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| BIOGEOAP – Aplikácia nových biouhlím funkcionalizovaných geopolymérov pri nakladaní s nebezpečným odpadom | |
| Application of novel biochar-functionalized geopolymers in hazardous waste management | |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Slaný Michal, PhD. |
| Annotation: | Environmental pollution is an eminent, ever-present problem for mankind, jeopardizing the health of humans, ecosystems, and the environment. Extreme population growth and the associated rapid demand for agricultural activities, rapid industrialization, and increased waste production contribute to the contamination of soil due to the accumulation of heavy metals and also radionuclides. There is now an extremely growing need to find novel, environmentally friendly and low-cost materials from abundant resources that could be used to immobilize these dangerous substances. The main objective of the proposed project is to develop novel biochar functionalized aluminosilicate-based geopolymers that will be highly effective in immobilizing heavy metals and radionuclides. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to study in detail the influence of various factors not only by using experimental techniques such as FTIR, XRD, BET-N2 adsorption, TGA/DSC, PET, ICP-MS, but also by testing the developed material under real environmental conditions and using a construction solidification line, especially in the context of meeting the acceptability criteria for their application in the practice of hazardous waste disposal and potentially as “grey” building materials. The proposed project objectives focus on new applications and on previously unexplored leapfrog solutions that will answer the most important questions as well as research and technological development needs, including those that are important on a global scale. This project design can make a significant contribution to the integration of new knowledge in the field of geopolymer composite materials and manufacturing technologies. The proposed project and its outputs have the potential to gain support in sectoral and multi-sectoral applications and to have a strong impact on environmental protection as well as soil and plant quality improvement, which is also closely related to human health. |
| Duration: | 1.9.2025 – 31.8.2029 |
| MULCOMAT – Multifunkčné kompozitné materiály pre cielenú detekciu, adsorpciu a dekontamináciu nebezpečných organických molekúl | |
| Multifunctional composite materials for detection, adsorption and decontamination of hazardous organic molecules | |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Jankovič Ľuboš, PhD. |
| Annotation: | The proposed project is focused on the development of new generation of organo-modified clay minerals using poly(2-alkenyl-2-oxazolines) as representatives of non-ionic, but still highly polar polymers. We expect that organo-modification of montmorillonites using this type of polymers will lead to organoclay materials with more efficient intercalation and thus, with higher adsorption efficiency toward various hazardous organic molecules. The presence of poly(2-alkenyl-2-oxazolines) and poly(2-alkenyl-2-oxazines) in the gallery of clay minerals will ensure catalytic decomposition of hazardous organic molecules. In our case, we use for the evaluation of adsorption and hydrolytic decomposition organophosphate as organic compounds widely used as pesticides and they habe been already used as chemical warfare agents. The combination of improved adsorption and accelerated hydrolytic decomposition of studied organophosphates represents the main innovative aspect of the project and pave an avenue to montmorillonite-based nanoreactors for dephosphorylation reactions of neurotoxic organophosphate agents. Here, we present metal-free catalytic systems that are potentially usable for human and environmental protection. Moreover, poly(2-alkenyl-2-oxazolines) and poly(2-alkenyl-2-oxazines) represent new groups of polymers with reactive pendant 2-oxazoline and 2-oxazine groups, respectively, capable to provide post-polymerization reactions with carboxylic groups. In our case, 2-oxazoline groups will be used for the structural stabilization during melt mixing with carboxylic units containing polymer matrices. |
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 – 30.6.2028 |
| Photomat – Fotofunkčné hybridné materiály organických luminofórov a nanočastíc vrstevnatých silikátov | |
| Photofunctional hybrid materials of organic luminophores and nanoparticles of layered silicates | |
| Program: | SRDA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Boháč Peter, PhD. |
| Annotation: | The topic of the project is based on modern trends in materials research, and the experience and recent results of the project team. It was discovered that adsorption, intercalation, or molecular aggregation of specific types of organic molecules can significantly increase their photoactivity, manifesting as an increase in luminescence. The strategy of increasing photoactivity will be the main objective of the project. Each of the phenomena should be applied depending on the molecular structure of the luminophores. The project will focus on hybrids of photoactive organic luminophores and layered silicates. Structurally optimized S,N-heteroaromatic dyes and their ion metal complexes will be prepared within the project. Heteroaromatic systems will be modified by cationic groups or their functionalization with cationic metal ions including Ru(II), Ir(III), Au(III), and others to increase the compatibility of these chromophores with silicates and achieve the required photophysical properties. Appropriate selection of the layered carrier, choice of chemical modification, and suitable conditions for the synthesis of hybrid systems will be the key factors to achieve the project objectives. In addition to improving the properties of molecules, other goals will be to prepare complex functional materials with efficient use of light energy. Here, the organization of molecules in nanostructural hybrids will play a key role to achieve optimal photophysical interactions aimed at specific functionality. In addition to luminescent properties, the aim will be to prepare hybrids with mainly photosensitizing properties. The last step will be the use of nanoparticles for the modification of technical polymers by the formation of nanocomposites. The objective will be obtaining surfaces with photosensitizing and photodisinfection properties, which will be tested for the growth of microbial biofilms. |
| Duration: | 1.7.2023 – 30.6.2027 |
| Pokročilé materiály na báze anorganických vrstevnatých štruktúr študované modelovým a experimentálnym prístupom | |
| Advanced materials based on the inorganic layered structures studied by model and experimental approaches | |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Scholtzová Eva, CSc. |
| Annotation: | The project presents a combined theoretical and experimental research of selected pollutants adsorbed on the layered structures (LS) based on graphene (G), aluminosilicates (AS) and their modifications with improved physicochemical properties. Pollutants are extracted significantly, e.g., from contaminated waters, by adsorption on these LS. A comparative study on the adsorption effectivity of pollutants by layered structures of the G type (expensive materials) and clays (lower cost) is focused on understanding the interactions responsible for the forming and stability of these complexes. New knowledge about the way of pollutants immobilisation also contributes to the proposal of advanced hybrid materials combining properties of both types of LS applied in green technologies. The outputs from modelling will also interpret the results obtained experimentally to achieve a complex characterisation of the studied advanced materials based on the inorganic layered structures. |
| Duration: | 1.1.2023 – 31.12.2026 |