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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 |
| NANOCOMENVIRO – Nový tiolom funkcionalizovaný nanokompozit montmorillonit/biochar pre imobilizáciu ťažkých kovov z kontaminovanej záplavovej pôdy | |
| Novel thiol-functionalized montmorillonite/biochar nanocomposite for immobilization of heavy metals from contaminated floodplain soil | |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Ing. Slaný Michal, PhD. |
| Annotation: | Soil contamination by heavy metals is currently a global environmental problem due to the potential transfer of these toxic elements to the biosphere and hydrosphere, posing risks to plants, animals, and especially human health. Toxic metals such as Hg, Cd, As, Tl, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Zn are transported through river water in suspended material or in dissolved form and accumulating in floodplains during floods with low flow velocities. However, our understanding of the biogeochemistry of toxic metals in soils, especially under dynamic redox conditions, is very limited. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the redox behaviour of heavy metals in soil is crucial to comprehend mobilization processes and accurately monitor their release into water under changing redox conditions. It is also important to understand the redox mobilization of heavy metals in the soil so that their hazard potential can be better predicted. Therefore, growing need to find novel, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective materials from abundant resources that can immobilize these dangerous substances in floodplain soils. This project offers a novel and innovative solutions for heavy metal immobilization using thiol-functionalized montmorillonite/biochar nanocomposite from floodplain soil under dynamic environmental (redox) conditions. Such a study has not been performed yet and holds great potential to contribute new knowledge and thus lead to significant improvement environmental quality, application of appropriate management, risk assessment of contaminated floodplain soils as well as improving the quality of soil and plants, which is closely related to human health. The proposed objectives of the project focus on new applications and on previously unexplored step change 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. |
| Duration: | 1.7.2024 – 30.6.2026 |