Research Projects
MicroDetect - Fast and cost-effective detection of microplastics in drinking water using AI spectro-microscopy
(Project number: FY01010196)
Researchers:
Ing. Jiří Mikeš MBA (TERAMED, s.r.o.)
Ing. Martin Veselý Ph.D. (Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze / Fakulta chemické technologie)
Annotation:
The goal of the MicroDetect project is to develop an innovative analytical system for the detection, classification, and quantification of microplastics in various types of water, especially drinking water. Current methods are often time-consuming, insufficiently precise, and difficult to apply to individual microplastic particles, which range in size from 1 μm to 5 mm. Moreover, existing approaches require extensive manual sample preparation and human interpretation of results, limiting their practical use in operational conditions. The MicroDetect project focuses on developing and validating technology that automates the microplastic analysis process and eliminates subjective errors caused by human interpretation. The project will deliver three key outputs: A utility model protecting the developed filtration apparatus – an innovative solution for the efficient separation of microplastics from water samples. A functional prototype of the filtration apparatus – a device enabling optimized microplastic filtration for subsequent analytical detection. A verified technology of the analytical system – software capable of generating automated reports on the quantity, size, and composition of microplastics based on optical analysis. This system has direct commercial potential not only in water quality monitoring and industrial processes but also in research laboratories and environmental management. Thanks to its high precision and speed, MicroDetect enables up to 80% more efficient microplastic detection compared to conventional methods, significantly improving the effectiveness and scalability of this technology in various industrial and environmental applications.
Synthesis and Property Tuning of Layered Low-Dimensional Materials Beyond Graphene – Utilization in Fundamental Research of Heterogeneous Catalysts
(GACR project number 23-08083M)
Researchers:
Ing. Martin Veselý Ph.D. (Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze / Fakulta chemické technologie)
Annotation:
Layered low-dimensional materials are auspicious for application in all areas of nanotechnology since properties of these materials depend on the degree of exfoliation. Also, catalysis seems to be an exciting application as a superior effect of a two-dimensional (2D) support on the activity of metal nanoparticles due to specific metal-support interactions. This project is focused on preparation and chemical modification of layered materials based on Si, Ge, and SixGe(1-x) mixtures. The aim is to prepare 2D hundreds-of-micron-sized sheets and nanometer-sized quantum dots (QDs) with high optical and chemical uniformity. Functionalization of the prepared uniform low-dimensional materials allows the application of these materials in fundamental research of phenomena typical for heterogeneous catalysis: I) Study of the exclusive effect of 2D support on the enhanced activity of metal nanoparticles and II) Assessment of accessibility and interconnectivity of pores space in conventional catalysts using 0D QDs with varying size as a pore space probe.
We acknowledge the financial support of our research to the Czech Science Foundation, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MŠMT), and the Internal Grant Agency of the University of Chemistry and Technology (VIGA, IGRA).