Project
Institute of Geotechnics SAS
International Projects
POTASSIAL - Zero-waste valorisation of feldspathic ores: Green application and sustainable sourcing of strategic raw materials.
Bezodpadové zhodnotenie živcových surovín: Zelené aplikácie a udržateľné získavanie strategických nerastných surovín.
| Duration: | 15. 4. 2022 - 14. 4. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | JTC-2021_027-POTASSIAL |
| Program: | ERANET |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Achimovičová Marcela PhD. |
| Annotation: | Feldspathic ores containing mainly K-Feldspar (KAlSi3O8) will be valorised by applying several hydro- and pyrometallurgical processes at which KCl, Al2O3, and SiO2 will primarily be produced without generating any solid waste. Objective is to provide new resources for potash and alumina. Targets are to produce fertilizer-grade KCl, high purity Al2O3, synthetic SiO2, Ca-silicate, and SiC from one ore and to sequester CO2 on the same ore. Although there are many studies for K and Al2O3 recovery from feldspars and clays, there are no notable commercial attempt to date. Unlike the other KCl and Al2O3 production methods suggested in the literature, manufacturing KCl, Al2O3, SiO2, Ca-silicate and SiC from the same ore without generating any waste is the novelty of this project. Thus, innovative aspect of the project is that feldspathic ores will be processed as a source of high value-added materials for the first time and with zero-waste approach, thus increasing the economic value of the proposed process. Also, CO2 sequestration capability of the feldsphatic ores will also be verified to enhance the economic importance those types of resources. For increased raw materials efficiency, a novel, hybrid and zero-waste processing method will be put forward. This will be established by exploiting the ores, other than bauxite and natural potash ores, and by applying environmentally sensitive production processes. The project will unlock substantial volume of various raw materials from deposits that cannot be economically or environmentally exploited within or outside the EU through enabling the better efficiency of exploitation of raw materials’ resources and increasing the range and yields of recovered raw materials; and push Europe to the forefront in the area of raw materials processing technologies and increase availability of recovered raw material and create added value products through reducing the amounts of industrial tailings to be disposed or landfilled. |
| Project web page: | https://www.inonu.edu.tr/era-min3-potassial |
CLEANWATER - Multifunctional sustainable adsorbents for water treatment assisted with plasma technologies and for health protection from xenobiotics
Multifunkčné udržateľné adsorbenty na úpravu vody pomocou plazmových technológií a na ochranu zdravia pred xenobiotikami
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | 101131382 |
| Program: | Horizont Európa |
| Project leader: | Melnyk Inna PhD. |
| Annotation: | Contamination of drinking-water is an urgent global health concern, preferentially in rural areas, and is highly related to the poor and vulnerable population. This challenge requires a single, easy to handle and low-cost solution able to decrease the levels of pathogens, chemical and radiological hazards to tolerable levels in a single and simple pot (from a sorbent on a glass to a more powerful cold plasma technology). Furthermore, climate change, natural disasters and the actual war in Ukraine urges having available fast effective solutions to avoid the spread of waterborne epidemies and being exposed to unsafe levels of heavy metals or hazardous organic pollutants. The complexity of such contamination including organic/inorganic species, cationic/anionic species, different size and shape, etc., requires a multicomponent system and/or device, in the form of a tablet or monolith, able to tackle specifically each of these hazards at once. In addition, this multicomponent system, besides tacking the problem in water, can be prepared and/or modified to be biocompatible so that it can also be used as a dietary complement to mitigate/remove all these hazards in human body (as enterosorbent). Based on these premises, the main goal of the CLEANWATER project is the design and development of multicomponent sorbents prepared by the combination of safe materials (e.g., activated carbons, bone-chars, pectins, among others) able to eliminate these contaminants in drinking water in a single pot or in combination with cold plasma for complete destruction. Furthermore, this sorbent will be modified accordingly to be applied in human body as a dietary complement to remove these species once assimilated in the body. |
Sol-gel synthesis of silica-based matrices with different REE-amino- complexes for sensing applications
Sol-gélová syntéza matríc na báze oxidu kremičitého s rôznymi REE-aminokomplexami pre snímacie aplikácie
