REPORT concerning the "39th ICSC - Monastir - Tunisia - 2025".

1- INTRODUCTION

From September 14th to 17th, 2025, the 39th International Conference onSolution Chemistry (ICSC) was held for the first time in Africa and the Arabworld at the Rosa Beach Hotel in Monastir. It was jointly organized by theInternational Steering Committee (ICSC) and the International Union of Pure andApplied Chemistry (IUPAC), with the support of the University of Monastir and theTunisian Chemical Association (ACT) as co-organizer.

As Chairman, I am therefore pleased and honored to provide in this reportan overview of the history and objectives of the ICSC, as well as the keyscientific work and advances presented during this event, with some remarks andrecommendations.

2- FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND APPLICATIONS

Fundamentally, solution chemistry is generally concerned with therelationship between the structures and properties of mixtures in the liquidphase at different scales (macroscopic, mesoscopic, molecular, and atomic).This relationship is governed by all the interactions between the particles insolution, particularly solute-solvent interactions. The solution can be aqueousor organic.

As for the properties, they relate to various physicochemical processes,such as solidification, evaporation, and boiling; but especially the solubilityof solutes and their dissolution process; as well as the electrolysis of thesolvent and solutes.

Strong interactions and molecular collisions can also give rise todifferent types of reactions followed by equilibria in solution (redox,acid-base, complexation, or precipitation reactions, characterized by anexchange of particles (electron, proton, ligand, or ion) in a donor/acceptorpair.

More recently, solution chemistry has increasingly focused on the formationprocesses of nanoparticles such as colloids, micelles, supramolecular, etc., aswell as their structures, properties, and applications.

Solution chemistry has always played an important role in the chemicalindustry, particularly in extraction, separation, and valorization processes,as well as in improving analytical methods. Currently, it is becomingincreasingly involved in the pharmaceutical and medical fields, "greenchemistry," and environmental protection in general.

3- EVOLUTION AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES

From a scientific perspective, ICSCs perfectly illustrate the completeabandonment of the old rigid compartmentalization between disciplines. Indeed,solution chemistry is a vast and interdisciplinary field that draws uponchemistry, physics, and biology, as well as pharmaceutical and medicalsciences.

The objective is to achieve, through the synthesis of this knowledge, abetter understanding of the various processes in liquid solutions, which infact constitute more than 70% of the composition of the Earth and livingorganisms.

In particular, the 39th ICSC2025, which brought together approximately 150participants from five continents (37 countries), featured five plenarylectures and 13 keynotes presented by world-renowned professors, as well as 45oral presentations in three parallel sessions and 65 posters in three sessions.The 39th ICSC provided an opportunity to delve deeper into and exchange ideason 14 themes, demonstrating how the extension of solution chemistry tointerface chemistry, polymer chemistry, and supramolecular chemistry has led tosignificant innovations in analytical chemistry, coordination chemistry, andthe field of nanocomposites.

Furthermore, the development of computational and molecular dynamicscalculations, combined with computational chemistry, quantum computing and their application to the latest spectroscopictechniques at different scales, has enabled a better qualitative andquantitative description of structures and dynamics in solution, particularlyin the case of complex solutions, supercritical solutions, ionic liquids, anddeep eutectic solvents, thus paving the way for various new applications indiverse fields.

To cite just a few examples of applications particularly relevant to theNorth African and China environments, we can mention:

- Progress in fundamental research and key technologies for optimalvalorization through selective extraction of brine chemical resources (Li, Cs,Rb, etc.), as well as prospective research on the integrated production of saltlakes and salt chemical industries.

- Progress in separation chemistry at various scales, aimed at separatingelements from natural resources (rare earths, uranium, etc.) or waste forrecycling.

- The development of selective polymer inclusion membranes (MIPs) for new separationapplications, including water purification and selective metal recovery, basedon molecular recognition and coordination.

- Advances in analytical chemistry in the field of Nano-modified sensors.

- Advances in organometallic chemistry, particularly in the field ofhomogeneous Nano catalysis.

- The design of efficient drug delivery systems incorporatingco-encapsulation techniques for bioactive compounds.

- The technologies and Applications ofsupercritical fluids (SCF)for the synthesis and targeted modificationof materials and composites.

- Applications of QDs and Carbon dots CDs in various nanotechnology.

More details are given in the Proceedings of the39ICSC.

4- REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

- Despite the success of the 39th ICSC, the low participation ofsub-Saharan Africa, as well as that of many Arab countries, is regrettable. Andthis is despite Tunisia's presidency of the Association of African ChemicalSocieties and the Federation of Arab Scientific Councils. Not to mention thelow registration fees (€380) granted to developing countries (Accommodationwith full board included).

-   Organizing parallel sessionsdoesn't seem to be a good idea, especially for keynote speeches. It solves theproblem of the number of conferences but doesn't ensure that scientificinformation is properly disseminated to all participants.

- Similarly, it is preferable to dedicate a space to posters on a permanentbasis during the congress, in order to ensure better continuous disseminationof information and to promote intense exchanges.

- Certainly, grouping conference venues, catering and accommodation in thesame "all-inclusive" hotel has its advantages; however, it seems thatthe good weather, the pool, the bars and the beach have weakened attendancerates in the conference rooms.

- President Professor Toshio Yamaguchi wasunable to attend the 39th ICSC in Monastir due to health reasons; he addressedthe participants via video.

- At the end of May 2025, Professor Rachel Schurhammer of the University ofStrasbourg cancelled her participation to the 39thICSC due to unforeseencircumstances. She was replaced by Professor Yang Zhao of Henan NormalUniversity, China.

- At the end of August 2025, Professor Roger Leblanc from the University ofMiami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA, informed us that he was unable to attend inMonastir. He therefore participated in the 39th ICSC online and via video.

- On September 12, Professor Valentine Anankov, Academician of the RussianAcademy, Moscow, Russia, withdrew due to health issues that prevented him fromtraveling. He offered to participate online.

-Similarly, Professor Paola D’Angelo, Chair of the 40th ICSC, was unable toattend at the last minute and therefore canceled her presentation (KN). However,she participated online in the ISC meeting on September 15. For the closingceremony of the congress, she was represented by Professor Matteo Busato, inorder to give us an idea of the organization of the 40th ICSC in Rome.

- In order to fill these gaps, Professor YasuhiroUmebayashi (Niigata University, Japan), future chair of the 41th ICSC in 2029;has kindly agreed to give a KN on the electrolytes of Lithium batteries.

- It is unfortunate that some participants, including guests, left theconference before September 17th, yet the conference only lasted 4 days insteadof the usual 5 to 6 days.This somewhat diminished the significance ofthe closing session, which was dedicated to the awards ceremony, thepresentation on the 40th ICSC 2027, and an enriching discussion on the positiveand negative aspects of the 39th ICSC and recommendations. Furthermore, thegroup photo planned for the closing session did not include all participants.