R&D company projects

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

TREND project: NanoFe catalytic reactor for the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater with online monitoring and data evaluation, a project in IMPLEMENTATION

The aim of the project is to develop/construct a semi-operational device using optimized innovative technologies of nano-iron (nanoFe) activated oxidizing agents for effective removal of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites from pharmaceutical-laden wastewater and also from secondary liquid waste streams in the form of concentrates produced by membrane separation technologies. An integral part of the presented project is also the verification of the functionality of the device on a semi-operational scale close to operational practice.

OPV's strategy is to use technological innovations as a key competitive advantage and thus further strengthen its position not only in the field of geological and hydrological surveys, remediation of contaminated sites (soil and groundwater) or laboratory analyses, which it has been successfully engaged in for a long time. The main bidder is very well aware that if development activities stop or slow down, there is a risk of a gradual loss of competitiveness and thus a decrease in the company's market potential. The results of the project in the form of a NanoFe catalytic reactor for the controlled final disposal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater (in addition to the possibility of online monitoring and data evaluation) will enable OPV to enter new markets in the field of wastewater management in the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, etc.

Project outputs

The specific outputs of the project will be: 1) Zpolop - Semi-operational: Semi-operational equipment for the application using optimized innovative technologies of nano-iron (nanoFe) activated oxidizing agents for effective removal of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites from pharmaceutical-laden wastewater and also from secondary liquid waste streams in the form of concentrates produced by membrane separation technologies. 2) Ztech - Proven technology: Universal technology of nanoFe catalytic oxidation, which will enable the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater and concentrates from membrane processes. 3) Fuzit - Utility model: Device for online monitoring and evaluation of data in real time: The registered utility model at ÚPV will protect intellectual property in the form of a technical solution for online control of nanoFe catalytic oxidation. It will modularly consist of an online TOC analyzer, associated sensors and programmable PLC control algorithms for online evaluation and adjustment of operational settings.

ZETA project: Ceramic composite filters for decontamination of waters polluted by pesticides and heavy metals, project in IMPLEMENTATION

OPV devotes its resources to R&D projects, OPV now solves the second follow-up project in cooperation with the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, focused on decontamination of pesticides and heavy metals from groundwater, all research and development is under the auspices of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic TAČR.

An interesting feature of the R&D research of the OPV company is the achievement of significant results in the field of pesticide disposal in groundwater with our own nanotechnology product "CerACTIVE" which was developed in cooperation with the University of Chemical Technology in Prague. The technology is now offered commercially in the form of granules with fractions of different grain sizes, which you can see on the picture on the left. The use of cerium oxide nanoparticles is a completely innovative way to destabilize the aromatic nucleus in pesticide compounds, with which natural processes are often unable to cope and then represent a long-term burden on the environment. As part of the first stage of development, supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, hereinafter referred to as TAČR and ZÉTA program, this granulate was developed, protected by an industrial utility model with promising results against chlorinated pesticides. As part of the second research, which starts in the second half of 2020, this product will be applied to a new type of ceramic composite supports with the addition of titanium dioxide and graphene. This will further increase the decontamination efficiency of the newly developed filters.

Project outputs

Utility model, patent protection and methodology