The History of the Faculty of Chemical Technologies and Metallurgy

The faculty of Chemical Technologies and Metallurgy was founded in 2006 on the basis of two faculties – the faculty of Chemical and Biological Technologies and the faculty of Metallurgy.

The faculty of Chemical and Biological Technologies, as one of the oldest faculties in the republic, has been preparing the chemical technologists for years.

Training of the specialists of such qualification started in 1922 on the basis of polytechnical faculty of Tbilisi State University, which consisted of the Department of Mining-Chemistry on speciality “Chemical Technologies”.

            Since 1928 the training of the above mentioned specialists has been continued at the faculty of Mining-Chemistry of Georgian State Polytechnical Institute. Beginning fr om 1930 this function had been transferred to the Institute of Chemical-Technologies, fr om 1932 – to the Trans-Caucasian Institute of Chemical Technologies and only in 1933 – to Trans-Caucasian Industrial Institute, where the faculty of Chemical -Technologies was included as one of its structural units.

            From 1955- up to 1974 it was functioning as the Faculty of Chemistry and Food Technologies at Georgian Polytechnical Institute. In 1974 in connection with the transfer of the speciality of Food Technologies to Kutaisi Polytechnical Institute it again acquired the name of the faculty of Chemical Technologies. Only in 1996 it began to name the faculty of Chemical and Biological Technologies. Under the mentioned name it had been functioned till 2006.

            In different periods of time the faculty was under the supervision of the following deans:

            Prof. A Khvichia (1952-1954)

            Prof. V. Kakabadze (1930-1942)

            Prof. K. Chagunava (1960-1960)

            Doc. A. Kakhadze (1961-1969)

            Doc. E Chkhikvadze (1959-1980)

            Prof. A. Sarikhanisvili (1980-1981)

            Prof. T. Gabadadze (1982-1984)

            Doc. N. Kutsiava (1984-1992)

            Academician G. Tsintsadze (1992-1997)

Prof. N Kutsiava (1997-2006)

From 1923, on the initiative of a well-known Georgian metallurgist and mathematician professor GIORGI Nikoladze, the Polytechnical faculty of Tbilisi State University had assumed responsibility for training engineer-metallurgists. At the Polytechnical Institute preparation of metallurgists took place first at the faculty of mining metallurgy, then at the faculty of chemical technology.

After G. Nikoladze’s death (1931, February 5) the admission of the students to the Metallurgical faculty stopped. The faculty was continuing its independent existence from 1931 till 1934. Its first dean was the final year student of Petersburg Polytechnical Institute, professor A. Gulisashvili (1888- 1971). The last graduation of the metallurgists was in 1937.

In 1949 two academic groups on speciality Black-Steal Metallurgy and Pressure Treatment of Metals were admitted to the faculty of Chemistry at Georgian Polytechnical Institute. In 1950 an admission to one more speciality took place - the foundry engineering of black and non-ferrous metals. At that period the faculty was headed by A. Khvichia !1952-1994).

The faculty of Metallurgy was established as an autonomous faculty in 1952. During the years the faculty was headed by the following professors: Leonid Okley (1954-1959), Eteri Giorgadze (1959-1963), Jemal Lomsadze (1963-1985) with his two year interval due to his Doctorate studies, Guram Lomtatidze (1969-1970), Mamuka Mindeli (19985-1993), Guram Kashakashvili (1993-2005), prof. N Tsereteli (2005-2006).

Since 2006 up to nowadays the faculty of Chemical Technologies is headed by N. Tsereteli. At the present time the faculty consists of three departments:

1. Chemical and Biological department

2. The Department of Pharmacology

3. The Department of Metallurgy, Materials Science and Metal Treatment.

There are 11 directions at the Chemical and Biological departments:

1) The direction of General, Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry.

The direction of General and Inorganic Chemistry was founded in 1928. Its first head was M. Rozenberg, later the direction was supervised by prof. R. Nikoladze, academician G. Tsintsadze, prof. L. Napetvaridze, academician Givi Tsintsadze. Today the head of the direction is prof. Maya Tsintsadze. In 2002 the Analytical Chemistry direction (which had been founded in 1932) joined the above mentioned direction. The teaching of Analytical Chemistry as an educational subject began in 1928. The heads of the direction were: docent K Manjgaladze, academician I. Tananaev, docent S, Tchrelashvili, associate member of the Georgian Scientific Academy, prof. D. Eristavi, academician D. Tsintsadze, prof. P. Brouchek.

