About

Welcome to the website of the Laboratory of Natural Humic Systems of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Fine Organic Synthesis, Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University. The laboratory was established as a structural subdivision of the Department of Medical Chemistry and Fine Organic Synthesis of the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University in accordance with the order of the Rector of Moscow State University dated August 1, 2017. Therefore, today our laboratory is one of the “youngest” at the Faculty of Chemistry :)

The head of the laboratory is the chief researcher, Doctor of Chemistry, Professor Irina Vasilievna Perminova. Our Team consists of researchers, graduate students and students of the Faculty of Chemistry. The tasks of the laboratory include the study of the structure and properties of supramolecular ensembles of natural humic systems in order to create nature-like structures, materials and technologies for medicine, ecology and agriculture using methods rational design, synthesis and machine learning. We are glad to see you on our site!


🧪 WE ARE WORKING ON THE NORILSK NICKEL PROJECT 🧪



Hooray! We have started working on a new project contracted with PJSC “GMK Norilsk Nickel,” and we are now actively engaged in its implementation.

🔩 A real mini-hydrometallurgical workshop has been organized in the laboratory, within which we are: • Testing experimental schemes, • Modeling various processes, • Selecting effective reagents

Work is in full swing! A large and coordinated team is working on the project.

📸 We are sharing photos from the laboratory: from analytics to real reactors. Everything is real!


📚 LABORATORY SEMINAR: THURSDAY — SCIENCE DAY 📚



Every Thursday, we hold an important tradition in our laboratory — a laboratory seminar. This is not only a way to share results but also a great opportunity to discuss ideas, receive feedback, and be inspired by colleagues.

Today, the following researchers shared their studies:

💊 Karina Ushakova, 1st year PhD student, presented: “Obtaining Pharmacologically Active Substances Based on Labeled Humic Materials for Studying Biological Activity”

🔬 Marina Kotova, 6th year student, spoke on: “Studying the Inhibitory Action of Macroligands on Beta-Lactamases”

🧪 Both students and PhD candidates present at the seminars, and each presentation contributes to the overall scientific atmosphere. Thank you to the presenters for their interesting and substantive reports!

The next seminar is coming soon — we look forward to new ideas and discoveries 😊


🎓PRE-DEFENSE OF DISSERTATIONS: A STEP TOWARDS DEFENSE!✨



At the Department of Medical Chemistry and Fine Organic Synthesis, the pre-defense of the candidate dissertations of two of our remarkable employees took place. We are excited to share this news!

🔬 Anna Nikolaevna Khreptugova presented her work: “The Molecular Composition of Dissolved Organic Matter as an Ecological Marker for Monitoring the Impact of Climate Warming on the Seas of the Russian Arctic”

🌊 The foundation of her work includes large-scale expedition data, advanced molecular analysis (MS-ICR PF), and important conclusions about the role of dissolved organic matter in the context of climate change.

🧪 Anastasia Mikhailovna Zhirko presented on: “Synthesis of Iron(II/III) Compounds with Humic Macroligands and Their Application for Minimizing Heavy Metal Pollution and Correcting Iron Deficiency Anemia.”

🧬 Her work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of iron compounds with humic macroligands, aimed at addressing two pressing issues: cleaning the environment from heavy metals and correcting iron deficiency anemia in biomedical applications.

👏 We wholeheartedly congratulate Anya and Nastya on their excellent presentations! The pre-defense is an important milestone, and we are proud that you have passed it with dignity. We wish you patience, inspiration, and strength in the final stretch to your defense! Keep it up!


🔬 PARTICIPATION IN THE LABORATORY FAIR ✨



On October 23, our laboratory of natural humic systems participated in the annual Laboratory Fair at the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University.

💬 Throughout the day, we shared information with students about our research directions, projects, and opportunities for participation in research.

📚 We were pleased with the interest shown by the students and hope that this meeting will mark the beginning of new scientific stories. If you didn’t manage to approach us — feel free to write to us; we are always open to collaboration!


✨ ARTICIPATION IN THE HIT-2025 CONFERENCE 🌱



From July 25 to 27, the International Conference HIT-2025 “Humic Substances and Plant Raw Materials in the Context of a Circular Economy” took place in Syktyvkar, and our laboratory traditionally participated actively!