| Duration: | 1. 10. 2024 - 1. 7. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 52410608 |
| Program: | International Visegrad Fund (IVF) |
| Project leader: | Melnyk Inna PhD. |
ZnO nanoparticles: synthesis and application
ZnO nanočastice: syntéza a využitie
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2023 - 28. 2. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | Ref. No. 376 |
| Program: | Iné |
| Project leader: | Melnyk Inna PhD. |
National Projects
CAMBIOREG - Alternative methods of biocompatibility assessment of porous materials developed for the bone tissue regeneration
Alternatívne metódy hodnotenia biokompatibility pórovitých materiálov vyvíjaných pre regeneráciu kostného tkaniva
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-23-0372 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Baláž Matej DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The presented project solves the issue of in vitro testing of an innovative porous materials and their subsequent in vivo biocompatibility testing without or with seeded cells in relation to bone tissue regeneration. The scientific level of the project is increased by so far little-studied connection between the material seeded with endothelial cells and previously formed capillaries with the surrounding vessels of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the bird embryo. The project intensively uses available alternative in vitro and in vivo models with respect to the preservation of the 3Rs principles, thereby following the current trend in the field of science and research. Thanks to this trend, it will significantly contribute to reducing the number of experimental animals in the biocompatibility evaluation process. At the same time, the project supports a multidisciplinary approach, as it links in vitro and in vivo monitoring of the biocompatibility of prepared materials and biomaterial engineering, which will enable a better assessment of the use of biomaterials in medical applications. An important point of the project is the effort to create a vascularized and therefore viable bone tissue construct important not only for the field of implantology but also for the creation of tissue models for developmental, physiological, pathological -physiological and other biomedical studies. The creation of a vascularized tissue substitute, including a complex of porous material with cells and connecting the capillary bed of the construct to the vascular system of the recipient would significantly push the boundaries of tissue engineering in a positive direction. The project should therefore provide relevant answers to questions regarding the ability of biomaterials to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels or whether the newly created construct with cells is suitable for the formation of a bone tissue model in vitro or ex ovo. |
Purification of mining and industrial waters using functionalized adsorbents and catalysts based on oxides
Čistenie banských a priemyselných vôd pomocou funkcionalizovaných adsorbentov a katalyzátorov na báze oxidov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA 2-0138-24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Melnyk Inna PhD. |
| Annotation: | Water purification is an essential area of research in the 21st century, in line with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. This project aims to contribute to these efforts by developing progressive nanomaterials based on Si, Fe, and Zn oxides for removing organic pollutants from water. To achieve this, raw minerals such as kaolinite, talc, and pyrophyllite, which are widely available in the SR, will be used as sources of SiO2. In addition, the research will focus on synthesizing functional magnetic adsorbents and catalysts based on Fe oxides and photocatalysts based on ZnO. By modifying these materials with various functional groups and metal ions, their surface properties can be improved, and their selectivity can be enhanced to effectively adsorb organic pollutants. These materials will be applied to eliminate and decompose various organic pollutants, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons and halides from mine waters, azo dyes from the textile industry, drug residues from wastewater. |
Assessment of anthropogenic load of selected areas of eastern Slovakia using cold-blooded animals and their endo helminths
Hodnotenie miery antropogénnej záťaže vybraných oblastí východného Slovenska s využitím studenokrvných živočíchov a ich endohelmintov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2027 |
| Evidence number: | VEGA 2/0052/24 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Hančuľák Jozef PhD. |
Characteristics of suspended and dust particles of atmospheric deposition in relation to their origin, sources and the contamination of selected components of the environment.
Charakteristika suspendovaných a prachových častíc atmosférickej depozície vo vzťahu k ich pôvodu, zdrojom a kontaminácii vybraných zložiek životného prostredia.
