Project description
The CleanLake project started on 01.06.2024. A new type of water treatment system is to be developed over a three-year project period. The basis of the resulting products will be sorption materials obtained from industrial by-products such as fly ash and coal stockpile. These materials should help to significantly reduce the input of fertilizers into fresh water and thus sustainably improve water quality. In order to counteract eutrophication most effectively, both the tributaries and the lake itself are to be cleaned. This results in several end products.
Design elements such as paths, nesting platforms for water birds and underwater habitats are to be provided for seasonal use. As soon as the sorptive materials have exhausted their capacity to absorb nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, they will be recycled and converted into fertilizers with controlled nutrient release. The project consortium is thus developing innovative materials that can be directly integrated into new products. Because of this, the technology promotes a modern circular economy.
Work Packages
The research for the CleanLake project is divided into individual work packages (WP). The different technical expertise of the project partners results in different responsibilities, whereby the project is also characterized by intensive cooperation between the work packages.
- Development of a process for the extraction of zeolites from industrial by-products
- Determination of the properties of fly ash as a by-product of the combustion process and mine dump material
- Development of the technology of synthesis of zeolites by the hydrothermal method and geopolymerization
Laboratory testing of sorbent efficiency and surface modification of synthetic zeolites
WP2 - TU Bergakademie Freiberg
- Development of the technology for adapting specific composite materials with zeolites for use as lake infrastructure
- Production of geopolymer composites and indicative sorbents
- Preparation of prototyping infrastructure for at least three lakes
WP3 - Adam-Mickiewicz-University in Poznań
- Investigation of the effectiveness of synthetic zeolites against the eutrophication of lakes
- Selection of potential lakes, analysis of ecosystems, determination of indicators for the eutrophication process
- Monitoring of selected lakes with fixed criteria
- Development of the technology for recycling the used water infrastructure
- Characterization of the used composite materials
- Comparison of the properties with those of the original material
- Granulation technology
- Development of fertilizers, including the optimization of additives
Laboratory tests and trials on selected plants
WP5 - Technologie dla Środowiska Sp. z o.o.
- Preparation for implementation
- Contribution to a circular economy, life cycle analysis, ecotoxicology studies and recyclable methods
- Creation of an effective explanation plan for the product / results
- Involvement of relevant stakeholders
Development of the intellectual property rights strategy