🔬 Presentations at the conference were made by:

👨‍🔬 Kirill Valeryevich Petrov (6th year) Comparative analysis of optical data with waste storage maps of the Solzan landfill

👩‍🔬 Anna Nikolaevna Khreptugova (Junior Researcher) Molecular composition of dissolved organic matter on the Siberian Arctic shelf: evidence of permafrost influence based on FT-ICR MS analysis

👩‍🔬 Viktoria Svyatoslavovna Zhurbа (1st year Master’s student) The effect of carbon-based soil conditioners on the composition and properties of soil organic matter

👩‍🔬 Karina Alexeyevna Ushakova (1st year PhD student) Synthesis of iron(III) complexes with humic substances of various lipophilicity profiles using alcoholic precipitation

👩‍🔬 Darya Sergeevna Kryuchkova (Junior Researcher) Injection fluids based on humic acid complexes and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane for immobilization of heavy metals

📢 The conference gathered leading specialists in the fields of humic technologies, green chemistry, soil science, and ecotechnologies. We were glad to share our results, discuss the prospects for applied developments, and be inspired by the work of our colleagues.

🔥 We thank the organizers for the warm welcome and the opportunity to be part of such an important scientific event!


🏔PREPARATION FOR THE EXPEDITION TO BAIKAL IS IN FULL SWING!🔬



In just a few days, our team will embark on an expedition to Baikal — one of the key stages in our work on studying humic substances in natural waters. Currently, there is a lot of activity in the laboratory: 🔧 checking equipment 🧪 refining methods ⚗ testing working protocols

Here are some snapshots of the working process: experiments, method development, and final preparations before departure. Everything must be ready for field conditions — quickly, reliably, and taking all nuances into account.


👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 We conducted a technical tour at the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill for students of Lomonosov Moscow State University.



The excursion for students from the Chemistry Faculty was conducted as part of their chemical-technology practice at the State Unitary Enterprise “FEO.” In 2026, the students will become the second graduating class of specialists in the history of the Chemistry Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University in the field of “Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Expertise, and Environmental Safety.”

Future chemists-ecologists learned about the work of FEO in the field of eliminating accumulated environmental harm and saw modern methods of ecological rehabilitation in action. Special attention was paid to two key sites: the “Babkhinsky” landfill and the site of the wastewater treatment plant, where all the necessary infrastructure for conducting further activities has been created.

The knowledge gained by the students can be used both in their studies and in future scientific research. Practical experience working at a complex ecological site will be an important stage in their professional development and will help address pressing environmental protection challenges.

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🎓 CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GRADUATION! ✨



On June 26, diplomas were awarded to students from our laboratory, and we want to share this joy with you! 📜

🎉 Diplomas were received by: Galina Pechnikova, Karina Ushakova, Daria Kryuchkova, Mikhail Makarov, Yulia Molokanova

This is the first graduating class in the specialization “Environmental Chemistry and Eco-adaptive Technologies” 🌿♻️, as well as a continuation of the tradition of successful defenses in analytical chemistry and medicinal chemistry ⚗️❤️.
We are proud of your work, perseverance, and quest for knowledge! May your path in science and life be filled with discoveries, bold ideas, and professional achievements! 🚀✨
💚 Special thanks to our leaders and mentors for their care, support, and assistance at every stage of work. Thank you for helping students become true researchers! 🌟👏
Forward to new discoveries! We believe in you! 💫

Photo: Sofia Shekhtman, Ilya Grekhov

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🌊 NEWS FROM ANAPA: OUR TECHNOLOGIES IN ACTION!



Our research group has returned from an expedition that took place in Anapa. We tested technologies for cleaning the Black Sea from oil pollution.

🔬 On the coast near the Mozhepsin River, we tested two approaches developed at the Chemistry Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University:

🌱 A chemical aerant that saturates water with oxygen and makes oil masses buoyant. After this, the pollution was surrounded by booms — special floating barriers that limit the spread of oil on the water’s surface. The pollution was then collected using pumps or sorbents.

🌱 Drags — special net devices that move along the bottom, collecting oil into dense bags for further disposal.

📄 As noted by our laboratory head, Professor Irina Vasilyevna Perminova: “Raising oil from the bottom is the most challenging task. We have developed a set of technologies that allow us to effectively extract pollution and minimize damage to the marine ecosystem.”