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0136/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Hančuľák Jozef PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project is focused on the dust particles study in the atmosphere, that pose serious health and environmental risks. Sampling of suspended (PM) and dust particles of atmospheric deposition as well as soil samples will be carried out in urban and suburban environments with a specific metallurgical industry in the Košice area. The aim of the project is to obtain deficient knowledge of the origin of suspended and particulate matter in relation to anthropogenic and natural sources of their emissions and their impact and interactions with the soil in the monitored area and resulting from it risks based on specific particle characteristics (heavy metal content, chemical and phase compositions, large distribution, shape characteristics) and soil samples. |
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Identifikácia a kvantifikácia kľúčových parametrov jadrového vŕtania hornín novými diagnostickými metódami
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-23-0364 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Ivaničová Lucia PhD. |
Possibilities of wastes valorisation from mining and processing of ore raw materials
Možnosti zhodnotenia odpadov z ťažby a úpravy rudných surovín
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0108/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Luptáková Alena PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project idea is in accordance with the Environmental Policy Strategy of the Slovak Republic until 2030. The basis of the project are research of combinations of physical, chemical and biological methods for recovery of waste from mining and processing of ore raw materials from selected environmental loads containing sulphide minerals in Slovakia. The expected benefits of the project are the information completion as well as the achieving of original knowledge in the areas of the acquire of base and critical metals/metalloids, treatment mine waters, leaching of mine and mineral processing wastes dumping, the use of residual mineral fractions for the preparation of building materials and environmental protection. |
MineWaste - Possibilities of critical raw materials recovery by advanced methods of mining wastes processing
Možnosti získavania kritických surovín pomocou progresívnych metód spracovania banských odpadov
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2021 - 30. 6. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-20-0140 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Luptáková Alena PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project idea is in accordance with priorities of strategy for research and development adopted by the government RIS 3 and Strategy of the environmental policy of the Slovak Republic until 2030. The project solution is based on the research and development need of progressive methods of wastes treatment from the mining and processing industry of ore raw materials in order to obtain critical raw materials with regard to environmental protection. The project is focused on the study of the wastes recovery from selected old mining sulphidic burdens in Slovakia - Smolník and Zlatá Baňa, as secondary sources of critical raw materials. The proposed concept of the solution results from the intensification of natural processes combined with advanced physico-chemical and especially biological-chemical processes, in accordance with generally used mining waste treatment procedures and respecting the specific geochemical and hydrogeological conditions of the sites. The expected benefits of the project are the selective metals recovery, the sulphates elimination, the mineral fractions utilization for construction materials and the remediation proposal for the recovery and use of landscape potential. |
na-As-Se - Nanostructured Amorphous Arseno-Selenides na-As-Se: on the path towards great challenging issue in contemporary nanocomposite materials science and engineering
Nanoštrukturované amorfné selenidy arzénu na-As-Se: perspektívna cesta v materiálovom výskume a inžinierstve nanokompozitných materiálov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2024 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | SK-PL-23-0002 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Lukáčová Bujňáková Zdenka PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project deals with development of novel multifunctional media for contemporary photonics, IR optoelectronics, telecommunication and sensing technique, as well as biomedicine based on mechanically activated nanostructured amorphous arsenic selenides, na-As-Se (nano-arseno-selenides). The coupled nanostructurization–re-amorphization effects in these substances activated by high-energy milling in dry and wet modes will be recognized in compositional domains including under-stoichiometric, stoichiometric (As3Se3) and over-stoichiometric substances. The quantum-chemical ab-initio models of covalent-network clusters in As-Se system, complemented by structural re-amorphization probes on short- and medium-range atomic ordering (employing X-ray diffraction related to the first sharp diffraction peak, XRD-FSDP) and sub-atomistic free-volume voids (employing positron annihilation spectroscopy in lifetime measuring mode (PALS) developed within the Positronics approach), allow selection the most perspective na-As-Se with optimized exploitation properties for multifunctional applications. This project is grounded on hypothesis that optimal functionality of mechanically activated glassy arseno-selenides is governed by their atomic-specific and atomic-deficient microstructure, i.e. arrangement of both atoms and atomic-deficient free-volume spaces. That is why PALS, probing free-volume imperfections in a condensed matter at the levels stretching far below experimental measuring limits of many conventional microstructural probes, complemented with atomic-sensitive XRD-FSDP method, are the best tools to through more light on the essence of this phenomenon. This collaborative research is opening novel direction in the engineering of the modern multifunctional solid-state media with predicted, guided and reliable exploitation properties, these being mechanically activated nanostructured glassy arseno-selenides in re-amorphized state – nano-arseno-selenides, na-As-Se. |
