Development, testing and implementation of new remediation approaches, combination of traditional physico-chemical approaches with biological ones.
Exploiting the potential of bacteria to degrade contaminants
Removal of contaminats with iron-based nanoparticles
Application of direct current for groundwater remediation
Mobile app – Ecogame „waste separation“
One of the easiest ways of environmental education of children and youth in the waste separation is the implementation of education elements into their „natural environment“ – smartphones and tablets. The game on a device with OS Android 7.0 (Nougat, API v. 24) and higher will be based on the correct placement of various types of waste into the appropriate trash bins (plastic bottle into the yellow one). The game will have 10 levels with increasing difficulty. The project will be supported by a campaign in online media with ambition to increase the competitivness among players and indirectly educate them in environmental topics.
Expected start: 11/2020 – 11/2021
Estimated duration: 6 months
Estimated allocation: 25 000 EUR
The extractive waste as a potential reusable source for industry
The technological progress leads to the possibility of reuse of the heap waste material from metallurgic and mining industry. Creation of a platform in terms of circular economy and proposal of an amendment to the legislative framework for support of implementation in practice.
Expected start: unspecified
Estimated duration: 3 years
Estimated allocation: unspecified
The research of the degradation of tar pollution
The chemical / biological proceeding of polluted materials – cleanup and reduction of the hydrocarbon chains into the shorter and easily degradable products. Isolation and identification of bacterial strains with an ability to degrade this kind of pollution. Bacterial enrichment and determination of their degradation abilities in microcosm and pilot experiments.
Expected start: unspecified
Estimated duration: 3 years
Estimated allocation: unspecified
Material evaluation of the railway sleepers
The use of old railway sleepers as a source of material for other purposes. Possibility of reclassification from the category of hazardous waste.
Expected start: 1/2021
Estimated duration: unspecified
Estimated allocation: unspecified
Electrogeochemical remediation of contaminated groundwater
The application of direct current, mobilization of contamination by electromigration processes, use of electrode actions (electron transfer induced by direct current) to degradation of chlorinated ethylenes, polychlorinated biphenyls, crude oil.
Expected start: 2/2020
Estimated duration: unspecified
Estimated allocation: unspecified
Bioremediation of crude oil contamination in situ
Isolation and identification of bacterial strain with an ability to degrade contamination, preparation of bacterial mixed cultures (consortia), their enrichment and application directly to the contaminated matrix (sediment, soil, groundwater).
Expected start: 10/2019
Estimated duration: unspecified
Estimated allocation: unspecified
Remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs are hazardous environmental contaminants, which removal periodically seeks attention. Recently, thousands tons of PCBs stored in the area of former producer – Chemko Strážske or surrounded forests have been found, so the need for their degradation and cleanup of environmental loads is still actual. Taking into account the character of contamination (mixtures with various degrees of chlorination), the most promising method for their removal is the combination of physico-chemical and biological approaches, when, at first, the PCB molecule is dechlorinated and then further accessible for microbial metabolization.
Expected start: 5/2020
Estimated duration: unspecified
Estimated allocation: unspecified
Recovery of the agricultural waste as the source of products for the removal of contamination of geological and water environment
Extraction of biologically active substances – polyphenols and related compounds from the plant substrates – byproducts of agricultural industry. Reaction of plant extracts with iron ions lead to reduction to zerovalent iron – strong reductive agent towards the wide range of contaminants.
Expected start: unspecified
Estimated duration: unspecified
Estimated allocation: unspecified
Čičáková, C., Tóth, R., Horváthová, H., Jurkovič, Ľ., Špirová, V., Drábik, A., Kravchenko, D., 2025. Integrated method of electrochemical dechlorination of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons in combination with groundwater pumping in highly contaminated groundwater–field application. Electrochimica Acta 525, 146125.
Tóth, R., Hiller, E., Špirová, V., Jurkovič, Ľ., Ševčíková, Ľ., Macek, J., Čičáková, C., Kovács, T., Auxt, A., 2024. Application of Active Soil Gas Screening for the Identification of
Groundwater Contamination with Chlorinated Hydrocarbons at an Industrial Area—A Case Study of the Former Refrigerator Manufacturer Calex (City of Zlaté Moravce, Western Slovakia). Applied Sciences 14, 10842.
Tlčíková, H., Horváthová, H., Dercová, K., Majčinová, M., Hurbanová, M., Turanská, K., Jurkovič, Ľ., 2024. Plant-Based Substrates for the Production of Iron Bionanoparticles (Fe-BNPs) and Application in PCB Degradation with Bacterial Strains. Processes 12(8), 1695.
Horváthová, H., Schwarzkopfová, K., Vojtková, H., Jurkovič, Ľ., Faragó, T., Boturová, K., Hiller, E., Urík, M., Vítková, M., 2024. Aerobic release of arsenic and antimony from mine soils by biostimulation of indigenous microbial activity and bioaugmentation with Cupriavidus genera of bacteria. Plant and Soil 497, 175-197.
Faragó, T., Špirová, V., Blažeková, P., Lalinská-Voleková, B., Macek, J., Jurkovič, Ľ., Vítková, M., Hiller, E., 2023. Environmental and health impacts assessment of long-term naturally-weathered municipal solid waste incineration ashes deposited in soil—old burden in Bratislava city, Slovakia. Heliyon 9, e13605.
Macek, J., Jurkovič, Ľ., Milička, J., Tóth, R., Horváthová, H., 2022. Comparison of two model environmental burdens with massive light non-aqueous phases liquids (LNAPL) pollution – the extent of pollution identified by geological survey vs. reality uncovered by remediation. Mineralia Slovaca 54(2), 175-184.
Čičáková, C., Tóth, R., Horváthová, H., Drábik, A., Jurkovič, Ľ., Kravchenko, D., 2022. Electroremediation in low-hydraulic conductivity zones – current stage of knowledge and small-scale laboratory experiment. Mineralia Slovaca 51(1), 31-48.
Horváthová, H., Dercová, K., Tlčíková, M., Hurbanová M., 2022. Biologická syntéza nanočastíc: Rastlinné bionanočastice na báze železa pre remediáciu kontaminovaného životného prostredia. Chemické listy 116(7), 405-415.
Horváthová, H., Jurkovič, Ľ., Macek, J., Tóth, R., Kravchenko, D., 2020. Nanodegradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons from groundwater in the native geological environment (laboratory batch experiment). Mineralia Slovaca 52 (2): 133-142.
Macek, J., Jurkovič, Ľ., Malý, V., 2020. Voľná fáza ropných látok – aktuálny pohľad na identifikáciu a hodnotenie znečistenia v horninovom prostredí. Podzemná voda 26 (2): 1-10.
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