YERGOZHIN EDIL YERGOZHAEVICH
An outstanding scientist in the field of chemistry of high-molecular compounds and ion exchange, a talented mentor, Doctor of Chemical Sciences (1974), Professor (1978), Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1989), Laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1982), founder of the globally renowned Kazakhstani scientific school, recognized organizer of science and higher education.
He was born on 7 November 1941, in the village of Ekpindi, Yeskeldi District, Almaty Oblast. He graduated with honors from the Faculty of Chemistry of S.M. Kirov Kazakh State University in 1963. The diligence and scientific enthusiasm of the student were noted by the dean of the faculty, Professor B.A. Beremzhanov, upon whose recommendation Yergozhin began scientific research at the Institute of Chemical Sciences of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR under the supervision of S.R. Rafikov, a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR. After completing his coursework and thesis in his fifth year, he presented scientific reports at the All-Union Conference on Ion Exchange and at the VI Scientific Conference of Students of the Republics of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in Frunze (1963). He was awarded the Diploma of the First Degree by the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the USSR.
From 1962 to 1980 – Senior laboratory assistant, postgraduate student, junior and senior research fellow, head of the ion exchange resin laboratory at the Institute of Chemical Sciences; from 1980 to 1988 – scientific supervisor of this laboratory; from 1980 to 1988 – head of the department of chemistry of high-molecular compounds, dean of the faculty of chemistry (1980-1983), First Vice-Rector (1983-1986), and Rector of KazSU (1986-1988). Director of the Institute of Chemical Sciences (1988-2007, since April 27, 2009), from June 18, 2009, to July 9, 2020, – President of the JSC “Institute of Chemical Sciences”. Head of the ion exchange resin laboratory (1968-2020), from 1994 to 1995 – Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, from 1999 to 2002 – Vice-Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Yergozhin E.Ye. was elected as a deputy and chairman of the Permanent Commission on Science and Technology of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR (1986-1990), served as the responsible scientific secretary of the organizing committee of the XI Mendeleev Congress on General and Applied Chemistry (Almaty, 1975), chaired and was a member of organizing committees for numerous international symposiums and conferences, and was appointed as the head of the working group for the development of laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Science”, the Concept of Scientific and Scientific-Technical Policy, and the State Program “Science” (2000).
Yergozhin E.E. has developed methods for the synthesis of novel oxidative-reductive polymers by radical and cationic homo- and copolymerization of vinyl ether of monoethanolamine, allylamine, and quinones of various structures. The kinetic characteristics have been studied, the values of the parameters р, copolymerization constants for each pair of monomers have been calculated and compared by means of integral and analytical graphical methods. The microstructure of the synthesized copolymers has been evaluated. These are successfully used to solve actual problems of environmental protection and in hydrometallurgy.
Novel methods for transformation of chemically-modified natural aluminosilicates, shungites, zeolites, and bentonites into oligomers and polymers have been created, and the kinetics and mechanisms of their formation have been studied. Promising areas of application for such ion exchangers have been developed.
He has made a significant contribution to the development of new theoretical concepts of the kinetics and mechanism of the formation of soluble and crosslinked ion exchange, complex forming, and redox polymers, which allowed for the first time to create original methods for regulating and controlling their permeability and selectivity towards complex metal ions and organic compounds. Thanks to these studies, a number of features of complexation and polymer-analog transformations of macromolecules compared to model low-molecular-weight compounds have been established for the first time.
Under the supervision of Academician Yergozhin E.Ye., a large cycle of studies has been carried out in the field of selective polymer synthesis based on crown compounds, low-molecular-weight analytical reagents, and complexation of metal ions with these macromolecular ligands. This led to the development of an original algorithm for calculating the formation function of Bjerrum and stability constants of ionite complexes taking into account changes in ionization constant and intermolecular interaction in the presence of metal complexing ion. These allowed to assess the functional homogeneity, quantitative ratio of donor atoms and central metal ions, and therefore their coordination unsaturation.
Methods for obtaining novel heterogeneous, homogeneous, interpolymer, and bipolar ion exchange membranes with improved physicochemical and electrochemical characteristics have been developed, and based on them, industrial electrodialysis desalination units and stations have been created. These have been implemented and are serially produced in industry. For the work “Development and implementation of electrodialysis desalination units of the EDU series”, Yergozhin E.Ye. was awarded the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR in the field of science and technology as a scientific supervisor.