2) The direction of Organic Chemistry.

The direction of Organic Chemistry was founded in 1929. From the very foundation till 1939 it was headed by prof. M. Shalamberidze and later by docent V. Gioshvili, docent L. Tsulukidze, prof. G. Tchirakadze, prof. N. Gongadze.

3) The direction of Physical Chemistry.

In may 1929 on the initiative of the dean of the Mining Chemistry faculty, prof. G. Tsulikidze, in accordance with the will left by P. Melikishvili, had been invited the academician P. Pisarjevski from the Ukraine. He founded the direction of Physical Chemistry and was its supervisor from 1929-1935.Later the heads of this direction were prof. P. Qarumidze, prof. K. Getingen, prof. B. Kandelaki, docent A. Kakhadze, prof. A Sarukhanishvili, prof. N. Bokuchava.

4) The direction of Silicate Technologies.

The direction of Silicate Technologies was founded in 1930. Its first supervisor was docent A. Pitskhelauri. Later the heads of this direction were associate member of the Georgian Scientific Academy, prof. K. Qutateladze, docent T. Gamsakhurdia, and from 1993 – prof. T Gabadadze.

5) The direction of Processes and Apparatus and General Chemical Technologies.

In 1934 the direction of Processes and Apparatus and General Chemical Technologies was separated from the direction of Basic Chemical Technologies. Its first head was docent I. Burjanadze. Later the direction was supervised by prof. K. Ivanov, prof. N. Kordzakhia, prof. R. Iashvili and from 2006 – prof. R. Qatsarava.

6) The direction of Technologies of Inorganic Substances and Products of Household Chemistry.

At first in 1930 had been founded the direction of the Basic Chemical Industry and from 1937 it was named the direction of Technology of Inorganic Substances and from 1991 - the direction of the Technologies of Inorganic Substances and Products of Household Chemistry. The founder and the permanent head of this direction was prof. V. Kakabadze, the Honoured Worker of Science and Technology. From 1968 the direction was supervised by prof. I. Buchukuri, and from 1978 – by prof. L. Gvasalia.

7) The department of Electro-Chemical Industrial Technologies.

The department of Electro-Chemical Industrial Technologies was founded in 1944 by the laureate of state prize academician R. Agladze. He supervised this direction up to 1985. later the head of this direction was prof. T. Agladze.

8) The direction of Technologies of Organic Substances.

The direction of Technologies of Organic Substances was founded in 1959. Its first supervisor was prof. R. Lagidze. Later the direction was under supervision of prof. T. Khoshtaria, and from 2009 – prof. M. Maisuradze.

9) The direction of Environment Protection and Engineering Ecology.

The direction of Environment Protection and Engineering Ecology was founded in 1980 by the prof. V. Eristavi who was its head till his dying day. Since 2002 the direction has been supervised by prof. N. Tckhubianishvili.

10) The direction of Biotechnologies.

The direction of Biotechnologies had been founded in 1986 on the basis of the Institute of Phytochemistry and in 1990 it was established at the Georgian technical University. The direction was supervised by academician A. Kvesitadze, prof. E. Kvesitadze, prof. T. Buachidze.

11) The direction of Technologies of Compositional Materials and Articles.

The direction of Technologies of Compositional Materials and Articles was founded in 2001 by prof Z. Kovziridze who is its head from the very foundation.

The department of Pharmochemistry and Pharmacology consists of one direction:

1) The direction of Pharmochemistry and Pharmacology.

The department of Metallurgy, Materials Science and Metal Treatment consists of six directions:

1) The direction of Metallurgy of Ferrous Metals.

The direction of Metallurgy of Ferrous Metals was founded in 1928 by prof. G. Nikoladze. From 1952 the direction was supervised by prof A. Khvichia, prof. G. Lomtatidze. Nowadays the head of the direction is prof. O. Mikadze.

2) The direction of Metallurgy of Non-Ferrous Metals.

The direction of Metallurgy of Non-Ferrous Metals was founded in 1992 and it was supervised by the prof. G. Zviadadze and prof. A. Tsilosani. Today this mission is performed by prof. Z Oqrostsvaridze.

3. The direction of Materials Science.

The direction of Materials Science was founded in 1930 and it was supervised by prof. G. Gedevanishvili, Academician of the Georgian Scientific Academy - P. Tavadze, prof. S. Kurashvili. Today the head of this direction is prof. A. Gordeziani.