SPCEFAT - Unlocking the Innovative Potential of Silica/Pectin Composites as Environmentally Friendly Adsorbents for Water Treatment
Odomykanie inovačného potenciálu kompozitov oxidu kremičitého a pektínu ako ekologicky šetrných adsorbentov pre úpravu vody
| Duration: | 1. 10. 2024 - 31. 8. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V04-00700 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Kyshkarova Viktoriia PhD. |
| Annotation: | The primary objective of this project is to develop silica/pectin composites assorbents. Our approach stands out in recycling waste materials to obtain thenecessary components for the desired composite: silica derived from minerals andpectin sourced from agricultural by-products. This approach ensures bothenvironmental sustainability and the renewability of the manufacturing process.Pectin was chosen as a crucial component due to its abundance and the presenceof numerous carboxyl groups. These groups exhibit the ability to form complexeswith metal ions, thereby enhancing the overall sorption capacity. The utilization ofpectin as an adsorbent offers environmental benefits owing to its natural origin andbiodegradability. To further improve its adsorption properties, techniques such aschemical modification, cross-linking, and blending with other materials, specifically silica in our case, can be employed. These modifications enhance the adsorptioncapacity, selectivity, and stability of pectin for specific applications. The main focus of this project will be on the removal of heavy metals from water. |
Advanced method of preparation of selected metal chalcogenides by high-energy milling as potential materials for energy conversion.
Pokročilý spôsob prípravy vybraných chalkogenidov kovov vysoko-energetickým mletím ako potenciálnych materiálov pre konverziu energie.
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 02/0036/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Achimovičová Marcela PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project will focus on an advantageous synthesis of transition metal chalcogenides, selenides, and selenospinels by high-energy milling and the characterization of their physico-chemical properties. In planetary ball mills, the synthesis of binary and ternary selenides, synthetic analogues of minerals naumannite (Ag2Se), berzelianite (Cu2-xSe), and selenospinels of the Me3Se4 type, where Me=Fe,Ni,Co, and CuCr2Se4 will take place, or combined mechano/thermal approach will be used, resp. The milling technique will also be used to prepare doped selenides with elemental Ag (Cu2-xAgxSe; x=0.1-2) and Zn, Mn, I...(Cu1-xTxCr2Se4-xIx; x=0.1-1) in order to improve their thermoelectric efficiency. The kinetics of syntheses, phase composition, and morphology of undoped and doped chalcogenides will be monitored. Furthermore, the powder densification conditions will be determined, the thermoelectrical, optical, and magnetic properties will be measured. The properties of synthetic analogues will be compared with minerals. |
Rock drilling process using the vibration signal
Proces rozpojovania hornín s využitím vibračného signálu
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0090/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Bali Hudáková Mária PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project is focused on differentiation of various areas of rock drilling in laboratory conditions using the experimental core-drilling rig simulating the real drilling conditions. Investigation of differentiation of such areas using the vibration signal along with determination of energy consumption shall contribute to quantification and qualitative assessment of efficient volume disintegration directly in the in-situ real conditions. Numerical and analytical methods, image processing of drilled cores and actual condition of drill bit, and observation of distribution and shape of drilled rock debris will all be used for analysis and interpretation of acquired data. Mechanical properties of drilled rock will be monitored as well, such as strength and abrasive properties. The project shall result in specific information on interaction between rock and drill bit, while the drilled core, drill debris, vibration signal and condition change of drill bit will all represent the new information carrier. |
MinePig - Secondary minerals from mine waters as a source of valuable pigments
Sekundárne minerály z banských vôd ako zdroj cenných pigmentov
| Duration: | 1. 8. 2024 - 31. 7. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V04-00697 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Bártová Zuzana PhD. |