💬 We are proud that our developments are undergoing practical testing and can make a real contribution to solving ecological disasters.

Stay tuned for our news — there’s much more interesting content ahead!


🎓 PARTICIPATION IN THE “LOMONOSOV” CONFERENCE



The scientific work of the young researchers from our laboratory was presented at the International Scientific Conference for Students, Postgraduates, and Young Scientists “Lomonosov-2025.”
This year, the following students presented in the chemistry section: 🔬 Yulia Molokanova (2nd year Master’s student) with the report “Determination of Humic and Fulvic Acids in Humic Preparations”
🧪 Karina Ushakova (6th year Specialist student) — “Synthesis of Iron(III) Oxyhydroxides with Humic Macro Ligands with Enhanced Bioavailability for the Correction of Iron Deficiency Anemia”
🌱 Olga Farsobina (2nd year Bachelor’s student) — “Synthesis of Low-Ash Ferrihydrite Preparations Stabilized by Humic Macro Ligands via Precipitation with Isopropyl Alcohol”
⚗ Vladislav Nazarov (1st year Specialist student) — “Microwave Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in Humic Substances”

👏 We congratulate our participants on their commendable presentations and wish them new scientific achievements!




⛵ MIR 24 released a story about how Russian scientists, including our laboratory, are helping to clean the Black Sea coast from oil contamination! 🛢

📢 Key Points: • As the water temperature rises to around +15 °C, oil transitions to a softer, more plastic state and begins to float to the surface in the form of viscous lenses.

• It is important to promptly extract these petroleum products and develop methods that allow for their effective capture from both the sea surface and the water column.

• Currently, many different technological solutions are being researched to help lift oil lenses from the water and prevent their further spread.

🔬 In addition to beach cleaning, it is necessary to properly dispose of oil-containing waste. Scientists in Krasnodar propose a method of reagent encapsulation: mixing oil with additives to transform the hazardous mass into a safe one.

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Emergency Cleaning of Anapa Beaches from Oil Contamination

On December 15, a major oil spill occurred in the Black Sea due to the sinking of tankers, resulting in thousands of tons of petroleum products contaminating the coastline of Anapa. A team from our laboratory, led by Professor I.V. Perminova, promptly arrived at the site to help mitigate the consequences and collect samples for further research.

📚 Learn more: 📌 Commentary by Professor I.V. Perminova in “Scientific Russia”

📌 Report by “Anapa Region News” on washing agents:

📌 Report by “Anapa Region News” on sorbents:


A lecture for students of Monchegorsk Polytechnic was held by a professor from Moscow State University.

Professor Irina Perminova, Doctor of Chemical Sciences from Lomonosov Moscow State University, held several working meetings in Monchegorsk: with the management of Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company, eco-volunteers, as well as students and teachers of Monchegorsk Polytechnic College.
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🎓 LABORATORY FAIR AT THE CHEMICAL FACULTY 🎓


Recently, the Chemical Faculty hosted a Laboratory Fair — a unique opportunity for students to learn about the scientific activities of the faculty and determine their future specialization.
✨ Our laboratory of natural humic systems presented two stands:
🔬 One was dedicated to our laboratory’s research, where we discussed the Norilsk and Baikal projects and various directions.
🌍 The second focused on the interdepartmental specialization “Ecological Chemistry and Eco-Adaptive Technologies.” We shared information about this program, its opportunities for students, and prospects for participation in environmentally significant research.

We are always happy to welcome new colleagues and will be glad to see you among our team.

The conference HIT-2024!



⛴ At the “Vodnik” sailing club, the Ninth International Conference on Humic Innovative Technologies “Humic Substances and Green Technologies” took place! 🔬
🌍 A multitude of fascinating lectures were presented, where leading experts shared their research and insights on the future of green technologies. The roles of humic substances in ecological processes and their applications for addressing current environmental conservation issues were discussed.
Additionally, the conference featured a vibrant exhibition that captured the attention of all participants. It showcased unique humic products and modern analytical instruments that allow for a deeper exploration of the properties of these substances. The exhibition impressed not only with its content but also with its aesthetics — it was a true visual delight for all guests! 🎨✨


