Vasyl Ivanovych Atroshchenko: On the Occasion of the 140th Anniversary of NTU "KhPI"
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Book Exhibition “Vasyl Ivanovych Atroshchenko. An Outstanding Scientist and Educator”, p. 140 Dedicated to the 140th anniversary of NTU “KhPI”, presented in July 2025 by the Scientific and Technical Library (Library, Subscription Dept. No. 1, Room 45).Vasyl Ivanovych Atroshchenko (July 3, 1906 – June 16, 1991) was a Ukrainian chemical technologist, a specialist in nitric acid and fertilizer technology, and a talented educator. Doctor of Technical Sciences (1945), Professor (1945), Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR (elected March 17, 1972). Hero of Socialist Labor (1971), Honored Scientist of the Ukrainian SSR (1958).
He was born on July 3, 1906, in the village of Novo-Smolyanynivska Mine near Yuzivka (now Donetsk) into a railway switchman’s family. At the age of 14, already working as an apprentice in mechanical workshops, he had to help his father raise his younger brother and sister after their mother’s death. Hardships forced the family to move to the Smolensk region to relatives, where Vasyl learned carpentry. Three years later, he and his father returned to Donbas. In 1923, Vasyl began working as a carpenter in the reconstruction of the nitric acid plant in Yuzivka.
He was born on July 3, 1906, in the village of Novo-Smolyanynivska Mine near Yuzivka (now Donetsk) into a railway switchman’s family. At the age of 14, already working as an apprentice in mechanical workshops, he had to help his father raise his younger brother and sister after their mother’s death. Hardships forced the family to move to the Smolensk region to relatives, where Vasyl learned carpentry. Three years later, he and his father returned to Donbas. In 1923, Vasyl began working as a carpenter in the reconstruction of the nitric acid plant in Yuzivka.
At the same time, he studied in evening two-year vocational courses for masters in the nitrogen and coke-chemical industries. After completing the courses, Vasyl Ivanovych was appointed as a laboratory assistant in the central laboratory of the nitrogen-chemical plant, where he worked until 1927.
In 1927, he passed the competitive exams and entered the Odesa Higher Technical School of General Applied Chemistry. In 1929, the technical school was reorganized and divided into two institutes — the Odesa Chemical-Technological Institute (now Odesa National Polytechnic University) and the Odesa Food Institute (Odesa State Academy of Refrigeration).
It was initially very difficult for the working-class boy with only six years of general education to study at the institute. However, through hard work and talent, he soon became one of the top students and was actively involved in student life.
His engineering abilities and interest in scientific research became evident early on. While still a first-year student during his first internship at the Kostyantynivka Chemical Plant in the sodium sulfate shop, he organized production control in a way that significantly reduced the consumption coefficients of sodium sulfate and coal. This allowed the workers to receive additional bonuses. In the second month of his internship, student V. I. Atroshchenko was appointed acting head of the shop, where he implemented further important technological improvements.
Thus, already during his studies, the development of his creative personality, scientific initiative, and generous talent in organizing science and training specialists for the chemical industry began to take shape.
After graduating from the institute in 1931, he remained at the Department of Mineral Technology as an assistant and postgraduate student, continuing his active research work. In 1932, V. I. Atroshchenko was appointed dean of the Faculty of Technology at the Odesa Chemical-Technological Institute.
In 1935, on the recommendation of Prof. I. Ye. Adadurov, who had been the head of the Department of Mineral Substances Technology at the Kharkiv Chemical-Technological Institute since 1933, Atroshchenko was transferred to this institute and appointed as an assistant.
After graduating from the institute in 1931, he remained at the Department of Mineral Technology as an assistant and postgraduate student, continuing his active research work. In 1932, V. I. Atroshchenko was appointed dean of the Faculty of Technology at the Odesa Chemical-Technological Institute.
In 1935, on the recommendation of Prof. I. Ye. Adadurov, who had been the head of the Department of Mineral Substances Technology at the Kharkiv Chemical-Technological Institute since 1933, Atroshchenko was transferred to this institute and appointed as an assistant.
In 1937, he successfully defended his candidate dissertation on “The Kinetics of the Absorption of Nitrogen Oxides by Alkaline Solutions”, became an associate professor, and in 1938 was appointed Head of the Department of Inorganic Substances Technology, which he headed continuously until 1986.
Thus, already during his studies, the development of his creative personality, scientific initiative, and generous talent in organizing science and training specialists for the chemical industry began to take shape.
After graduating from the institute in 1931, he remained at the Department of Mineral Technology as an assistant and postgraduate student, continuing his active research work. In 1932, V. I. Atroshchenko was appointed dean of the Faculty of Technology at the Odesa Chemical-Technological Institute.
In 1935, on the recommendation of Prof. I. Ye. Adadurov, who had been the head of the Department of Mineral Substances Technology at the Kharkiv Chemical-Technological Institute since 1933, Atroshchenko was transferred to this institute and appointed as an assistant.
After graduating from the institute in 1931, he remained at the Department of Mineral Technology as an assistant and postgraduate student, continuing his active research work. In 1932, V. I. Atroshchenko was appointed dean of the Faculty of Technology at the Odesa Chemical-Technological Institute.
In 1935, on the recommendation of Prof. I. Ye. Adadurov, who had been the head of the Department of Mineral Substances Technology at the Kharkiv Chemical-Technological Institute since 1933, Atroshchenko was transferred to this institute and appointed as an assistant.
In 1937, he successfully defended his candidate dissertation on “The Kinetics of the Absorption of Nitrogen Oxides by Alkaline Solutions”, became an associate professor, and in 1938 was appointed Head of the Department of Inorganic Substances Technology, which he headed continuously until 1986.
In the summer of 1941, under the leadership of V. I. Atroshchenko, incendiary devices for bottles with incendiary mixtures were developed to disable tanks. When the bottles broke on a hard surface, potassium and sodium reacted with water, igniting the flammable mixture. These incendiary bottles were tested by the military and recognized as the best in trials. Their production was quickly organized, and they were used in tank combat.
The scientific research of V. I. Atroshchenko focused on the creation of nitric acid production technologies.
In 1945, Atroshchenko defended his doctoral dissertation in Kharkiv. Following his successful defense, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences and the academic title of Professor.
In 1945, Atroshchenko defended his doctoral dissertation in Kharkiv. Following his successful defense, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences and the academic title of Professor.
On August 13, 1946, Professor Vasyl Ivanovych Atroshchenko was appointed Deputy Director of the Kharkiv Chemical-Technological Institute for Academic and Research Affairs. A new chapter in his professional career began, lasting for 15 years. From 1950 to 1961, he served as Deputy Director for Research at the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, while continuing to head his department.
In 1964, Atroshchenko was elected a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR.
He is the author of over 500 scientific papers, 18 inventor’s certificates and patents. Among his students are over 60 Candidates of Sciences and 15 Doctors of Sciences. He was included in the book “5,000 Personalities of the World”, published in the USA in 1990.
We invite everyone interested to explore the works of Vasyl Ivanovych Atroshchenko at the Scientific and Technical Library (Library, Subscription Dept. No. 1, Room 45).
More information about ВVasyl Ivanovych can be found on the NTU “KhPI” library website at the following link.