| Annotation: | Iron oxides have served as pigments for centuries. Both naturally occurring and artificially produced iron oxides find application in a wide array of uses, including paints, stains, plastics, and construction materials. The weathering process concentrates naturally formed oxides and hydrated oxides of iron (Fe), aluminum(Al), and manganese (Mn). These naturally derived pigments, in shades of red,yellow, and brown, are currently extracted on a limited scale and are considered to be non-renewable resources. In general, acquiring these pigments from natural sources contributes to environmental degradation. One of the most interesting sources of secondary minerals that naturally form in water rich in dissolved metals is acid mine drainage (AMD). It is a prominent topic in the context of historical mining residues and mining effluents, through which metals enter the environment,posing a risk. Obtaining these pigments from old mine drainage presents a challenge, the solution to which will bring about new technological approaches in metal bioprecipitation processes and raw material recovery. The resulting product will be a pigment obtained in an environmentally friendly manner with the lowest possible operating costs from this almost untapped natural resource. |
Processing of aluminosilicate minerals to create adsorbents with organofunctional groups for water purification from inorganic and organic pollutants
Spracovanie hlinitokremičitanových minerálov na vytvorenie adsorbentov s organofunkčnými skupinami pre čistenie vôd od anorganických a organických znečisťujúcich látok
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2023 - 30. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V02-00029 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Simanová Klaudia |
Old mining works as a source of environmental burden on the environment
Staré banské diela ako zdroj environmentálneho zaťaženia prostredia
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0213/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Luptáková Alena PhD. |
Synthesized minerals with the structure of complex oxides as components for devices for green energy production and storage
Syntetizované minerály na báze komplexných oxidov a testovanie ich využitia pre komponenty zariadení získavania a uskladnenia energie so zreteľom na udržateľnosť životného prostredia
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0058/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Fabián Martin PhD. |
| Annotation: | The issue of the development of sustainable energy sources is one of the most intensively researched scientific areas today. However, addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach. One of the possibilities is the synthesis and modification of new materials based on minerals with a structure of complex oxides. It is known that complex oxides have a wide range of applications as components for energy generating and storing equipment. Nevertheless, the influence of the modification of the composition, structure, variations in the size of the crystallographic grains and the contribution of the active surface on the functional properties of the studied materials still requires intensive research. Therefore, within the solution of the project, complex oxides of various structural and chemical compositions (especially with perovskite and spinel structure) will be synthesized and investigated utilizing milling of precursors and investigated by standard methods used for the characterization of minerals. |
AQUASYS - Systems for Enhanced Industrial Water Purity through Adsorbents, Catalysts, and Sensors
Systémy na zvýšenie čistoty priemyselnej vody prostredníctvom adsorbentov, katalyzátorov a senzorov
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2024 - 31. 8. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V04-00708 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Melnyk Inna PhD. |
| Annotation: | Drinking water problems persistently present significant challenges on a global scale, profoundly impacting the health and well-being of millions of individuals. The contamination of water sources, resulting from industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and inadequate sanitation practices, further jeopardizes the quality of drinking water. The UN's SDGs 6 and 14 specifically aim to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. In line with these objectives, the proposed project will address tasks aligned with these goals, specifically focusing on the creation of materials for water purification and the determination of pollutants in water through the development of sensors. The basis of these substances will be silica, which will be prepared from silica-containing minerals. To create adsorbents (for the removal of a large amount of organic and inorganic pollutants), various organic and complexing groups will be introduced into the surface layer, along with combinations of them. To create catalysts (for the degradation of small concentrations of organic pollutants), transition metals and rare-earth elements will be fixed on the surface of such carriers. The sensors will contain luminescence-sensitive organic groups within the matrix. Such a comprehensive approach will help solve many problems related to water purification |
Scholarships for excellent researchers threatened by the military conflict in Ukraine
Štipendiá pre excelentných výskumníkov ohrozených vojnovým konfliktom na Ukrajine
| Duration: | 1. 3. 2023 - 28. 2. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V01-00108 Štipendiá pre excelentných výskumníkov ohrozených vojnovým konfliktom na Ukrajine |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Prof. Dr. Makota Oksana |
| Project web page: | https://ugt.saske.sk/veda-a-vyskum/plan-obnovy/ |
Scholarships for excellent researchers threatened by the military conflict in Ukraine
Štipendiá pre excelentných výskumníkov ohrozených vojnovým konfliktom na Ukrajine 09I03-03-V01-00098
| Duration: | 1. 9. 2022 - 31. 8. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V01-00098 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Semeshko Olha PhD., DrSc. |
| Project web page: | https://ugt.saske.sk/veda-a-vyskum/plan-obnovy/ |
Study on the influence of precursors in the mechanochemical synthesis of Sr2FeMoO6 and Fe/Mo ion disorder in its structure.
