Approving by the Science Department of Shandong province, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals is established on November 10, 2008, and is a scientific research platform for the research and development of Fine Chemicals. Relying on the two provincial key disciplines (Pulp and Paper Engineering, Leather Chemistry and Engineering) and two university key disciplines (Food Science and Technology, Applied Chemistry) at the Qilu University of Technology, this lab possesses three main research directions, which are Papermaking Chemicals, Leather Chemicals and Functional Food Additive.

The quality of paper, leather, food and other light industrial products, as well as the production capacity all have a strong dependence on the auxiliaries. The production of high-quality light industrial auxiliaries is in urgent need for strengthening the technology. The total economy of light industry of Shandong rank second in China. Among them, the output of paper ranks number one in the country, food the second and leather the third. Orienting to the construction of local economy and taking the advantage of interdisciplinary and integrated talents, the laboratory intends to make an organic combination of the auxiliaries’ synthesis, the relationship between structure and properties and the application of technology research among different fields of light industry. By doing so, the lab will be developed into a multi-functional center in basic research, applied research and product and technology development, and provides technique support and high level research talents for the   development of light industry of Shandong province, and even the whole country.

The laboratory has 39 researchers, including 26 fixed and 13 temporary. There are also 3 part-time workers invited from Sichuan University, Jiangnan University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Among the fixed researchers, there are 8 professors and 13 associate professors; 20 with doctorate degrees; 20 young and middle-aged persons under the age of 45, accounting for 76.9% of the total. The laboratory recruits doctoral graduate students of Leather Chemical and Engineering, as well as postgraduate students of Applied Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Pulp and Paper Engineering, Leather Chemical and Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Chemical Technology. Every year, more than 30 graduate students pursue advanced studies in the laboratory. The fixed researchers of the laboratory come from five schools and the Analytical Center, covering seven disciplines which are Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Leather Chemicals and Engineering, Pulp and Paper Science and Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Computer Science and Technology. This is a young team of high academic level and has an advantage of comprehensive study. The laboratory has also established close cooperative relationship with Tongda Group on CEEUSRO and invited talents to make breakthrough research on key general technology of industry through the postdoctoral workstation.