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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