Dr Tetiana Kulyk

(she/her)

Publication

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Research

My research focuses on surface chemistry and physics, heterogeneous catalysis, physical organic chemistry, and the kinetics and mechanisms of chemical reactions on solid surfaces, with particular interest in the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass and waste-derived compounds into valuable chemicals and sustainable fuels.

Specific areas of interest include:

• Kinetics and mechanisms of heterogeneous catalytic reactions.
• Catalytic pyrolysis of biomass and renewable organic feedstocks.
• Surface intermediates and reaction pathways on metal oxide catalysts.
• Linear Free Energy Relationships (LFER) and structure–reactivity correlations.
• TPD-MS and quantitative kinetic analysis of surface reactions.
• Catalytic production of renewable fuels and value-added chemicals.

A major aspect of our work is understanding how molecular structure and surface properties influence reaction pathways, kinetics, and product selectivity. My research combines temperature-programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD-MS), Linear Free Energy Relationships (LFER), and semi-empirical kinetic approaches to investigate surface reaction mechanisms and establish quantitative structure–reactivity relationships.

Methodological Innovations & Core Expertise

I have developed original semi-empirical equations and quantitative approaches for analysing substituent effects on surface reaction kinetics. This includes establishing correlations between activation energies and Hammett/Taft electronic and steric substituent constants, as well as developing methods for evaluating kinetic isotope effects using TPD-MS kinetic data.

These methodological developments originated from my research at the Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry (NASU) and were consolidated in my Doctor of Chemical Sciences (DSc) dissertation in Physics and Chemistry of Surface, 2020. They have been successfully applied to various classes of organic compounds, including short- and long-chain fatty acids, triglycerides, aliphatic, biogenic and bioactive amines, coumarins, polysaccharides, lignin, biomass model compounds, and biomass-derived feedstocks.

Our recent research focuses on the catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and lignin-derived feedstocks over metal oxide catalysts, with particular emphasis on the formation of pyrolysis oils, valuable aromatic compounds, reactive ketenes, and other chemical building blocks for the sustainable production of renewable fuels.

Our research also encompasses the adsorption of biologically active compounds and biopolymers on nanostructured surfaces, and the development of biocompatible three-component hybrid systems based on silica, polysaccharides and bioactive molecules (anaesthetics, haemostatic agents, antiseptics, antioxidants) for potential applications in sustained and transdermal drug delivery.

Experimental & Characterization Toolkit

To investigate surface reaction mechanisms, catalyst properties, and establish structure–reactivity relationships, I actively employ a comprehensive range of experimental and analytical techniques:

• Spectroscopy & Surface Analysis: in situ FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
• Microscopy & Structure: Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
• Thermal & Mass Spectrometry Analysis: Temperature-Programmed Desorption Mass Spectrometry (TPD-MS), ESI MS/MS, Pyrolysis-GC-MS (Py-GC-MS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Research Funding and Leadership

My research involves extensive international collaborations with leading institutions across the UK, USA, Germany, Sweden, and Ukraine. I have a proven track record of conceiving and authoring successful, highly competitive research proposals, securing international funding, and leading collaborative research teams.

Selected International Research Projects

• 2025–present — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions for Ukraine (MSCA4Ukraine) Fellowship, “Advanced waste catalytic conversion into low-carbon chemicals and fuels” (Waste2Chem). Funded by the European Union and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Hosted at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI), Cardiff University, UK. Conceived and authored the successful research proposal; currently leading its scientific implementation with the support of CCI.
• 2024–2025 — EURIZON Project (funded by the EU Horizon 2020). Catalytic Pyrolysis of Lignin Model Compounds and 2G Biomass for Biofuels, Sustainable Chemicals, and Decarbonization Conceived and authored the successful grant proposal. Scientifically coordinated the collaborative research framework between the Cardiff Catalysis Institute (UK) and the Laboratory of Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chemical Transformations on Solid Surfaces (KinMechChemSurf) at the Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (CISC, Kyiv, Ukraine).
• 2024 — Cardiff HEFCW ODA Grant. Institutional collaborative project between the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University (UK) and the CISC, Kyiv, Ukraine.
• 2020–2021 — CRDF Global / U.S. Department of State Project, “Nanocatalyst-assisted pyrolysis for conversion of lignocellulose waste residues into sustainable biofuels using microwave treatment”. Principal Investigator. Conceived and authored the successful research proposal. Joint research in collaboration with Purdue University, USA and the KinMechChemSurf Laboratory at the CISC, Ukraine.
• 2017–2018 — STCU Partner Project, “Next generation solid acid fuel cells and electrolyzers for a sustainable energy future”. Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, Germany. Principal Investigator (Ukrainian team). Collaborative research between the CISC and the Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), Germany.
• 2016–2018 — Swedish Research Council Project, “Development of green nanotechnologies for catalytic pyrolysis of biomass”. Research Team Leader. Joint initiative between the CISC and Stockholm University, Sweden.
• 2013–2015 — CRDF Global / U.S. Department of State Project, “Pyrolysis with the use of nanocatalysts MexOy/SiO2: the way to get second-generation biofuels via processing of fatty acids, triglycerides and renewable plant biomass”. Principal Investigator. Conceived and authored the successful research proposal. Collaborative research with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), U.S. Department of Energy, Richland, USA, and the CISC.

Teaching

• Postgraduate Training — Developer and Lecturer of the advanced postgraduate course “Modern Mass Spectrometry” at the CISC.

