Oxide-based environmentally-friendly porous materials for genotoxic substances removal

Within this project, our research will be focused on procedures and materials for efficient removal of toxic substances that enter ecosystems (watercourses, soil and food) many of which show genotoxic activity. Our interest will be directed to three types of genotoxic agents: heavy metal ions, specific organic pollutants (chlorophenols, chlorine pesticides, alkylphenols and bisphenols) and mycotoxins. We propose treatment strategy based on two steps: 1) adsorption or ion exchange;2) transformation to environmentally safe products. In the first step pollutants will be removed from the water solution, immobilized and accumulated onto the adsorbent. In the second step suitable treatment of adsorbent saturated with pollutant will be carried out. Adsorbed organic compounds will be completely catalytically oxidized while adsorbent loaded with heavy metal ions will be transformed to nanooxides and/or biofilm carriers. Adsorption and/or catalytic conversion will be performed on environmentally safe nanoporous materials that have high adsorption capacities and high catalytic activity. Besides different classes of oxides, minerals (clinoptilolite and bentonite), synthetic zeolites (MFI, BEA, FAU) and composite materials based on zeolites will be prepared and tested as adsorbents and catalysts. This project will unify seven research laboratories. To achieve postulated goals we composed team of young researches and well-experienced researchers in the fields encompassed by the project.