Research area

The Department of Environmental Technology undertakes research in a number of focus areas. These include: 

• Heterogeneous photocatalysis 
• Heterogeneous catalysis 
• Application of advances oxidation processes (AOPs) for pollutants removal from liquid phase
• Waste management and recycling technologies

Heterogeneous photocatalysis

Our research group is aiming at development and characteristics of new materials (e.g. nanoparticles and nanocomposites) with high efficiency in photocatalytic reactions. Obtained new materials could be used:
     (a)   for pollutant degradation from aqueous and gas phases under UV or visible light irradiation,
     (b)   for water splitting to generate hydrogen (solar to chemical energy conversion),
    (c)   for self-cleaning surfaces.

Main research targets are:

• development of preparations method, characterization and better understanding of excitation mechanism of TiO₂-based photocatalysts modified with noble metal nanoparticles (co-operation with Prof. Hynd Remita from Universite Paris Sud, Laboratoire de Chimie Physique in Orsay, France),
• to investigate the effect of bimetallic nanopartciles structure (core-shell or alloys) on photoactivity of TiO₂-nanocomposites (Au/Pt-TiO₂, Au/ Pd-TiO₂ and Au/Ag-TiO₂), (co-operation with Prof. Bunsho Ohtani from Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan),
• development of new photocatalysts for glycerol photoconversion (co-operation with dr hab. inż. Marek Stelmachowski from Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, grant No. 2011/01/B/ST8/07159),
• to investigate the effect of anodic oxidation parameters (anodization voltage, electrolyte composition, calcination time and application of ultrasonic treatment) on doped-TiO₂ nanotubes morphology (length, diameter and smoothness) and photocatalytic activity in gas treatment reaction,
• to understand the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation pathways in the presence of pure and modified with noble metals (such as Ag, Au and Pt) anatase TiO₂ particles with specific crystal faces {101} and {001}. (grant No. 2011/03/D/ST5/05284 supported by National Science Centre in SONATA program leaded by dr inż. Ewelina Grabowska),
• to develop a new materials belonging to the third generation of photoactive materials and to design/develop air treatment systems based on developed active materials (grant entitled Third generation photoactive materials and materials-based system for photocatalytic air treatment, PHOTOAIR supported by National Centre for Science and Development in Small Grant Scheme program leaded by dr hab. inż. Adriana Zaleska, prof. UG),
• to investigate toxicity of TiO₂ nanoparticles modified by noble metals (co-operation with Prof. Tomasz Puzyn from University of Gdansk and Prof. Seishiro Hirano from National Institute for Environmental Science in Tsukuba, Japan).

Heterogeneous catalysis

Experimental study of hydrogenolysis of chlorinated organic compound as means of waste treatment such as PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) as well as other chlorinated or fluorinated compounds is being performed. Reactions conditions namely: catalyst, temperature, mixing rate, concentration of hydrogen chloride scavenger (base) are tested in order to improve reaction efficiency. Influence of compound structure: number of chlorine atoms in a molecule and their positions, other than chlorine substituent and their position on chlorine susceptibility to dechlorination are tested and analyzed. Also tested is catalyst durability in hydrogenolysis conditions.

Application of advances oxidation processes (AOPs) for pollutants removal from liquid phase

Our investigations concerns the removal of poorly biodegradable and bioactive pollutants by electro-and photo-chemical advanced oxidation processes(AOPs).:

• Study of the kinetics and efficiency of the organic pollutants removal from water and wastewater, depending on the AOPs conditions.
• Investigations on the effects of molecular structure of organic pollutants on their electrochemical and photochemical decomposition.
• Mechanistic study of decomposition of organic pollutants.  Identification of intermediates using LC-MS and GC-MS techniques and evaluation of their toxicity and biodegradability.
• Surface modification and characteristic of non-active electrodes s and their usage in analysis and environmental protection technology.
• Analysis of water and wastewater.

Waste management and recycling technologies

• Methods for recovery of useful metals from industrial waste and electronic equipment.
• The use of techniques and methods for selective dissolution and extraction and electrochemical methods for extracting metals
• Methods of identification and determination of precious and rare metals in electronic scrap and other industrial waste.
• Speciation analysis of metallic elements in the environmental samples.
• Mobility and bioavailability of metallic elements in soils of urban areas
• Effects of industrial sewage sludge storage on environmental pollution with metallic elements.