Zulkhair Mansurov

EXTENDED BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Professor Z.A. Mansurov is an internationally recognized scientist and one of the leading representatives of chemical science in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. He is the founder of a well-established scientific school in the fields of combustion chemistry, functional materials, and nanotechnology. For more than five decades, his scientific, educational, and organizational activities have significantly influenced the development of both fundamental and applied research in materials science, nanotechnology, energy, and environmentally oriented technologies. Under his leadership, a modern research infrastructure has been established, integrating fundamental research with technology-oriented applications and contributing to the sustainable scientific and technological development of Kazakhstan.

Z.A. Mansurov was born on June 26, 1946, in Sarkand (Republic of Kazakhstan). He graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry of S.M. Kirov Kazakh State University (now Al-Farabi Kazakh National University). He defended his Candidate of Sciences dissertation in 1973 and his Doctor of Sciences dissertation in 1990; the academic title of Professor was awarded in 1992. He currently serves as Professor at the Department of Chemical Physics and Materials Science of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and as Advisor to the General Director and Scientific Supervisor of the Institute of Combustion Problems (Almaty, Kazakhstan).

His research is interdisciplinary and encompasses several key areas of modern chemical science. Under the leadership of Professor Mansurov:

– Fundamental results have been obtained in the chemistry and physics of hydrocarbon fuel combustion, including investigations of low-temperature oxidation mechanisms and cold flame structures. The regularities governing the reactivity of butane, pentane, and their isomers have been established, and the influence of molecular fuel structure on combustion efficiency has been demonstrated, providing a scientific basis for improving the energy efficiency and environmental safety of fuel systems.

– Scientific foundations have been developed for the synthesis of functional materials in hydrocarbon combustion processes and for self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). Refractory and composite materials, carbon-containing composites, and lining materials for metallurgical equipment have been created, improving operational reliability and service life.

– Energy-intensive functional materials with controllable combustion characteristics, photocatalytic systems, and hydrogen production technologies have been developed. Technologies for the complex processing of heavy oils, petroleum residues, and technogenic waste have been created, including methods for demetallization and desulfurization of petroleum residues, processing of oil-bituminous rocks, and production of modified bitumen materials, as well as approaches for oil spill remediation.

His scientific achievements are reflected in more than 1,000 publications, including over 300 papers in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science (h-index: 23), as well as more than 130 patents, demonstrating the high scientific productivity and practical significance of his research. In June 2002, the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, the International Academy of Authors of Scientific Discoveries and Inventions, and the International Association of Authors of Scientific Discoveries awarded Professor Mansurov and his research team a diploma recognizing the discovery of the “Phenomenon of Low-Temperature Cold-Flame Soot Formation.”

Professor Mansurov has served as principal investigator of more than 50 national and international research projects. These include collaborative research with leading scientific institutions in the United States, the European Union, and international organizations: a project with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (USA, 1998); an INTAS project (2001–2003); projects of the International Science and Technology Center (2002, 2005, 2018); a CRDF project (USA, 2007); a Russian–Kazakh collaborative project on functional materials (2017–2019); and the NATO Science for Peace and Security project (2019–2022). These initiatives have contributed to integrating Kazakhstani science into the global scientific community.

Professor Mansurov has made an exceptional contribution to the development of higher chemical education and the training of scientific personnel. For more than 50 years he has been engaged in teaching and academic activities at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, where he has held several key academic and administrative positions, including Head of the Department of Chemical Physics and Materials Science (1998–2001; 2010–2013), Vice-Rector for Research (1992–1998), and First Vice-Rector (2001–2010). He is the developer of new-generation educational programs in nanomaterials and modern chemistry, including the Bachelor’s program 6B05311 “Nanomaterials and Nanochemistry,” the Master’s programs 7M07122 “Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies in Chemistry” and 7M05322 “Modern Integrative Chemistry” (RUDN University), and the PhD program 8D07113 “Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies in Chemistry.” From 2012 to 2019 he chaired the doctoral dissertation council on “Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies” at Al-Farabi Kazakh National Under his supervision, 8 Doctors of Sciences, 39 Candidates of Sciences, and 20 PhD graduates have been trained, including five international doctoral students.

Professor Mansurov pays special attention to fostering young people’s interest in natural sciences. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nazarbayev Intellectual School (Almaty, Kazakhstan) and as Editor-in-Chief of the popular science publication “Science: Today and Tomorrow,” aimed at promoting science and encouraging research engagement among school and university students.

For many years Professor Mansurov has actively participated in national and international scientific advisory bodies, including serving as a member of the INTAS Scientific Council representing Kazakhstan (Brussels, 1996–1999), as Chairman and member of the National Scientific Councils of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2013–2023), and since 2024 as a member of the National Council for Science and Technology under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. His work in these councils contributes to the development of national science policy and the support of priority research areas.

Professor Mansurov also plays an important role in developing scientific publishing in Kazakhstan. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the journals Eurasian Chemico-Technological Journal (indexed in Scopus and Web of Science) and Combustion and Plasma Chemistry. He serves on the editorial boards of several international journals, including International Journal of Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis, Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics, Combustion, Explosion and Shock Waves, Non-Ferrous Metals, and Chemistry for Sustainable Development. His editorial activities contribute to strengthening scientific communication and integrating Kazakhstani research into the global scientific landscape.

Professor Mansurov’s outstanding contributions to science and education have been recognized by numerous national and international awards, including the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Science and Technology for the cycle of works “Fundamental Studies of the Chemical Foundations of Combustion Processes” (1992); the K.I. Satpayev Prize for achievements in natural sciences (2002); the Medal of the Academy of Sciences of Higher Education of the Russian Federation “For Contributions to Higher Education” (2002); the Order of Kurmet of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2004); the Order of Parasat of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2016); the UNESCO Medal for contributions to nanoscience and nanotechnology (2018); the national award “Altyn Adam – Scientist of the Year” (2019); the Medal of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan “Enbek Ardageri” (2021); and the national award “Best University Teacher” (2021). These distinctions reflect the high level of recognition of Professor Mansurov’s scientific achievements.

Big Ben, June 1981

Honorary Research Fellow Certificate awarded to Dr. Zulkhair Mansurov, University College London

2005. First Vice-Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Z.A. Mansurov, and the Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, A. Mukerji, open the Kazakhstan-India Information Technology Centre.

2005. Institute of Combustion Problems. Chief Research Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, SB of the RAS, Prof. V.S. Babkin; Scientific Director of the Institute of Combustion Problems, Prof. Z.A. Mansurov; and Head of Department at the G.K. Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, SB of the RAS, Prof. Z.R. Ismagilov.

2008. Nagano, Japan. With Professor M. Endo and Professor K. Otto.

2008. Washington. With U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and T.B. Urmanova, Dean of the International Academy of Business.

2015, Almaty, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Participants of the 8th International Symposium “Combustion and Plasma Chemistry” and the “Energy Efficiency 2015” Conference.

2016. USA. At the Carbon-2016 Conference with Nobel Laureate Konstantin Novoselov.

2018. Paris, France. Award ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters for the presentation of the UNESCO Medal and Diploma “For Contribution to the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology”