Skip to main content
Skip header

Colleagues from university in Peru visited Laboratory of preparation of nanostructured materials

Colleagues from university in Peru visited Laboratory of preparation of nanostructured materials
The Institute of Environmental Technology (IET) which is part of the Center for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) VSB-TUO, was visited by researchers Dr. Gerardo Cruz and Mr. John Rimaycuna from the National University of Tumbes in northern Peru as part of a one-month internship.

In the framework of the solution of research projects Synthesis of carbon quantum dots from agro-industrial residual biomass by hydrothermal carbonization and adsorbents production by microwaves, with technical characteristics suitable for use in the transport of biomolecules and IET - Excellent research they visited the partner Laboratory of Preparation of Nanostructured Materials under the leadership of Dr. Lenka Matějová.

They used equipment from large research infrastructure ENREGAT for the synthesis of carbonaceous quantum dots by unique hydrothermal processing in flow mode, as well as for the preparation of biochar and activated carbon from banana waste by microwave pyrolysis. They also used the extensive analytical background of IET for characterization of prepared materials and other products. Hydrothermal processing of banana waste, biochar from banana waste or chitosan in flow mode led to carbonaceous quantum dots dispersed in an aqueous solution after only 1 hour of the experiment. In this area of cooperation they closely cooperated in the laboratory with Dr. Lenka Matějová and Dr. Ivana Troppová.

Together they tested the influence of pressure, temperature and type of acidic environment on the physico-chemical properties of synthesized carbonaceous quantum dots, which are to further serve as a transporter of biomolecules such as RNAi for mosquito control. In the field of microwave pyrolysis, when mainly coal-based sorbents from banana waste were prepared, colleagues from Peru cooperated in the laboratory with Dr. Zuzana Jankovská and Dr. Michal Vaštyl, who helped them not only with the correct performance of pyrolysis experiments, but also with the analysis of output gaseous pyrolytic products containing a considerable amount of hydrogen.

Prepared biochar-based sorbents will be tested for sorption of heavy metals and pharmaceuticals from real drinking water samples in Peru.

Created: 20. 10. 2022
Category:  News
Entered by:  Administrator
Department: 9350 - Institute of Environmental Technology
Back