At the end of 2016, I was forcibly dismissed “of my own free will” from the Institute of Catalysis with the diagnosis of “insane with an obsession” (Parmon’s version). The “obsession” is diatomic gaseous sulfur in the ground triplet state [JSulfChem-2019-40-4-435-450-Startsev]. Parmon was not even bothered by the fact that in 2013, we published two articles in foreign journals: [TopCatal-2013-56-969-Startsev,] and [JCCE-2013-7-1007-Startsev], which were the first to declare the existence of diatomic gaseous sulfur. In addition, at that time, the Institute of Catalysis had a flow-through circulation unit that provided direct experimental evidence of the existence of this substance. As I have repeatedly emphasized, neither Parmon nor Bukhtiyarov ever bothered to familiarize themselves with this unit or the results obtained from it.

It is impossible for a sane person to understand the logic of Parmon and Bukhtiyarov’s decision to expel me from science, since at that time FIVE articles had already been published (in addition to those already mentioned), where the possibility of decomposition of hydrogen sulfide at room temperature to produce hydrogen and elemental sulfur was experimentally proven. Read in [Docl. Phys. Chem., 2004, v. 199, No 1, p. 283-286; Russ. J. Phys. Chem., 2006, v. 80, p. 1403-1410; Russ. J. Phys. Chem., 2015, v. 89, p. 19-23, J.Sulf.Chem-2016, v.37, p. 229-240, JSulfChem-2015-36-3-234] (including the first two articles with Parmon’s participation). Therefore, this deliberate decision has a specific, non-scientific motivation. This phenomenon has been known since the Middle Ages as obscurantism.

For Russian science, the problem is exacerbated by the fact that Parmon and Bukhtiyarov (either separately or together) are members of the editorial boards of almost all chemical publications of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which makes it difficult to publish any scientific materials. In addition, Parmon has the authority to distribute funding to scientific institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and he also has access to shaping the development policy of Russia’s chemical industries. Taken together, all of this makes it almost impossible to advance the progressive and innovative scientific achievements that we have made in our research, given the complete lack of funding. I have experienced this firsthand. The logic of the Parmon-Bukhtiyarov tandem’s actions was aimed at strangling in the bud our scientific discoveries made at the Institute of Catalysis between 1998 and 2016, which did not fit into the framework of the Institute’s long-standing research on improving the process of hydrogen sulfide utilization using the well-known Claus method, for which the Institute received significant financial support from industrial enterprises.

Let’s try to summarize the results of our activities during the period of my exile from science.

1. The concept of the decisive role of solid catalysts in the process of low-temperature decomposition of hydrogen sulfide MolecCatal-2020-497-111240-Startsev has been developed. The concept is based on the fundamental laws of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of irreversible processes in an open system, which was developed by Nobel Prize winner Ilya Prigozhin. (In parentheses, we note that Parmon is a proponent of this thermodynamics!)
2. For the first time in scientific practice, a unique property of solid catalysts has been thermodynamically substantiated, on the surface of which chemical reactions occur that are fundamentally impossible in the gas phase. This opens up broad prospects for the creation of new catalytic processes that occur at ambient temperature and pressure, in the image and likeness of biological systems that carry out similar chemical transformations in nature.
3. A feasibility study has been developed for the replacement of hydrogen sulfide recycling processes using the Klaus method (recycling up to 100 million tons of H2S per year, more than 1,000 installations worldwide, recycling products – water and solid sulfur) JSulfChem-2022-43-671- Startsev, when the long-outdated high-temperature energy and material-intensive technology was replaced (developed back in the 19th century), innovative low–temperature catalytic decomposition processes of hydrogen sulfide will be developed to produce a valuable chemical reagent and fuel of the future – hydrogen. According to experts, the cost of the produced hydrogen should not exceed $0.8/kg.
4. The recognition of diatomic gaseous sulfur in the ground triplet state JSulfChem-2019-40-4-435-450-Startsev. This fundamental scientific discovery not only makes a significant contribution to the development of chemical and physical sciences, but also opens up a broad perspective for obtaining new materials and chemicals for many areas of human activity, including chemistry, biology, medicine, pharmacology, materials science, etc.
5. The unique properties of atomic hydrogen and sulfur, obtained in the process of dissociation of hydrogen sulfide on the surface of solid catalysts, have been discovered. These properties have amazing properties of interaction with highly inert molecules at room temperature and pressure. Several hypotheses involving these super-active atoms have been formulated, which require close attention from the entire progressive humanity [J. Sulf. Chem., 2022, v. 43, p. 671-684.]  [Eur J. Chem., 2024, v. 15, no 2, 186-193]

1. The utilization of greenhouse carbon dioxide CO2 to produce carbohydrates is analogous to chemosynthesis, which was discovered in 1887 by the Russian scientist S.N. Vinogradsky. We are aware of catalytic systems capable of performing this chemical transformation,
2. Sulfur-hydrogen conversion of methane, unlike steam conversion, can be carried out at room temperature. This catalytic reaction is highly relevant for solving the environmental safety of the Black Sea AEE-19-Startsev. , where vast reserves of dissolved hydrogen sulfide (billions of tons) are extracted and processed simultaneously with equally significant reserves of methane hydrates, a greenhouse gas. A mechanism for this catalytic reaction has been proposed, with a possible thermodynamic justification.
3. Nitrogen fixation to produce ammonia and other nitrogen-containing molecules, such as N2H2 and N2H4. These chemical compounds can solve the problem of storing and transporting hydrogen through low-pressure pipelines.
4. Activation of argon to produce argon hydride, H2Ar, a stable molecule under normal conditions that can be used for the accumulation, storage, and transportation of hydrogen. Moreover, when argon hydride is burned in fuel cells or in the presence of oxygen, it produces water and argon, which can be returned to the atmosphere without causing environmental damage. There is reason to believe that chemical analogues of H2Ne, such as neon hydride, and H2He, such as helium hydride, can be produced in a similar manner. Without a doubt, if these compounds really exist under normal conditions, this scientific discovery will give a huge impetus to the development of noble gas chemistry.
5. Aqueous solutions of atomic hydrogen are stable for quite a long time, so they can be used in medicine to quench free radicals in the treatment of cancer.

I have repeatedly appealed to the management of the Institute of Catalysis to give me the opportunity to resume my scientific research, but I have always encountered a concrete wall of silence. Is this not proof of rampant obscurantism? Will Russian chemical science once again be relegated to the backwaters of the global history of scientific discoveries and inventions?

However, I still hope that things are not so bad, because there is a progressive humanity abroad that cares about scientific discoveries and achievements that contribute to the sustainable development of human society. However, it takes a long time to realize the validity of our results due to the need to reproduce our findings and the lack of practical experience with toxic hydrogen sulfide. I really hope that our Russian blatant obscurantism will be defeated by progressive humanity outside of Russia, as the Russian Academy of Sciences was not ready to accept innovative discoveries in the field of chemistry and catalysis.

It’s a shame for the country!!!