Štúdium vplyvu prekurzorov na mechanochemickú syntézu Sr2FeMoO6 a neusporiadanosť Fe/Mo iónov v štruktúre
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2025 |
| Program: | Iné projekty |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Tóthová Erika PhD. |
| Annotation: | Sr2FeMoO6 (SFMO) is an important member of the so-called "double perovskites", which attracts attention due to interesting physicochemical properties, especially magnetic ones. These properties are largely influenced by the arrangement of Fe and Mo ions in the structure, which can be regular or irregular. So far, the highest disorder has been observed in SFMO prepared by a mechanochemical method using solid-phase precursors SrO, Fe, and MoO3. Disorder, although lower, was also observed for SFMO prepared by conventional methods using different precursors, so it is not clear which has a greater effect on the disorder, the synthesis method, or the type of precursor. During mechanosynthesis, the decomposition of reactants, and the formation of intermediate products also occurs in the gaseous state, which affects the current atmosphere and temperature in the grinding chamber. The goal of the project is to verify the influence of the precursor on the kinetics of the process and on the disorder of Fe and Mo ions in the SFMO structure by varying different precursors under the same milling conditions. |
REMEDY - Research of remediation processes for decontamination of groundwaters and mine effluents followed by CRM recovery
Výskum sanačných procesov pre dekontamináciu podzemných a banských vôd so získavaním kritických surovín
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V03-00083 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Ing. Václavíková Miroslava PhD. |
| Annotation: | Insufficient protection of waters and the immediate need for remediation of high-prioritized old environmental burden resulted in an idea to investigate the methods for efficient clean-up of contaminated waters by implementing novel approaches of combined physical, chemical and biological treatment processes. REMEDY aimsfor design and confirming the proof-of-concept of a sequential flow-through treatment chains for complex removal of persistent organic pollution from groundwaters, and for removal of heavy metals from mine effluents, the latter coupled with recovery of strategic metallic critical raw materials (mCRM) from such effluents, representing a potential secondary resource of CRM in line with the concepts of the circular economy. The proposed solution is innovative on a globalscale and the project methodology meets the ‘green technology’ concept by minimising the use of input chemicals, which is opposite to commonly applied wastewater treatment technologies. |
High-energy milling of calcite-based eggshell waste and selected plants for preparation of nanocrystalline minerals and environmental applications
Vysoko-energetické mletie vaječného odpadu na báze kalcitu a vybraných rastlín pre prípravu nanokryštalických minerálov a environmentálne aplikácie
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2022 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0112/22 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Baláž Matej DrSc. |
| Annotation: | High-energy milling is a mineral processing technique initially developed for the treatment of raw materials during mining activities. In the proposed project, it will be used to treat calcite mineral present in the eggshell waste in order to improve its adsorption capability against selected heavy metal ions and dyes from both model solutions and real wastewaters from the mining regions. Additionally, bio-based calcite and the organic residue will be used as active reactants in the synthesis to yield nanocrystalline minerals (sulfides, oxides and their composites) and as a catalyst for the selected organic reactions. Both adsorption and nanomaterials synthesis will be also performed with selected common plants as natural raw materials. Eggshell and selected plants will be also applied as reducing agents to yield Ag and AgCl nanoparticles. The application of the obtained products in the fields of photocatalysis, thermoelectrics and in biomedicine will be tested in collaboration with foreign partners. |
Application of magnetic biochar from tea waste biomass for removal of toxic pollutants from waters
Využitie magnetického biouhlíka z čajovej odpadovej hmoty pri odstraňovaní toxických polutantov z vôd
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2025 |
| Program: | Iné projekty |
| Project leader: | Ing. Hreus Katarína PhD. |
| Annotation: | Recently, there has been a tremendous demand for the development of novel sustainable materials for water and wastewater treatment. Biochars represent the group of biosorbents that are effective, low cost, eco-friendly, and possess high sorption affinity toward a wide range of contaminants. The main aim of this project is the development of magnetic biochar suitable for the removal of various organic and inorganic contaminants from water. As source material for biochar preparation tea waste biomass from the local tea house will be used. Fe nanoparticles will be incorporated into carbonaceous structures to improve their surface and sorption properties. The magnetic tea waste biochar will be prepared by standard methods of single and double step pyrolysis as well as by the innovative method of green synthesis. The effect of used methods of preparation on the structural and sorption properties towards selected contaminants will be studied. |
Microwave Energy Utilization in the Removal of Toxic Pollutants from Model Solutions, Mine Drainage and Industrial Waste Decontamination.
