Warsaw University of Technology / Faculties

Faculty of Chemistry

www.ch.pw.edu.pl

Located at

Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 WARSZAWA
phone: (+48 22) 234-7507
e-mail: dziekan@ch.pw.edu.pl

General information

The Faculty of Chemistry is one of the oldest faculties of the Warsaw University of Technology. It was founded in 1898 as one of the first three faculties at the Russian Institute of Technology, inheriting the traditions of the former Warsaw Institute of Technology (1826-1830). For more than a hundred years the Faculty has been one of the best chemistry faculties in Poland, developing applied chemistry and the national chemical industry. It is presently located in two buildings on the Central Campus.

The total number of students is over 1000 undergraduates and more than 70 postgraduates. The Faculty is equipped with a considerable number of both academic and research laboratories, modern analytical laboratories, a pilot plant conducting semi-industrial scale chemical processes and a computer network system which links all the Faculty's units. All these are available to students.

The Faculty staff includes 28 professors, 13 associate professors, 67 assistant professors with PhDs and 10 teaching assistants with an MSc degree supported by 120 technical and administrative staff. The Faculty has been awarded the highest category by the State Committee for Scientific Research.

Organisation

The Faculty is divided into fourteen units:

  • The Department of Analytical Chemistry,
  • The Division of Physical Chemistry,
  • The Division of Inorganic Chemistry,
  • The Division of Organic Chemistry,
  • The Division of Solid State Technology,
  • The Division of Inorganic Technology and Ceramics,
  • The Division of Drug Technology and Biotechnology,
  • The Division of Catalysis and Organic Technology,
  • The Division of Homogeneous Catalysis and Organometallic Chemistry,
  • The Division of Highenergetic Materials,
  • The Division of Physical Chemistry of Polymers and Special Polymeric Materials,
  • The Division of Polymer Synthesis and Processing,
  • The Laboratory of Technological Processes,
  • The Computer Centre.

The Faculty's library is affiliated to the Main University Library.

Curriculum

These basic fields of study are currently offered to students:

Chemical Technology

After the completion of 6 semesters the cour se is divided into two separate streams: successful completion of an additional 4 semesters leads to the degree of magister inżynier equivalent to an MSc degree and the title of engineer, or the completion of 2 semesters leads to the degree of inżynier equivalent to a BSc (Bachelor of Engineering) degree and the title of engineer.

From the academic year 1999/2000 the Faculty of Chemistry introduced new curricula for students who would like to specialise in Chemical Technology at the BSc and MSc levels. The main idea of these new curricula is to leave students more flexibility in their studies. This is realised by the construction of a programme that consists of basic level core courses (Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Technology and Analytical Chemistry) as well as advanced and elective courses chosen by students depending on their individual interests. Students, on the basis of their achievements, choose an MSc or BSc level after 3 years (6 semesters) of study. This is also connected with the choice of the specialisation from the following list:

  • Inorganic Technology and Ceramics,
  • Solid State Technology and Characterisation,
  • Catalysis and Technology of Organic Processes,
  • Fine Chemical Technology and Biotechnology,
  • Polymer Chemistry and Technology,
  • Explosive Materials Technology,
  • Technology of Environmentally Friendly Materials.

Each specialisation programme consists of basic and elective courses as well as laboratory work.

Biotechnology

The course takes 5 years (10 semesters) and successful completion leads to the degree of magister inżynier equivalent to an MSc degree and the title of engineer.

This field of study is realised by three faculties: the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering (coordinator), the Faculty of Chemistry and the Faculty of Environmental Engineering. During the first three years of study, all students are obliged to take core courses in mathematics, physics, information technology, general and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology process equipment and elective courses. After these 3 years of common study, students can continue their education in the specialisation Fine Chemical Technology and Biotechnology.

Postgraduate Courses

After the completion of an MSc thesis students can enter 4-year postgraduate studies leading to the degree of doktor nauk technicznych equivalent to a PhD degree in Chemistry or Chemical Technology.

The Faculty of Chemistry also offers a one year postgraduate course in Chemistry and the Technology of Cosmetics which is open to students of chemistry, pharmacy, biology and related fields.

At present there are over 790 students of Chemical Technology, 100 students of Biotechnology and almost 125 students of the Engineering School of Chemical Technology (the BSc course).

Research


The main areas of fundamental and applied research developed at the Faculty concern Chemical Technology and cover the following fields:

  • The Synthesis of new chemical compounds and materials with special properties

This research covers: the development of new methods of synthesis and the reactivity determination of organic speciality compounds (drugs, biologically active compounds, explosives) and organometallic compounds (trialkyl derivatives of aluminium or gallium of high purity - 6N for electronics); the study of phase equilibria in solutions of organic, inorganic and organometallic compounds; the synthesis of mono-, polycrystalline and amorphous materials with pronounced catalytic, electrochemical and corrosive properties.

  • The Synthesis, research and processing of polymers

This research covers: polymer synthesis with the use of easily accessible chemicals such as CO2 and SO2; the theoretical design and synthesis of polymers with such special properties as electroconductivity, UV sensitivity, biodegradeability, the ability to form liquid crystal structures, and water solubility or water dispersibility; the modification of natural polymers.

  • Catalysis and chemical technology

This research covers: the development of the theory of superbases and superacids; new catalysts for the synthesis of complex organic compounds used by the cosmetic and nutrition industries; new processes based on natural gas and coal leading to important chemical intermediate products, the upgrading of basic catalysts for the inorganic industry (NH3 synthesis and oxidation, SO3 synthesis).

  • Analytical control of chemical processes and material quality

This research covers: new separation methods in trace analysis; the analysis of high purity materials; the analysis of new ceramic and electronic materials; the design of complex industrial analytical systems.

International cooperation

The Faculty of Chemistry is an attractive partner for scientific collaboration. Many topics are developed with foreign universities in the USA (Leight), the UK (Surrey, Edinburgh), Germany (Darmstadt), France (Strasbourg, Poitiers, Paris-Sud), Spain (Valladolid), South Africa (Durban), Slovenia (Ljubljana) and the Ukraine (Kiev, Lvov); with chemical companies like BASF AG, Hoechst AG, Varta AG, SAF Bulk Chemicals, the Aldrich Chemical Company; with national institutions like the National Joint Fund II (USA?Poland), CNRS (France), the Department of the Air Force (USA).

The Faculty participates in the TEMPUS and ERASMUS programmes:

  • TEMPUS JEP 12051-97 - "Structural reform of education at the Faculty of Chemistry of Warsaw University of Technology" with Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany; Technologie Centrum Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands; Technische Universität Darmstadt, Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut, Darmstadt, Germany; Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena, Jena, Germany; Universita degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy; MetaSoft, Warsaw, Poland and Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
  • ERASMUS - The Faculty cooperates within the ERASMUS programme with the Universities in: Metz, France; Barcelona, Spain; Santiago de Compostella, Spain; Orléans, France; Cagliari, Italy; Strasbourg, France; Athens, Greece; Pau, France; Enschede, the Netherlands.

The Faculty also maintains widespread informal international cooperation with many foreign research centres through the personal contacts of staff members.