Academician G. K. Boreskov: Catalysis as Destiny

Abstract

The article is a biographical outline of the life and achivements of an outstanding chemist Georgy Konstantinovich Boreskov (1907–1984). G. K. Boreskov entered the history of domestic and world science as an outstanding scientist, engineer and teacher. The bright life of the scientist-chemist Boreskov was devoted to the study of catalysis and the closely related problems of chemical kinetics and chemical technology. In his work, fundamental research on catalysis as an interesting chemical phenomenon were harmoniously combined with the successful solution of the most important problems of the chemical industry. With the development of a new catalyst for one of the main industrial processes – the production of sulfuric acid – that G. K. Boreskov began his career in science. Thanks to the introduction of technologies based on his developments, a real breakthrough occurred in some areas of industrial production related to catalysis. In Novosibirsk, Academician Boreskov played the main role in the creation of the country’s first Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, which now bears his name. No less important is the merit of Academician Boreskov as the founder of the scientific school in the field of heterogeneous catalysis.