Využitie mikrovlnnej energie pri odstraňovaní nebezpečných polutantov z modelových roztokov, banských vôd a pri dekontaminácii priemyselných odpadov
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0116/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | RNDr. Zubrik Anton PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project is focused on the preparation of advanced carbon adsorbents from local precursors (e.g. Slovak lignite, waste biomass). Microwave heating will be applied in the pyrolytic synthesis of the adsorbents, their surface activation, and modification, as well as in the regeneration process. The modification will be realized by incorporating magnetic nanoparticles (Fe (0), Fe-oxides) into carbon structures. It allows the separation of the solid adsorbent from the cleaned water by magnetic filtration. In addition to the static adsorption experiments, the dynamic mode will be applied during the adsorption studies to eliminate selected toxic metals/metalloids and organic pollutants. Desorption and regeneration of adsorbents as well as microwave degradation of organic pollutants will also be examined. The main goal is to prepare the advanced material with excellent surface properties applicable in the environmental technologies e.g. for remediation of mine drainage and industrial wastes. |
ZNO - Valorization of hazardous waste containing zinc from the galvanizing process
Zhodnotenie nebezpečného odpadu s obsahom zinku z procesu galvanizácie
| Duration: | 1. 7. 2024 - 30. 6. 2028 |
| Evidence number: | APVV-23-0055 |
| Program: | APVV |
| Project leader: | Ing. Znamenáčková Ingrid PhD. |
Bio4Sb - Antimony recovery by bioleaching of tetrahedrite as a primary source of CRM
Získavanie antimónu biolúhovaním tetraedritu ako primárneho zdroja kritických surovín
| Duration: | 1. 8. 2024 - 31. 7. 2026 |
| Evidence number: | 09I03-03-V04-00271 |
| Program: | Plán obnovy EÚ |
| Project leader: | Mgr. Hagarová Lenka PhD. |
| Annotation: | According to the Critical Raw Materials List (2023), the European Union's (EU)reliance on antimony has reached 100%. Moreover, antimony is seen as a metal supporting the transition to a green economy. However, some countries have antimony resources, such as Slovakia, which has more than 3 Mt of antimony available. This project deals with recovering critical raw materials (CRMs) with a primary focus on antimony from primary resource by advanced biotechnological methods considering the environmental aspect. The process is based on the tetrahedrite concentrate bioleaching optimization by acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria at ambient temperature, which represents environmentally less demanding yet energy-efficient ways of extracting metals compared to conventional mineral separation and chemical processing routes. |
| Project web page: | https://www.bio4sb.eu/ |
AUHR - Gold recovery from White Hill (Detva) concentrate using algae and mechanical activation
Získavanie zlata z koncentrátu Biely vrch (Detva) s využitím rias a mechanickej aktivácie
| Duration: | 1. 1. 2023 - 31. 12. 2025 |
| Evidence number: | 2/0084/23 |
| Program: | VEGA |
| Project leader: | Ing. Ficeriová Jana PhD. |
| Annotation: | Complicated technological treatment of gold-containing concentrates and non-ecological methods of their processing have initiated the use of a non-traditional environmental method of this precious metal recovery. For these reasons, the scientific project is focused on gold obtained from concentrate White Hill (Detva) by using algae and mechanical activation. Mechanical activation of the concentrate and silica shells of freshwater algae causes changes in the physico-chemical properties of gold carriers as well as mineral components of algae. These structural changes have a decisive influence on the precipitation of nano-size gold into solutions of environmentally friendly reagents, from which the gold is subsequently fixed in the cell matrix on mechanically activated silica algae shells. The gold nanoparticles obtained in this way can have a very important benefit in practice for the disposal of hazardous substances in the environment. |
| Project web page: | https://e-vega.sav.sk/ |
Projects total: 30