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Water Treatment and Analysis

Micropollutants in water

Analysis and removal of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, metals, and other trace contaminants.

Industrial wastewater treatment

Treatment of wastewater and process water and processing of liquid industrial waste.

Adsorption and bioremediation

Development of processes utilizing sorption and biological mechanisms for pollution removal.

Photocatalytic degradation of pollutants and plastics

Photocatalytic decomposition of pollutants and transformation of microplastics and nanoplastics.

Analysis of microplastics

Research on the occurrence and determination of microplastics in complex environmental matrices.

Waste and sludge processing

Research on the material and technological utilization of waste materials and sewage sludge.

Environmental ecotoxicology

Assessment of the effects of chemical substances and other contaminants on the environment.

Research Group Description

The group is focused on fundamental and applied research in the field of water treatment, including the analytical determination of surface and wastewater quality. The research primarily focuses on adsorption and bioremediation processes and photocatalytic decomposition. The research is conducted using materials (sorbents, catalysts) prepared with regard to the substances being removed. In the analytical field, metals, ions, and organic pollutants, including microplastics, are determined, along with monitoring their mutual interactions and effects on organisms present in water and soil. For industrial water and liquid waste products, we offer comprehensive solutions for their processing.

Keywords

# wastewater

# adsorption

# bioremediation

# micropollutants

# microplastics

# trace analysis

# ecotoxicity

Objectives and Focus

In the long term, the research group strives to introduce new ecotoxicological methods and study the use and optimization of sorbents for the removal of PFAS from water. Currently, the group is also addressing the development of analytical methods for determining the microplastics content in complex matrices and expanding the portfolio of analyzed micropollutants from among pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Another goal is the application of waste clay and carbon-based materials to reduce water pollution and eutrophication caused by industrial activities.

Mgr. Martina Vráblová, Ph.D.

Mgr. Martina Vráblová, Ph.D.

Research Group Leader

E-mail: martina.vrablova@vsb.cz
Phone: +420 596 997 311
Profile

Research Activities and Projects

Research Excellence For REgion Sustainability and High-tech Industries (REFRESH)

  • Project No. CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000048
  • Provider: Ministry of the Environment
  • Project duration: 2022 - 2027
  • Principal Investigator: prof. Ing. Igor Ivan, Ph.D.
  • Research on catalytic materials for reducing emissions of nitrogenous substances from industrial and energy sources. NPO – research on catalytic systems for the oxidation of CO and VOCs intended for use in local heating systems.

Innovative technologies for a cleaner Ostrava region!!!

  • OP JAK Project No. CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0008588
  • Provider: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
  • Project duration: 2025 - 2028
  • Principal Investigator: prof. Ing. Lucie Obalová, Ph.D.
  • Development and study of supported catalysts for NH₃ oxidation and high-temperature catalytic materials for the decomposition of nitrogen oxides, with a focus on stability and efficiency under demanding operating conditions.

Methodology

Z metodologického hlediska skupina provádí experimentální měření; laboratorní a poloprovozní testování; přípravu, syntézu a modifikace nových typů sorbentů a funkčních materiálů; charakterizace materiálů; testování sorpčních vlastností; chemickou a fyzikálně-chemickou analýzu vzorků; materiálové a energetické bilance; modelování a simulace procesů; analýzu a statistické vyhodnocení dat; optimalizaci technologických parametrů.

Services

  • Testing and optimization of technologies for the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater.
  • Development of technologies for the processing of liquid waste products and sewage sludge.
  • Analytical services:
    • Analysis of metals by flame and graphite furnace AAS.
    • Spectrophotometric determination of phosphorus.
    • Determination of microplastics content.
    • Analysis of surface and wastewater focusing on pharmaceuticals, pesticides, PAHs, non-polar extractable substances (NEL, C10-C40), VOCs, musk compounds, siloxanes, phenol, and its methyl derivatives.
    • Analysis of sediments, sludges, and soils for PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, VOCs.
    • Analysis of biogas for traces of organic substances (VOCs, siloxanes, volatile terpenes).
    • Analysis of digestates for C2-C6 fatty acids.
    • Determination of particle size, zeta potential, and molecular weight.
    • Determination of the optical properties of solid substances using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).

Results and Applications

The research of the group brings practical solutions for more efficient monitoring and removal of pollutants from water. The developed technologies, sorbents, and functional materials can be utilized in industrial processes, environmental technologies, the energy sector, and in the material and energy recovery of waste. At the same time, the research provides experimental data, methodologies, and know-how usable for further academic research, technological development, and cooperation with the application sphere.

Selected Publications

Partners

Ostravská univerzita
Vysoké učení technické v Brně
Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”
Chung Yuan Christian University
University of Warsaw
FCC Česká republika, s.r.o.
Aqua reaktor s.r.o.
Spolana s.r.o.
Recovera využití zdrojů a.s.
Macco Organiques, s.r.o.
BorsodChem MCHZ, s.r.o.

Contact Information

Ing. Bednárek Jan, Ph.D.

Research (9350)
Researcher (9357)
jan.bednarek@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 318

Ing. Hruška Adam

Technician / Laborant (9350)
Employee (9357)
adam.hruska@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 304

Dr. Eng. Jachimowicz Piotr

Researcher (9350)
Employee (9357)
piotr.jachimowicz@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 312

Karnufek Renata

Employee (9350)
Employee (9357)
renata.karnufek@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 321

Mgr. Koutník Ivan, Ph.D.

Research (9350)
Researcher (9357)
ivan.koutnik@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 313

RNDr. Kuchyňa Jaroslav

Employee (9350)
Employee (9357)
jaroslav.kuchyna@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 321

Mgr. Machalla Lubomír

Internal Doctoral Student (9350)
Ph.D. student (9357)
Ph.D. student (9350)
lubomir.machalla@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 312

Mitusov Kirill

Main-time employee (9357)
Employee (9350)
kirill.mitusov@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 314

prof. Ing. Praus Petr, Ph.D.

Employee (9350)
Researcher (9357)
petr.praus@vsb.cz
+420 596 996 553
DS140, Studentská 1770/1 (map)
708 00 Ostrava - Poruba

Ing. Smutná Kateřina, Ph.D.

Employee (9350)
Researcher (9357)
katerina.smutna@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 323

Mgr. Vráblová Martina, Ph.D.

Head of Department (9357)
Head of Work Group (9350)
Analyst (9350)
martina.vrablova@vsb.cz
+420 596 997 311