Biography

I am a specialist in surface chemistry and physics, heterogeneous catalysis, and the kinetics and mechanisms of surface chemical reactions, with a particular emphasis on the catalytic conversion of biomass and waste-derived compounds into valuable chemicals and sustainable fuels.

Throughout my career, I have established a proven track record of international academic leadership, successfully conceiving and leading highly competitive collaborative research projects funded by major international programs, including the European Union (Horizon 2020, MSCA4Ukraine), The British Academy, CRDF Global, the Volkswagen Foundation, and the Swedish Research Council.

I am an elected Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) and currently serve as an MSCA4Ukraine Research Fellow at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University. Concurrently, I maintain my long-term position as Professor of Chemistry and Head of the Laboratory of Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chemical Transformations on Solid Surfaces at the Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry, NASU. My core methodological innovations include the development of original semi-empirical kinetic approaches and quantitative structure–reactivity relationships (LFER) applied to surface reactions, which were consolidated in my Doctor of Chemical Sciences (DSc) dissertation in Physics and Chemistry of Surface, 2020.

Honours and awards

• 2025 — Elected Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU), Division of Chemistry (Specialty: Chemistry of New Functional Substances and Materials).
• 2025–present — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions for Ukraine (MSCA4Ukraine) Fellowship. Hosted at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, UK.
• 2022–2025 — Researchers at Risk Fellowship, The British Academy. Hosted at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, UK.
• 2016 — Swedish Institute Research Scholarship for Professors (Visby Programme). Hosted at Stockholm University, Sweden.
• 2014 — Principal Investigator, Competitively Awarded EMSL User Research Project, "Mass-selected Ion Deposition and Surface Characterization Techniques for Evaluation of Nanocatalytic Conversion of Biomass Components in Biofuels Production", Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a U.S. Department of Energy user facility at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, USA.

Academic positions

• 2025–present — MSCA4Ukraine Research Fellow, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, UK
• 2022–2025 — British Academy Researchers at Risk Fellow, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, UK
• 2022 — Visiting Professor, NanoVal Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Córdoba, Spain
• 2021 — Professor of Chemistry (Academic Title), Ukraine
• 2020 — Doctor of Chemical Sciences (DSc) in Physics and Chemistry of Surface, Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
• 2014–present — Head of the Laboratory of Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chemical Transformations on Solid Surfaces (KinMechChemSurf), Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (continuing research leadership and laboratory management remotely) Laboratory website:
• 2000 — PhD in Physics and Chemistry of Surface, Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
• 1995–2014 — Research Group Leader / Senior Researcher / Postgraduate Researcher, Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Speaking engagements

Selected Conference Presentations & Invited Lectures

• 2026 — Keynote Lecture, GreenDigiPharma International Conference (GDPIC 2026), “Advanced Waste Catalytic Conversion into Low-Carbon Chemicals and Fuels”, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
• 2026 — Invited Lecture, 4th International Conference on Catalysis Science and Chemical Engineering (CatScience 2026), “Quantitative Structure–Reactivity Relationships in Catalytic Biomass Pyrolysis”, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
• 2025 — Oral Presentation, EuropaCat 2025 (16th European Congress on Catalysis), “Catalytic Pyrolysis of Model Biomass Compounds: Structure–Reactivity Relationships, LFERs, Kinetic Isotope Effect, Semi-Empirical Equations, Kinetics and Mechanisms”, Trondheim, Norway.
• 2025 — Oral Presentation, 11th UK Catalysis Conference (UKCC 2025), “Catalytic Pyrolysis of Lignin Model Compounds: Catalyst Regeneration, Kinetics and Mechanisms”, Loughborough, UK.
• 2023 — Plenary Lecture, Cardiff Catalysis Institute Conference, “Kinetics and Mechanisms of Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass: Linear Free Energy Relationships, Isotope Effect and Desorption Mass Spectrometry”, Cardiff, UK.
• 2018 — Oral Presentation, CAT 2018 (2nd Global Conference of Catalysis, Chemical Engineering & Technology), “A Study of Kinetics and Mechanisms of Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass Components Using Linear Free Energy Relationships and TPD-MS”, Rome, Italy.

Supervisions

Past projects

Former students:

·     Maria V. Pazo Cepeda (PhD 2019) — International PhD co-supervision in collaboration with the University of Valladolid, Spain; Research Fellowship at the KinMechChemSurf Laboratory, CISC, NASU.

·       Olesia Dudik (PhD 2014)

·       Liana Azizova (PhD 2013)

·       Tetiana Borodavka (PhD 2011)

Past projects

·  Catalytic Pyrolysis of Fatty Acids over Alumina and Silica.

·   Pyrolysis Kinetics and Secondary Structure of Muramyl Dipeptide Glycosides in Pristine State and Immobilized on Nanosilica Surface.

·  Chitosan/Heparin/Dextran-Silica Hybrid Materials: Production, Adsorption, Thermal Transformations, Structure of the Adsorption Layer, and Bioactivity.

·    Adsorption and Chemical Transformations of Anaesthetics, Lidocaine and Novocaine, on Fumed Silica Surface.

·    Adsorption, Kinetics and Mechanism of the Deamination of Aliphatic and Biogenic Amines (Histamine, Tyramine, and Tryptamine) on Fumed Silicas.

·      Pyrolysis of Polysiloxanes Filled with Nanosized Silica and Ceria/Silica.