For a breakthrough development of new catalysts in the area of petroleum refining and the renewable sources of energy as a principal contribution into the energy of the future
RAS Academician, SB RAS President.
Biography
- He was born on April 18, 1948, in Germany
- Graduated from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1972. PhD in Physical and Mathematical Sciences in 1975. Doctor of Chemistry since 1985. Professor since 1989. Full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 1997. Member of several scientific and expert councils at RAS, Ministry of Education and Science, and Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations of Russia. Member of the European Academy of Sciences since 2012.
- From 1995 to 2015, director at the Institute of Catalysis under the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. And currently is Head of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Parmon is a lecturer at Novosibirsk State University, a member of the Presidium of RAS and its Siberian Branch, and a member of the Presidium of the Mendeleev Russian Chemical Society. He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at Skolkovo Foundation since 2010 and an Honorary Citizen of Novosibirsk Region, Russia. Laureate of the Russian National Prize for Science and Technology (2009).
Scientific Achievments
- A specialist in the area of catalysis and photo catalysis, chemical kinetics in condensed environments, chemical radio spectroscopy, chemical energy transformation methods, non-traditional and renewable energy sources and thermodynamics of non-equilibrium processes.
- Valentin Parmon created a new direction in science – radiation and thermal catalysis. He headed the design and testing work of solar catalytic reactors, which convert solar energy into chemical fuel at an unsurpassed 43% efficiency rate with useful capacity of 2 kW. The chemical fuel it produces can be stored for extended periods of time and transported mechanically.
- During 1995-2010, Dr. Parmon took part in the development of new generations of various catalysts, including those used in production of nitric acid (resulting in annual savings of 200 kg of platinum), producing ultra-strong UHMWPE polymer, and hydrating technical and food fats with the economic effect of over 500 million rubles, thanks to a cheaper and easily expandable production process.
- From 2003-2006, Dr. Parmon managed the design and industrial implementation of new-generation catalysts for production of motor fuels, including diesel, meeting Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards. Over the three years of project research, his institute received RUB 500 million of state support, while the savings from introduction of the new catalysts at enterprises producing high-octane gasoline were just short of 10 billion rubles – 17 times the money invested. Right now about 10% of all high-octane gasoline in Russia is produced with the catalysts created by Valentin Parmon’s institute and its former Omsk branch (which was transformed into the Institute for Hydrocarbon Processing Issues under the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences several years ago).
- Valentin Parmon managed the design and experimental industrial implementation of the first domestic technology for processing oil-associated gases into a mixture of liquid aromatic hydrocarbons, addressing the issue of APG utilization.
- Dr. Parmon also supervises works on fuel production from plant materials – microalgae, vegetable oils, wood pulp, rice husks (more than 15,000 tons of the latter is produced annually in the Krasnodar Region alone, and 7-8 million tons in South East Asia). He believes chemists must learn to process these byproducts into useful substances – for example, sorbents – and eventually into fuel. His institute is tasked with scientific examination of various ideas and the selection of the most feasible solutions to these problems.
- He is the author and co-author of more than 800 scientific works, 7 monographs, 7 university textbooks, and is the holder of more than 100 invention certificates and patents.
Interesting Facts
- Valentin Parmon’s entire academic career is related to non-traditional chemical catalytic processes. He focuses on conversion of solar, nuclear and thermal power into chemical energy.
- Dr. Parmon is also active as an editor. He is editor-in-chief of Chemistry in Russia and Catalysis in Industry magazines, a member of the editorial offices of Russian Chemical Journal, Journal of Physical Chemistry (RAS), Kinetics and Catalysis (RAS) and the international journals Chemistry for Sustainable Development (SB RAS), Catalysis Reviews – Chemical Engineering, Catalysis Today, Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis Letters, Topics in Catalysis and a number of other Russian and foreign journals.
- Dr. Parmon is Russia’s national representative at the European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS) and the International Association of the Catalysis Societies (IACS).
- He is married with two daughters and a son.
- His primary hobby is scuba diving and snorkeling; he has received professional training as a scuba diver.