Okolje

Pitna voda

The presence of bacteria Legionella Pneumophila (the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease) poses a significant health risk in warm water distribution systems. Current prevention and treatment of disease outbreaks is costly, environmentally ineffective, and does not prevent rapid bacterial recolonization. We are working on an advanced oxidation process - hydrodynamic cavitation. We are constantly advancing the state of the art, as evidenced by published papers and industrial applications. By adjusting and optimizing the operating conditions, different types of hydrodynamic cavitation (attached steady cavitation, developed unsteady cavitation and supercavitation) are fully exploited for their chemical and mechanical effects. For example, in this way we have successfully reduced L. pneumophila in tap water samples by more than 3 logs (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.11.004).

Odpadna voda

One of the most pressing global environmental problems is the increasing pollution of surface and groundwater by wastewater effluents, which threaten the world's clean water supply and public health. In addition, wastewater is contaminated with various contaminants such as micropollutants, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. We are working to upgrade conventional wastewater treatment plants with alternative technologies. Our research on hydrodynamic cavitation as a novel environmentally friendly technology has shown that it can complement conventional water treatment processes. We have shown that by skilful manipulation of hydrodynamic cavitation conditions, numerous pharmaceuticals (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2013.10.025), bisphenols (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140724), bacteria such as E. coli (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.11.004), and some water-soluble synthetic polymers (polyvinyl alcohol) can be successfully removed from water matrices. We have shown for the first time that hydrodynamic cavitation can successfully inactivate potato virus Y (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2021.105898), preventing the spread of waterborne viruses when wastewater is reused in agriculture.

Odpadno blato

Čistilne naprave predstavljajo zadnjo oviro med človekovimi dejavnostmi in okoljem. Proizvajajo ogromne količine (samo v EU do 13 milijonov ton letno) nezaželenega odpadka, odpadega blata. Ko v našem laboratoriju obravnavamo taproblem, na odpadno blato gledamo kot na vir in ne kot na neželen končni produkt. Hidrodinamsko kavitacijo uporabljamo kot postopek predobdelave za izboljšano dezintegracijo in solubilizacijo blata (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151414). Na ta način se skrajšata čas in količina blata, ki ga je potrebno uničiti, hkrati pa nastajajo povečane količine metana v procesu anaerobne presnove.

Kmetijstvo

Eden najpomembnejših globalnih izzivov, s katerimi se sooča kmetijski sektor, je nahraniti rastoče prebivalstvo, hkrati pa zmanjšati vplive na okolje in ohraniti naravne vire za prihodnje generacije. Kmetijstvo ima pomemben vpliv na okolje, vključno s povečano uporabo pesticidov. Le-ti onesnažujejo okolje, kmete in hrano. Da bi rešili to težavo, smo razvili avtonomno, avtomatizirano tehnologijo škropljenja za uporabo v sadovnjakih in vinogradih, ki vključuje napredne metode pozicioniranja in nadzora ob izkoriščanju najsodobnejših senzorjev LIDAR (https://doi.org/10.31727/gzb.44.4.10). Nova tehnologija škropljenja omogoča znatno zmanjšanje uporabe pesticidov. Posledica tega so nižji stroški za lastnika vinograda in manjši negativni vplivi na okolje.

Zelena energija

As part of the Department of Power Engineering, we look for new ways to develop solutions to improve energy production and use. Based on fundamental research, we design machines to generate energy and reduce environmental impact and costs. As experts in hydropower, we explore new ways to make water turbines more socially and environmentally acceptable. We are working on methods to improve biomass digestion into methane and on innovative sludge drying and incineration methods for greater sustainability.