SUPERVISOR: Hubert HETTEGGER

PROJECT ASSIGNED TO: Marek NOVÁK 

In recent decades, the rapid expansion of clean-energy and industrial technologies has driven growing demand for critical metals and high-purity applications. Efficient recovery and purification of these metals and the respective metal ions offer substantial economic value and environmental benefits. In this context, significant emphasis is placed not only on selective and high recovery efficiency, but also on minimizing the generation of secondary pollutants through heavy metal removal.

This research project focuses on the rational design, synthesis, and characterization of novel bio-based adsorbent membranes that are capable of efficiently removing divalent metal ions (M2+) from aqueous or organic matrices. These adsorbents consist of cellulose functionalized with bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs). The synthetic strategies aim to be cost-effective, easily scalable, and straightforward, utilizing a minimal number of reaction steps. Throughout this study, the sorption capacity, selectivity, and regeneration potential of the prepared materials will be investigated for applications in heavy metal recycling, recovery, and purification.