Prof. D.Sc. Luchezar Angelov Petrov

The research team and the Directorate of the Institute of Catalysis at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences announce in deep sorrow the news about the

death of the famous Bulgarian scientist in the field of catalysis

BAS Corr.-Member Prof. D.Sc. Luchezar Angelov Petrov
02.02.1939 – 18.07.2023

Luchezar Angelov Petrov was born in Sofia city. He graduated from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in Sofia in year 1962. Then in 1969 he defended jis PhD Thesis acquiring the scientific degree „PhD degree in chemical sciences“, and later in 1988 he acquired the scientific degree „Doctor of Sciences“. Since 1969 onwards he was consecutively Scientific Research Fellow, later Senior Scientific Research Fellow (since 1977) and then First Degree Scientific Research Fellow (in 1989). He specialized in Russia, Japan and Germany. In 2008 he was elected to be Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

He occupied the academic positions of Scientific Secretary of the United Center of Chemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1978–1988), Head of Department „Kinetics of Catalytic Reactions“ at the Institute of Kinetics and Catalysis BAS (since 1983), Deputy Director of IKC BAS and later Institute of Catalysis BAS (1983–1989; 1995–1997) and then Director first of IKC BAS and then IC BAS (1989–1993; 1997–2007).

The basic scientific research contributions of Corr.Member Luchezar Petrov are in the following research fields: mathematical modeling of the kinetics of heterogeneous catalytic reactions under steady-state and nonsteady-state conditions, elucidation of the mechanism of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, study of the influence of the composition upon the structure and properties of heterogeneous catalysts, photo-catalysis, elaboration and implementation into the practice some technologies for the production of industrial catalysts, equipment devices and appliances and automation of kinetic investigations.

Luchezar Petrov is one of the creators establishing the National Program „Kinetics and Catalysis“ and formation of the Bulgarian industry for the large scale manufacture of industrial catalysts and he was the leader of research teams introducing into the practice catalysts developed in Bulgaria. He participated efficiently in educational activities and training activities. He is one of the founders of the Bulgarian Catalysis Society.

He was member in a number of organizing committees in international scientific events, including European and international congresses on catalysis, he was Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Seventh European Catalysis Congress in Sofia in 2005.

Prof. L. Petrov was a person having wide-scope cultural interests, excellent organizer and our admirable colleague and friend.

LET US BOW IN HONOUR OF HIS MEMORY!

Institute of Catalysis, BAS