Margarita Popova

Professional experience

2021 – now – Scientific secretary of BAS, research devision Nanosciences, New Materials and Technologies, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria; Head of laboratory “Organic Reactions on Microporous Materials”, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry (IOCCP), Bulgarian Academy of sciences (BAS), Sofia, Bulgaria
2017 – now – Professor, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
2012 – 2021 – Scientific secretary of IOCCP, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
2011 – 2017 – Associate professor, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
2004 – 2011 – Assistant professor, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
2000 – 2004 – Assistant, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
1998– 2000 – Chemist, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
1989 – 1991 – Technologist, PLAMA, Pleven, Bulgaria

Education and training

2021 – Doctor of sciences, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
1991 – 1998 – PhD degree, IOCCP-BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
1984 – 1989 – Higher education with engineer and master degree, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, Bulgaria

Main research interests

Development of mesoporous silicates, nanoscale metal oxides and hierarchical zeolites with predefined structural and morphological characteristics. Development of catalysts for the neutralization of emissions from volatile organic compounds. Utilization of waste biomass for the production of valuable chemicals and biofuels. Capture and utilization of CO2. Development of new modified mesoporous silicate carriers for controlled delivery of medicinal substances.

Selected publications

Author of 127 research papers

Total citations (excluding self-citations): 2762, h-index – 29

Utility model (2023): “Mesoporous silica from rice husks”, 4564/06.11.2023

Patent application: “Mesoporous silica from rice husks and method for its preparation”, reg. number 113766/13.09.2023

• M. Popova, S. Boycheva, H. Lazarova, D. Zgureva, K. Lázár, Ágnes Szegedi, VOC oxidation and CO₂ adsorption on dual adsorption/catalytic system based on fly ash zeolites, Catalysis Today, 357, 2020, 518-525 link https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092058611930344X
• M. Popova, N. Koseva, I. Trendafilova, H. Lazarova, V. Mitova, J. Mihály, D. Momekova, S. Konstantinov, I. Z. Koleva, P. St. Petkov, G. N. Vayssilov, H. A. Aleksandrov, Á. Szegedi, Design of PEG-modified magnetic nanoporous silica based miltefosine delivery system: experimental and theoretical approaches, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 310, 2021, 110664 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1387181120306648
• M. Ravutsov, Y. Mitrev, P. Shestakova, H. Lazarova, S. Simeonov, M. Popova, CO₂ Adsorption on Modified Mesoporous Silicas: The Role of the Adsorption Sites. Nanomaterials, 11, 2021, 2831 link https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/11/2831
• T. Zumbar, I. Arcon, P. Djinovic, G. Aquilanti, G. Zerjav, A. Pintar, A. Ristic, G. Drazic, J. Volavsek, G. Mali, M. Popova, N. Logar, N.N. Tusar, Winning Combination of Cu and Fe Oxide Clusters with an Alumina Support for Low-Temperature Catalytic Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 15(23), 2023, 28747-28762 link https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.3c02705
• I. Trendafilova, M. Popova, Porous Silica Nanomaterials as Carriers of Biologically Active Natural Polyphenols: Effect of Structure and Surface Modification, Pharmaceutics 16, 2024, 1004 link https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/8/1004
• M. Popova, M. Dimitrov, S. Boycheva, I. Dimitrov, F. Ublekov, N. Koseva, G. Atanasova, D. Karashanova, Á. Szegedi, Ni-Cu and Ni-Co-Modified Fly Ash Zeolite Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone, Molecules, 29, 2024, 99 link https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/1/99

Latest Projects

Leader

• 3D printed waste-based catalysts for sustainable production of synthetic fuels and valuable chemicals

(3DCatFuel&Chem), КП-06-Н69/3, 2022-2025

• Waste biorefinery technologies for accelerating sustainable energy processes” (WIRE), КП-06-КОСТ/11, 2021-2024
• CO₂ capture and hydrogenation on nanostructured composite systems based on agricultural waste, bilateral cooperation, 2024-2025
• Technology for CO₂ capture from biomass combustion on adsorbents prepared from waste materials, CO₂CAPTURE&WASTEVAL, financing contract with funds from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM) under a procedure for providing funds to final recipients through selection of proposals BG-RRP-2.011 for financing research projects in the field of green and digital technologies for the implementation of investments under the Recovery and Resilience Plan C2I2 from the R&D Programme: “strengthening the innovation capacity of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) in the field of green and digital technologies”, component 2. scientific research and innovation, R&D Programme-7 of 29.05.2024 /BG-RRP-2.011-0021-C01, 2024-2026

Coordinator for IOCCP and member of the Scientific Council of a project for the establishment of a Center for Excellence “Mechatronics and Clean Technologies” under Priority Axis 1 “Research and Technological Development” of the Operational Program “Science and Education for Smart Growth”, BG05M2OP001-1.001-0008

Member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit association National Center of Excellence “Mechatronics and Clean Technologies”

Member of the research team

• Straightening training, research and innovation capacities in the valorization of bio-renewable resource, Biomass4synthons, H2020-Widespread-2020-5, 2021-2024
• Training of young scientists in innovative approaches for CO2 capture and utilization towards circular economy, Programme of Participation in the activities of Member States for 2020-2021, Project №1290116063

Representative of Republic Bulgaria at the Board of Directors of 4 COST actions:

• Food waste valorisation for sustainable chemicals, Materials & Fuels, Eubis, TD1203, 2012-2016
• Establishment of a Pan-European Network on the sustainable valorisation of lignin, CA 17128, 2018-2022
• Waste biorefinery technologies for accelerating sustainable energy processes, (WIRE) CA20127, 2021-2025

Honours and awards

National award PITAGOR for established scientist in the natural and engineering sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2022