On July 30, Saratov State University signed a cooperation agreement with Balakovo Joint Stock Company “Apatite”. The document was signed by SSU President L.Yu. Kossovich and “Apatite” management company director A.V. Cherepanov.
The ceremony was attended by Saratov Region Deputy PM V.N. Saraev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy V.S. Belgorodsky, JSC “PhosAgro-Cherepovets” CEO M.K. Rybnikov, SSU President L.Yu. Kossovich, and “Apatite” management company director A.V. Cherepanov.
The parties presented the company capacity and university’s innovative products. “Apatite” management company director A.V. Cherepanov told about the company’s history and its modern state. For example, “Apatite” is the leader in ammophos production. A lot is done to protect the environment; it does not get polluted due to continuous water cycle.
Phosphogypsum is a valuable product created as a by-product of phosphoric mineral fertilizers. It is used in road construction in Greater Moscow area, Rostov region, in Ukraine, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. “At our company, most roads are made of process gypsum, and thanks to Saratov region Government and Saratov State University initiative we’ve started making public roads”, shared A.V. Cherepanov. This road cover is very durable which was proven by multiple tests and very safe. “Its radiation and heavy metal level parameters are hundred times lower than, for example, those of granite lining of St. Petersburg embankments”. in the end of presentation, the director expressed his hope for productive cooperation with SSU that would give a new impulse for road construction in Saratov Region.
In his turn, L.Yu. Kossovich talked about innovative technologies at SSU. At the national university ranking, Saratov University is number 12 at “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” category. The President believes, the secret for its success is the implementation of idea-to-product ideology.
Together with such successful innovative projects as “Non-woven nanofiber materials” and “Nanoelectronics”, L.Yu. Kossovich mentioned achievements of chemists who developed polymer asphalt and new composite gypsum-based materials.
“We see new prospects in the development of new compounds, treatment processes and roadbed construction methods that have several advantages: low costs, technological availability. Using process gypsum based modifiers in roadbed construction allows making the road base more resistant and durable”, said L.Yu. Kossovich.
Saratov Region Deputy PM V.N. Saraev regretfully said that roads in the region do not satisfy technical requirements. “Today we are carrying out an experiment, and I believe the agreement will allow to confirm process gypsum quality. It is not possible to develop these products without science. I thank the University for leading this work. I believe we will all get positive results”, said V.N. Saraev.
After the presentations, the parties signed the cooperation agreement. It involves joint research in a number of areas. In particular, designing technological documentation for process gypsum application in road construction, process gypsum recycling technology to improve its characteristics, launching pilot production за new composite gypsum-based materials, expert justification of process gypsum safety in road construction.
Commenting on the agreement, JSC “PhosAgro-Cherepovets” CEO M.K. Rybnikov said “PhosAgro” group works closely with experts. And they appreciate Saratov State University innovative work.
The agreement is the result of long work of Saratov University scientists and “Apatite” specialists. Using phosphogypsum in road construction is an issue of interest for the regional government and scientific community. The topic was discussed at the first meeting of Expert Committee on innovative work at SSU on May, 30. Roads were paved using process gypsum as an experiment. In March 2015, monitoring showed that it has sustained its characteristics.