For outstanding achievements in the development of chemical science, training of highly qualified personnel, and implementation of scientific achievements into production, Yergozhin E.Ye. was awarded the honorary title “Honored Scientist of the Kazakh SSR” (1984), and he was included in the Golden Book of Honor of Kazakhstan.
Yergozhin E.Ye. actively engaged in scientific and pedagogical work, consistently focusing on training young scientists and involving students in research activities. Scientific works of students under his supervision consistently received high marks at international and republican competitions and conferences, being awarded certificates, diplomas, and medals. For his fruitful work in organizing scientific research for students, he was awarded the medal of the Ministry of Higher Education of the USSR, the Central Committee of the All-Union Leninist Communist League of Youth (VLKSM), and “For Achievements in Scientific Research of Students” by the All-Union Council of Scientific and Technological Society (1986).
Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yergozhin E.Ye. has supervised 12 doctors and 80 candidates of chemical sciences. He has published 17 fundamental monographs, four books, over 1200 scientific papers, including 300 international, 300 certificates of authorship of the USSR, and patents for inventions.
Yergozhin’s contribution to the theory and practice of chemistry of high-molecular compound, ion exchange, and membrane technologies has been widely recognized abroad. He presented scientific reports at international symposiums and conferences on high-molecular compounds and ion exchange in Bratislava, Budapest, London, Helsinki, Moscow, Prague, Leipzig, Tehran, Tashkent, Washington D.C., Tucson, San Diego, Paris, and Beijing.
Academician Yergozhin E.Ye. delivered lectures at the University of Leipzig and Charles University (Prague), University – 1 Rennes (France), universities in Arizona and Texas (USA), Ankara, Eskisehir, and Istanbul (Turkey).
He participated in the work of several international coordination meetings on problems of chemical science and technology in Germany (Frankfurt-am-Main, 1989), France (Paris, Rennes, 1989, 1993, 2000), China (Urumqi, 1989, 1993), Switzerland (Visp, Basel, 1993), USA (San Diego, 1995; College Station and Tucson, 1997, Washington D.C., 1999), Belgium (Brussels, 2000), Georgia (Tbilisi, 2003, 2006), Moldova (Chisinau, 2005, 2007), Japan (Kyoto, 2005).
Academician Yergozhin E.Ye. was awarded the S.I. Vavilov Medal (1991) for his contribution to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and humanitarian activities. For his significant contribution to the development of chemistry of ion exchange and membrane technology, the creation of novel ion exchange, oxidative-reductive, and complex forming resins and membranes, he was awarded the highest award – the Gold Medal of Al-Khwarizmi and a diploma at the VIII International Festival of Science and Technology in Tehran (1995). For outstanding merits in the field of chemical science and technology, he became the first laureate and was awarded the highest award of the independent prize of the patrons’ club “Platinum Tarlan” (2000), the “Altyn Adam – Man of the Year 2000” prize.
For significant contributions to the development of science and education, as well as the adaptation of the chemical science of Kazakhstan to market conditions, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev expressed gratitude and awarded him the “Golden Bars” Medal (2001).
He was also awarded the Golden Medal of the Association for Industrial Advancement (France, 2002), the Golden Medal “For Contribution to Science and Scientific Partnership” of the Russian Academy of Civil Service under the President of the Russian Federation (2002).
For services to the state, significant contributions to the socio-economic and cultural development of the country, Yergozhin E.Ye. was awarded the Order of “Parasat” (2003) by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev, and medals “Astana”, “10th Anniversary Year of the Constitution of Kazakhstan” (2005), “10th Anniversary Year of the Kazakhstan Parliament” (2006).
He was awarded the Gold Medal of S.P. Korolev (2006) for active participation in the implementation of the Russian-Kazakhstan program “Assessment of the Impact of Spacecraft Launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Environment”.
He was awarded the honorary title of Marshal of Science and presented with the Napoleon Medal of the Association for Industrial Advancement (France, 2003).
Academician Yergozhin E.Ye. was awarded the titles of “Honorary Citizen of the Eskeldi District” (2006) and “Honorary Citizen of the Almaty Oblast” (2007).
In 2021, an International Symposium “Modern Problems of Chemistry and Technology of Organic Substances and Materials and Higher Education” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the birth of Edil Yergozhin was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, during which the ceremonial opening of the Edil Yergozhin Academic Council Meeting Hall took place at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, as well as the presentation of the book “EDIL YERGOZHIN” published at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in the series “Life of Remarkable People” book.