Visit to the Kurchatov Institute Research Center



🚀 Last week, our team visited the “Kurchatov Institute” Research Center to work at the “KISI” synchrotron, where we conducted experiments with nanosized silver particles stabilized by humic macroligands (Ag-HM). At the MUR station, we used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to study the structure of these particles.
📡 It was an extremely informative and exciting event! We gathered a wealth of valuable data that will help us gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between nanoparticles and humic substances. We are looking forward to further processing the results and making new discoveries! 🔍

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Participation in the XXII Mendeleev Congress on General
and Applied Chemistry



English Translation:

Recently, our laboratory participated in the 22nd Mendeleev Congress, which brought together scientists from all over the world! The congress program was filled with unique lectures and presentations from various fields of chemistry — from fundamental research to applied solutions.

📢 The congress also featured a poster session where our young scientists showcased their achievements:

👩‍🔬 Galina Pechnikova, 6th year: “Comparison of Optical Characteristics of Extracts of Dissolved Organic Matter and Seawater from the Arctic Shelf Seas”
👩‍🔬 Karina Ushakova, 6th year: “Synthesis of Iron(III) Oxyhydroxides with Humic Macroligands Using the Salting-Out Method”
👩‍🔬 Anastasia Zhirkova, junior researcher, 4th-year graduate student: “Synthesis of Iron(III) Oxyhydroxide Complexes with Humic Substances Labeled with 57Fe for Preclinical Research”

We are proud of our colleagues for their active participation and the work they presented! 💪 This is a great step forward in the development of our scientific research and the accumulation of experience in the field of chemistry.

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Return from field trials at Lake Baikal!



Recently, members of our laboratory returned from a new expedition that took place at the Solzan test site near Lake Baikal. There, our team continued summer experiments on the accelerated humification of organic compounds in aquatic environments aimed at restoring the local ecosystem.

Despite being greeted by the first snow, the team worked diligently and gathered a lot of valuable data that will aid our research. We are proud of their perseverance and contribution to this important work in preserving nature!

Ahead of us lie even more discoveries and new projects. Stay tuned for our updates!

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The beginning of a new collaboration with the University Gymnasium!



Our laboratory participated in a project fair and presented to the students of the University Gymnasium a project on the topic “Studying the Optical Properties of Sludge-Lignin and Natural Organic Matter for Monitoring Pollution in Lake Baikal.” Later, we conducted an exciting tour for the students from the University Gymnasium! We got to know each other better, enjoyed tea with delicious pie, and showed the students the most interesting places in our chemistry department.

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Irina Perminova: on the importance of choosing a profession and shaping your future career path

The interview covers the following questions:
* How did you come to your profession?
* How has your chosen profession influenced you?
* What should one do to become a specialist in the field of ecological chemistry?
* What are you currently working on?


If you’re interested in the answers, watch the video on our Telegram channel.
Watch the video

Interview with EVRAZIMUT


CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TEAM ON THEIR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE!!!!



From August 25 to 30, 2024, the 22nd meeting of the International Society of Humic Substances took place in Rimini, Italy, on the topic “The Role of Natural Organic Matter and Humic Substances in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals.” Our colleagues from the laboratory performed admirably and shared the results of their research!
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Publishing on IRK.ru



Rosatom presented to Moscow State University and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences the progress on the decommissioning of the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill (BPCB) and Usolyekhimprom.

Members of the scientific expedition from Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) visited the sites for the elimination of accumulated environmental damage located on the territories of former industrial giants — LLC “Usolyekhimprom” and JSC “Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill.” The work at these sites is being carried out by the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Federal Environmental Operator” (an enterprise of the State Corporation “Rosatom”).

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“In nature, the transition from inanimate substances to living beings occurs so imperceptibly that it is impossible to draw a boundary between these two groups.” © Aristotle

The study of humic substances is referred to as a science at the intersection of the living and the non-living. Humic systems are formed as a result of random synthesis during the decomposition of living systems, facilitating the transition from living matter to non-living. Humification is the second largest process of organic matter transformation on our planet, following photosynthesis. Regarding what humic substances are, how they can be utilized, and their connection to entropy, Dr. Irina Vasilyevna Perminova, a Doctor of Chemical Sciences, spoke to a correspondent from “Scientific Russia.”

