Yusif Mammadaliyev

Yusif Haydar oglu Mammadaliyev was born on December 31, 1905, in Ordubad, Nakhchivan AR.

In 1923, he entered the higher pedagogical institute of Baku. In 1926, after successful graduation from the institute he taught at secondary school for 3 years. In 1929, he became a second-year student of chemistry faculty of MSU, from which he graduated in 1932. He was the student of N.D.Zelinsky and A.A.Balandin and one of the first seniors of the laboratory of organic chemistry of chemistry faculty's organic chemistry cathedra with “organocatalysis” speciality. On the termination of MSU he worked in Moscow at the chemical plant No.1, and then was transferred to Azerbaijan, where he managed the Cathedra of organic chemistry of the agricultural college of Azerbaijan at first. Then he worked (1933–1945) at the Azerbaijan Research Institute of Oil, where he became the manager of laboratory. Perfect talent of the young scientist was discovered there. His work was dedicated to scientific problems of petrochemistry and organocatalysis and was closely connected with the development of domestic oil-refining and petrochemical industry. Some developments assumed as the basis of new industrial processes.

Starting from 1934, he led the great pedagogical work at Azerbaijan University named after S.M.Kirov, sequentially holding the positions of associate professor, professor, head of a cathedra and rector (1954–1958). In 1933, Candidate of Chemistry was conferred on Yusif Mammadaliyev without defend of dissertation.

In 1942, he became the Doctor of Chemistry and in 1943, the professor; in 1945, the academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR (from the establishment of academy). He was the director of Oil Institute of the Azerbaijan SSR. In 1946, he was nominated to the work in the Ministry of Oil Industry of the USSR, where he became the chairman of scientific-technical council of the ministry. In 1951-1954, he was the academician-secretary of physics, chemistry and oil departments of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR, in 1954-1958, the rector of Azerbaijan State University.

In 1947-1951 and 1958-1961 Yusif Haydar oglu Mammadaliyev was chosen the president of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR.[2] The Institute of Petrochemical Processes was established in Baku on Yusif Mammadaliyev's initiative.

In 1958, Yusif Mammadaliyev was chosen the corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR. He was honoured with many governmental awards. The highest award-the Order of Lenin-was presented to him during the Great Patriotic War for active work of supporting the front with important petrochemical products.[3]

Y.H.Mammadaliyev died in 1961.

He was honoured with the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order of Glory and also with medals.

The main scientific works of Yusif Mammadaliyev are related to catalytic progressing of oil and oil gas. He is the founder of petrochemistry in Azerbaijan. He suggested new methods of chlorination and bromination of different hydrocarbons with participation of catalysts and especially showed the ways of obtaining carbon tetrachloride, chloromethane, dichloromethane and other valuable products by means of chlorination of methane, initially in stationary catalyst, and then in hot layer. Researches in the sphere of catalytic alkylation of aromatic, paraffinic, naphthenes hydrocarbons with the help of unsaturated hydrocarbons, enabled the synthesis of the components of aviation fuels on industrial scale. The major works were executed in the sphere of catalytic aromatization of benzine fraction of Baku oil, obtainment of washing agents, flint-organic compounds, production of plastics from pyrolized products, analysis of Naftalan oil’s action mechanism. Mammadaliyev rendered great services for highly skilled personnel’s training. He repeatedly represented Azerbaijan in congresses, conventions and symposiums held by the USSR, the USA, Italy, France, England, the MDR, the PRP and other countries.[4]

Formation of Azerbaijani Astrophysical Observatory, Fund of Manuscripts, Sumgayit Scientific Center of Chemistry and other scientific institutions of Azerbaijan are related to the name of Yusif Mammadaliyev. The school of petrochemistry of Azerbaijan founded by him is famous beyond the borders of the republic, too.

The township named after Yusif Mammadaliyev was established near the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory (Pirgulu).

Yusif Mammadaliyev is the author of more than 200 scientific works and 6 monographs.

Мир-Бабаев М.Ф. Научный подвиг гения (к 100-летию со дня рождения Ю.Г. Мамедалиева) – «Consulting & Business», 2005, No.8, с.8-12.

Mir-Babayev M.F. The role of Azerbaijan in the World's oil industry – “Oil-Industry History” (USA), 2011, v. 12, no. 1, p. 109-123.

Mir-Babayev M.F. Formula of Victory (Yusif Mamedaliyev) - "SOCAR plus", 2012, Autumn, p. 100-111.