Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology

Department was established on April 12, 1922.

About

Department of Organic Technology was established on April 12, 1922. The founder of the Department and its first Head was the first Rector of the University of Lithuania, professor Jonas Šimkus.
In 1940 during the Soviet reformation of the Lithuanian higher education system associate professor Dr. Juozas Vėbra was appointed as a Head of the Department.
From 1944 to the Department was headed by Vytautas Šukys.
In 1946 the engineer Jonas Venskevičius became the Head of the Department.
In 1950, after the establishment of the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, the Department of Organic Technology became a part of the Institute.
In 1951, the Departments of Organic Technology and Organic Chemistry were merged.
In 1965 , the Departments of Organic Technology and Organic Chemistry were separated again. The Head of Department of Organic Technology remained dr. Jonas Zdanavičius. In 1972 he was replaced by professor Adolfas Paulauskas.
Between 1991 and 1995 the department was headed by dr. Rimtautas Kavaliūnas.
In 1996 habil. dr. Juozas Vidas Gražulevičius was elected as a Head of Department of Organic Technology.
Between 2006 and 2010 the department was headed by dr. Jolanta Liesienė.
From 2011 to 2019 the Department was headed by prof. Juozas Vidas Gražulevičius.
In 2013 the Department was renamed the Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology.
In 2019 doc. Joana Bendoraitienė was elected as a Head of Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology.

Studies

Study programs curated by the department:
Bachelor’s studies

Master’s studies

Research

Field of science: N 003 Chemistry, T 005 Chemical Engineering, T 008 Materials Engineering.

Research of Polymers

Modification and application of natural polymers. Dispersion systems, formation of polymer complexes, immobilization of bioactive substances in natural and modified polysaccharides are investigated. Active food packaging materials, micro-contaminants sorbents are being developed. Synthesis of chromatographic sorbents, and their application of protein chromatography, and enzyme immobilization. New materials are being developed for tissue engineering and wound dressings. Innovative cosmetics are also being developed. Improved technology of manufacturing of bioplastic and biocomposite, develop biodegradable plastic products, perform research of formation of biocomposites from natural materials. Developed technologies of less polluting leather processing, solves the problems of using leather tanning waste.

Chemistry of Materials

Synthesis of organic polymeric and small molecule electroactive materials (semiconductors, emitters, nonlinear optics materials), materials for laser writing and 3D optical printing, development, research and application of polymers and polymer composites from natural materials. The focus is on the synthesis and research of photovoltaic cells and bipolar semiconductors and efficient emitters for organic light emitting diodes.

Researchers: Viktorija Andriulevičienė, Odeta Baniukaitienė, Joana Bendoraitienė, Rita Butkutė, Audrius Bučinskas, Asta Dabulienė, Sigita Grauželienė, Juozas Vidas Gražulevičius, Saulius Grigalevičius, Rasa Keruckienė, Gintarė Kručaitė, Dovilė Liudvinavičiūtė, Vesta Navikaitė-Šnipaitienė, Jolita Ostrauskaitė, Laura Pečiulytė, Ramunė Rutkaitė, Jūratė Simokaitienė, Eigirdas Skuodis, Daiva Tavgenienė, Virgilijus Valeika, Dmytro Volyniuk, Monika Čekavičiūtė.

Post-doc: Santhiya Kuppusamy (till 2025).