4) The direction of Pressure Treatment of Metals.

The direction of Pressure Treatment of Metals was founded in 1972. It was supervised by prof. J. lomsadze, prof. A Nozadze, prof. D. Nozadze. Now this mission performs prof. J. Lomsadze.

5) The direction of Foundry Engineering and New Technological Processes.

The direction of Foundry Engineering and New Technological Processes was founded in 1961 and its heads were prof. B. Petriashvili, prof. R. Gvetadze, prof. J. Barbaqadze. Nowadays it is supervised by prof. V. Kopaleishvili.

6) The direction of Welding Engineering.

The direction of Welding Engineering was founded in 1981. It was supervised by prof. S. Iakobashvili, prof. V. Kopaleishvili. Today its head is prof. A Sulamanidze.

The activities of the Chemical Technologies and Metallurgy is controlled by the scientific board in the accordance with established regulations, based on the humanistic democratic traditions of the national and world education, science and culture, on the experience of the international practice, jural acts, and Georgian legal system.

Nowadays, 1250 students study at this faculty.

In accordance with the four level studies:

·       After the graduation of the first level, the final year students of the faculty of Chemical Technologies and Metallurgy are granted the qualification of the certified professional.

·       The second level final year students are granted the academic degree of Bachelor.

·       The third level final year students are granted the academic degree of Master.

·       The four level final year students are granted the academic degree of Doctor.

There is a scientific board conferring a degree at the faculty and the defence of doctoral dissertations is held there.

The following centres are functioning at the faculty:

1.     The educational centre of Traditional Technologies, the head – prof. N. Bokuchava.

2.     The experimental-creative centre of Artistic Enamels and Material Processing, the head – assoc. prof. V. Gordeladze.

3.     The educational scientific centre of Chemical Technologies and management, the   head – prof. T. Iashvili.

4.     The scientific centre of the research of Biologically Active Substances

5.     The centre of Electroctrochemical Technologies of Functional Coatings and Nanoparicles, the head – prof. T. Agladze.

6.     The scientific research centre of Polymers and Biomaterials, the head – prof. R. Qatsarava.

7.     The scientific centre of Fiber-Reinforced Compositional Materials, the head – prof. D. Nozadze.

8.     S. Iakobashvili educational research centre “Shedugheba” (“Welding”), the head – prof. A. Gagnidze.

9.     The centre of Welding Technologies, the head – prof. A Sulamanidze.

The faculty of Chemical and Biological technologies is one of the strongest educational research centres wh ere work 45 full professors, 69 associate professors and 21 assistant professors. At the faculty carries out the activities one academician of the Georgian Scientific Academy, the academic associate member of the Ecological Scientific Academy.

The faculty of Chemical Technologies and Metallurgy occupies two buildings. Here are situated a modern gym and the theatre-studio of GTU, wh ere the students besides their studies tace active part in the sport and cultural events. The Educational Scientific library with the reading hall functions at the faculty.

The faculty actively cooperates with the leading foreign higher educational institutions: Moscow D.Mendeleyev Chemical Technological Institute, Moscow Scientific Research Institute of Organic and Intermediate Products and Paints, Baku Petroleum Institute, Pardubitse Institute of Paints (Czech Republic), Erlangen (Germany) and Bratislava Silicate Research Institutes, the Sofia and Prague Chemical Technological Institutes, Athens Technical University, Californian University (USA), Halle University (Germany), Graz University (Austria), Cornell University (Ithaca, New York, USA), prof. C.Chu; Nord University (Boston, Massachusetts, USA), prof. V. Torchilin; Lund University (Sweden), prof. Z. Kokaya; the Lozanna Federal Polytechnical School (Switzerland), doctor Ch. Wandrey; Akron University (Ohio, USA), prof. F. Harris; Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, Georgia, USA), prof. I. Khan; Yalova University (Turkey), prof., Doc. I.Adak; Northern California Health Care System, the Department of Veterans Affairs  (Martinez, California USA), doc. S. Kuhl; the Institute of Materials Science Problems (Kiev, Ukraine), V. Dubok, Laval University (Laval, Québec, Canada), Doc. J. Dumaresq; the Institute of Cytology (Saint-Petersburg, Russia), Doc. Yu. Shwed, et al..

Proceeding from the needs of the market, the faculty has concluded a lot of cooperation memoranda with chemical and metallurgical enterprises and pharmacological firms, which involves internship and provides employment for the graduates.