Birzhevaya Line, St Petersburg
Andrei Shishov, Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at St Petersburg University, laureate of the Russian Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists for 2022, will talk about DESs, their application, production methods, and advantages. The scientist will show how to prepare the solvent and how it can be used at home to determine the presence of prohibited dyes in food products.