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.
Preparation and characterization of single-atom metal catalysts using 2D materials as the supports and their utilization in hydroformylations
Dagmar Procházková Fund at UCT Prague
Researchers:
Ing. Martina Pitínová, Ph.D. (Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze / Fakulta chemické technologie)
Annotation:
The hydroformylation reactions are important industrial process for the production of aldehydes. Desirable linear or branched aldehydes are formed via reaction of olefins with synthetic gas (CO and H2) in the presence of the catalyst. Despite the fact, that the most of modern industrial processes are catalyzed by the heterogeneous catalysts, hydroformylations are still nowadays catalyzed dominantly homogeneously by conventional rhodium- or cobalt-based catalysts. These catalysts exhibit great catalytic activity and selectivity, however the problems with recovery of expensive metals make this process less environmentally friendly and economically profitable. Therefore, an effort for replacing these homogeneous catalysts by the heterogeneous counterparts is significant. Despite these efforts, no heterogeneous catalyst that would be enough active, selective, recyclable, and applicable in the industrial hydroformylation processes have not been found yet. Recently, the application of single-atom catalysts (SACs) has brought attention for possible application in hydroformylations. Because of the presence of uniform, ideally accessible active sites and the possibility of the catalyst separation and regeneration, SACs stand between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Therefore, the catalysts based on single atoms of Rh and other metals with potential hydroformylation activity (Ru, Pt, Co) have been selected for favourable substitution of conventional homogeneous catalysts in the proposed research project focused on the hydroformylations.
The applicant of the proposed project has got broad experience in the synthesis, characterization, and utilization of wide range of heterogenous catalysts. This topic concerning utilization of 2D materials as a support and anchoring of Rh and other metals on the supports as single atoms will significantly broadener her expertise.
We acknowledge the financial support of our research to the Czech Science Foundation, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MŠMT), the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Internal Grant Agency of the University of Chemistry and Technology (VIGA, IGRA).