Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

A. G. Syrkov, Professor of the Department of General and Technical Physics, Doctor of Technical Sciences, e-mail: Syrkov_AG@pers.spmi.ru
A. N. Kushchenko, Assistant of the Department of General and Technical Physics, Candidate of Technical Sciences,e-mail: Kuschenko_AN@pers.spmi.ru
L. A. Yachmenova, Assistant of the Department of General and Technical Physics, Candidate of Technical Sciences, e-mail: Yachmenova_LA@pers.spmi.ru
M. V. Goncharova, Associate Professor at the Department of Foreign Languages, Candidate of Philology Sciences, e-mail: Goncharova_MV@pers.spmi.ru
M. E. Kokritskiy, master’s student of the Department of Machine Engineering

The creative legacy of Academician N. S. Kurnakov (1860–1941), one of the most famous graduates and professors of the Saint Petersburg Mining Institute (SPMI), is presented in sufficient detail in the scientific literature. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly evident that research on individual well-known representatives of his scientific school and followers has been insufficiently studied. This article analyses the works of SPMI professors K. F. Beloglazov (1887–1951) and I. N. Beloglazov (1950–2011) concerning the physical chemistry of surface phenomena and the production of highly dispersed (nanostructured) materials based on non-ferrous metals. Based on the study of scientific literature it is concluded that the scholars of academician N. S. Kurnakov in the first half of the 20th century conducted research on the production of solids of any degree of dispersity, “starting with molecular”(P. P. Weimarn), as well as the research on the adsorption of substances on minerals, the kinetics and the mechanism of flotation (K. F. Beloglazov).These scientists have made a significant contribution to the development of scientific foundations of nanotechnology in the 21 stcentury. I. N. Beloglazov, another representative of the Beloglazovs–Thiemes scientific dynasty and the grandson of K. F. Beloglazov, led nanotechnology research at Saint Petersburg Mining University (2005–2011) and continued the research of the physical chemistry of surface phenomena in the processesof enrichm ent and metallurgical processing of non-ferrous metal ores. Under his scientific and organizational guidance, his followers and co-authors (professors O. V. Cheremisina, A. G. Syrkov, A. S. Mustafaev, and others) developed innovative methods and reagent compositions for the flotation of apatite-nepheline ores, solid-state synthesis techniques for superhydrophobic materials, and plasma-based nanotechnologies for the mineral resource sector over the past 15 years. It is established that professor I. N. Beloglazov made a direct contribution to the realization of several high-priority large-scale publishing projects in nanotechnology and the victory of Mining University developments at international exhibitions (at least 20 medals).

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