Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of Russian ...

100 ANNIVERSARY OF PROFESSOR M.I. TEMKIND.Yu. MurzinProcess Chemistry Centre, Åbo Akademi University, Biskopsgatan 8, FIN-20500,Turku/Åbo, Finland, fax: +358 2 215 4479, E-mail: dmurzin@abo.fiKN-1September 2008 marks 100 anniversary of Prof.M.I. Temkin. He is considered as one of the founders ofmodern kinetics of complex catalytic reactions. Prof. Temkinhad been working in Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistryin Moscow from 1932 after graduation from the MoscowState University till the last days of his life (1991), headingfor more than 50 years Laboratory of Chemical Kinetics.Being a disciple of famous scientists Prof. A.N. Bakh (thefather of Russian biochemistry) and Prof. A.N. Frumkin (thefather of Russian electrochemistry) he was also working withProf. M.I. Temkin the Nobel prize winner Prof. N.N. Semenov and Prof. Michael(1908-1991)Polanyi in Manchester. Prof. Temkin is famous for developingthe theory of catalytic processes on nonuniform surfaces. Independently with Prof. J. Horiutihe developed the theory of stationary reactions. Together with his co-workers M.I. Temkinproposed a gradientless flow-circulation method, frequently used nowadays, for investigatingheterogeneous catalytic kinetics.The important feature of Temkin’s school is a unique blend of fundamental and appliedresearch. A particular example is kinetics of ammonia synthesis, which serves as a basis forreactor design and intensification of industrial processes. Another trade mark is logarithmicadsorption isotherm, frequently referred as Temkin isotherm. A seminal paper by Prof.Temkin written in the 50-s was devoted to thermodynamic analysis of molten salts and is stillwidely cited nowadays.Personal reflections on the experience working with Prof. M.I. Temkin as a PhD studentand a research associate will be given.17