Publication in “Scientific Russia”

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Green chemistry and humic substances will help improve the ecology of Norilsk.



The Chairman and deputies of the Norilsk City Council, Alexander Pestryakov, Konstantin Gorbunov, and Natalia Karmanovskaya, met with a professor, students, and graduate students from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Since 2020, the capital team from the country’s most prestigious university has been working in Norilsk every summer under a contract with “Norilsk Nickel.” The aim of the representatives from the scientific community, primarily from the Faculty of Chemistry at MSU, is to use humic substances (products of the decomposition of all organic matter) to make industrial production in Norilsk more environmentally friendly and safer for the surrounding environment, as well as to reclaim previously contaminated areas of soil and water bodies.

Full text: The Polar Truth and the website of the city of Norilsk

Main Awards of Moscow University: Results of 2023



On December 18, 2023, the rector of Moscow State University, Academician V.A. Sadovnichiy, held a meeting of the Academic Council of MSU.

The M.V. Lomonosov Prize for scientific works of the second degree has been awarded to Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor, and Chief Researcher at the Department of Medical Chemistry and Fine Organic Synthesis of the Faculty of Chemistry, Irina Vasilyevna Perminova, for her series of works titled “Eco-adaptive Chemistry of Humic Substances: From Molecular Signatures of the Anthropocene to Eco-adaptive Life Support Technologies.”


Publication in «Комерсантъ»

“We had to take our hat off to our substance”

Humic substances are all kinds of chemistry at once

Probably, each of us has wondered more than once how living matter once appeared from inanimate matter. Where is this line? What is the fundamental difference? What are the conditions for this transition? Is it possible to create them artificially? It turns out that the possibility of such a transition is carried out by humic systems that support life in all its diversity. What is it, why it is important to study them and what new opportunities it gives us, says Irina Perminova, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Natural Humic Systems of the Department of Medical Chemistry and Fine Organic Synthesis of the Chemical Faculty of Moscow State University.

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Last Publicaiton

General information

Onboard Large-Scale Isolation and Characterization of Three Reference DOM Materials from Siberian Arctic Shelf Marine Water.
Khreptugova Anna N., Konstantinov Andrey I., Mikhnevich Tatiana A., Matsubara Felipe, Gustafsson Örjan, Semiletov Igor P., Perminova Irina V.. ACS Omega, 2025, , doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c06041

About this publication
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Article Abstract

The Siberian Arctic Shelf is undergoing major climate change in the Northern Hemisphere, heavily impacted by a massive release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) due to degradation of permafrost as a consequence of global warming. This work is devoted to the isolation of large quantities of DOM from the Kara Sea, the Laptev Sea, and the East Siberian Sea, located from west to east along the Siberian Arctic Shelf. The goal was to isolate Arctic marine water reference DOM materials, addressing the gap in the set of available reference DOM materials. Large volumes of marine water (500–700 L) were collected from the three target seas and processed using a large-scale solid-phase extraction (SPE) setup aboard the research vessel “Academic Mstislav Keldysh” to establish a detailed molecular characterization of current Arctic DOM. The DOM was extracted using Bondesil PPL bulk sorbent at loading ratios ranging from 1to50 to 1to30 (on a DOC basis). The yield of DOM was 2 g from the Laptev Sea, 1.4 g from the Kara Sea, and 1.0 g from the East Siberian Sea. Detailed molecular characterization of the SPE DOM samples was conducted using elemental analysis, 13C and1H NMR spectroscopy, FT-ICR mass spectrometry, and optical spectroscopy. All methods revealed that the DOM fromthe Kara Sea in West Siberia had a more oxidized and aromatic character compared to the DOM from the Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea located on the East Siberian coast. The two latter DOM samples were less oxidized and richer in aliphatic structures. The Kara Sea sample was dominated by oxidized hydrolyzable tannins, while the Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea samples were enriched with lignins and terpenoids. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed a blue-shift in the DOM spectra from west to east, which may be linked to a decrease in humic-like fluorescence. Comparison with established terrestrial reference materials, such as Suwannee River fulvic acid and Suwannee River natural organic matter, demonstrates that the three Arctic DOM isolates provide a distinctive and valuable reference for studying marine DOM biogeochemistry.


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