Project Summary

Project No.: KP-06-N87/14 (2024)
Title: Investigations on the synthesis and application of mullite and mullite–corundum ceramic pigments produced from pure and waste raw materials
Funding: Funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund at the Ministry of Education and Science under the call “Fundamental Research – 2024”.
Lead Institution: BURGAS STATE UNIVERSITY "PROF. DR. ASSEN ZLATAROV"
Partner Institution: Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”
Principal Investigator: Prof. Irena Georgieva Markovska, PhD

Pigments have significant practical applications in both the ceramics and glass industries—for example, in colouring ceramic tiles and products, mosaic cladding tiles, and glass. The proposed project is an original, innovative fundamental study whose results are expected to provide future benefits to domestic industry.

The project aims to develop and investigate new mullite and mullite–corundum pigments, using both pure and waste raw materials—rice husks and spent industrial catalysts. The main focus is on optimising synthesis conditions and the properties of the obtained materials through solid‑state sintering and sol–gel methods. We examine the effect of different chromophore ions (Co, Cu, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn) on the structure, composition, and colour properties of the pigments.

Main scientific activities

• Comparative analysis of pigments synthesised from **pure** versus **waste** raw materials.
• Use of modern analytical methods for characterisation (X‑ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, EPR, electron microscopy, etc.).
• Application of waste catalysts and rice husks to enable **environmentally sustainable** pigment production.
• Evaluation of industrial deployment prospects.


Anticipated outcomes


• Scientific understanding of ceramic pigments and waste management in a sustainable manner has advanced.
• Participation at international conferences and publications in respectable journals.
• Training early-career researchers, particularly PhD candidates and students, to increase capacity at the participating universities.
• Development of an innovative, environmentally oriented technology with industrial potential.