Team Grant (PRG2115)

Glass and sand nanocomposites investigations toward water and soil remediation

 

Goals of the project:

The contamination of water and soil by heavy metal ions, dyes, and microorganisms is a pressing global concern. In recent decades, new technologies for water and soil remediation based on nanomaterials have been developed but either lack efficiency and cost-effectiveness or fail to meet environmental standards. This project aims to investigate the removal of heavy metal ions and organic matter from water and soil using nanocomposites that combine metal nanoparticles ‒ in particular cobalt nanopowder ‒ with sand, glass or porous glass as a support material, and to develop concepts for a closed-loop recycling of the extracted heavy metals. After filtration, the purity and potable quality of the treated water is assessed. The project also includes the degradation of organic pollutants (dyes, herbicides…) using photocatalytic degradation. The project requires fundamental research, but also seeks to prove the universal applicability and economic effectiveness of the developed technologies through pilot tests with Estonian industrial companies. This research project is funded by Sihtasutus Eesti Teadusagentuur(ETAg).

Here is the Poster that summarizes the aims and goals of the project (Poster nanofilter).

News and project updates

13/08/2026

Dr. Priyanka Panchal published a paper in the frame of the PRG2115 project in ACS Omega. The study describe the development of new photocatalysts combining graphitic carbon nitride with MgO nanoparticles for dye degradation. This work was performed in collaboration with the Estonian Aviation Academy, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology and Laboratoire Bioingénierie et Nanoscience (Montpellier). Congratulations to the whole team for this great work and outcomes! You can find the manuscript here: « Mechanistic Investigation of Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysis in Bio-Synthesized Graphitic Carbon Nitride/MgO Nanocomposites Toward Safranine Orange Dye. »

25/07/2026

Our research team participated to the GreenChem-26 conference related to Green Chemistry and Sustainable Enginering in Gran Canania, Spain. Prof. Protima Rauwel gave an oral presentation “Green-synthesised graphitic carbon nitride and layered zinc-based nanoadditives for cleaner sustainable aviation fuel combustion”,  Dr. Glemarie Hermosa gave an oral presentation “Sustainable Pb Extraction from Contaminated Soil Using Nanostructured Surface Porous Foamed Glass”, Dr. Priyanka Panchal gave an oral presentation “Sustainable Plant Biowaste-Derived MgO/GCN Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants” and Dr. Laura Coconubo-Guio gave an oral presentation “Sand-Based Co@Co(OH)2 nanocomposites for lead and copper ions removal from contaminated water”. The presented results have raised the interest of the participants in the field of Sustainable Engineering for environmental applications.

26/05/2026

Our research team welcome two Master students from Master FAMEAIS (Functional Advanced Materials Engineering with Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability) of the Phelma Engineering school in Grenoble France. They will work on topics related to PRG2115 and Tem-TA144 during Summer.  Welcome in our research team Fernanda and Younes!

 

25/04/2026

Our team presented our research activities to the public at Maamess! It was a good opportunity to discuss with the public and explain the principle of circular economy tand how nanomaterials produced using green synthesis and circular way can be a promising solution to solve environmental problem like water contamination in well water in Estonian, or to extract pollutant like heavy metal ions from contaminand soil. We showed our most recent prototype filter that can be used to clean well water. We talk also about the development of nanoadditives for jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel that can decrease the toxic emissions (NOx) from air freight and how sustainable aviation fuel is important for aviation. Thank you to Kristi , Laura, Glemarie and Priyanka for their active participation to promote our research activities to a large public. We had very interesting discussions, and we could feel a real need for affordable technologies that can mitigate the present problems our society faces. Here is presentation we showed in Maamess expo.

24-25/03/2026

Our research team attended the conference “”Healthy Animals and Healthy Food 2026″” at the Estonian University of Life Science. Laura and Glemarie could present a poster that sumarizes our research activities related to water and soil remediation and more particularly the extraction of heavy metal ions.

26/09/2025

Our PhD student, Patricio Paredes defended successfully his theses entitled ” Tailoring Cu-based nanostructures for sunlight-assisted photocatalysis applications“. The research work related to water sanitation was performed in the frame of the PRG2115 project.

24-25/09/2025

During Teadlaste öö (scientist’s night), we presented nanotechnology and nanomaterials to public. We explained how nanomaterials and nanocomposites can extract heavy metal from water and soil for remediation. Practical workshops demonstrated how nanotechnology can promote circular economy and how basic products like plants, oil waste, agriculture waste can be used to produce nanomaterials that can then be used in practical application to solve environmental problems.We presented a poster that summarize the project aims and goals (Poster Nanofilter). 

05/09/2025

Dr. Priyanka Panchal gave an oral presentation “Plant Mediated Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Sustainable Approach and Future Applications” at the 9th  Annual Nanotechnology Conference – NANOMAT2025 in Zagreband the presented results have raised the interest of the scientifics in the field.

04/09/2025

Prof. Erwan Rauwel gave an invited oral presentation “Assessing Cobalt Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications and Water Remediation” at the 9th  Annual Nanotechnology Conference – NANOMAT2025 in Zagreb. The presented results have raised the interest of the scientifics in the field.

20/08/2025

Prof. Erwan Rauwel gave an invited oral presentation “Heavy Metal Ions Extraction from Water and Wastewater Using Sand Nanocomposite to Promote Circular Economy” at the 33rd International Materials Research Congress 2025. The results presented have aroused the interest of the scientifics who attended the conference.

25/04/2025

Our team presented our research project and activities at Maamess! We discussed with the public and explain the principle of circular economy through our research activities based on nanomaterials produced using green synthesis and circular way. We exposed the problem of water contamination in well water in Estonian, and how the technology we are working on can offer a solution. We showed our recent prototype filter that can be used to clean well water and will be tested soon. We talk also showed the research activities related to the development of nanoadditives for jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel that can decrease the carbon footprint of air freight that limit the exhaust of toxic gas. Thank you to Kristi , Glemarie and Erwan for their active participation to promote our research activities to a large public. We had very interesting discussions, and we could feel a real need for affordable technologies that can mitigate the present problems our society faces. Here is presentation we showed in Maamess expo.

                              

31/03/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Priyanka Panchal who published her first paper in the frame of her Mobilitas+ grant project as PI. She reports on a new green synthesis to produce graphitic carbon nitride using plant parts for water purification. Here is the manuscript published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research:
“Ocimum tenuiflorum leaf-mediated graphitic carbon nitride and ZnO/GCN nanohybrid: a sustainable approach for environmental applications“

 

Link to all former news (2024)

Senior research team:

PhD students:

PhD students:

  • Mme Fernanda Trujillo

 

Relevant publications:

Relevant oral presentations:

23/07/2025 “Sand-Based Co@Co(OH)2 nanocomposites for lead and copper ions removal from contaminated water ” P. Panchal, P. Rauwel, L. Coconubo-Guio, G. Hermosa, E. Estephan, E. Rauwel GREENCHEM-26.

23/07/2025 “Sustainable Pb Extraction from Contaminated Soil using Nanostructured Surface Porous Foamed Glass ” L. Coconubo-Guio, P. Rauwel, R. Kumar, I. Gélard, E. Rauwel GREENCHEM-26.

23/07/2025 “Sustainable Plant Biowaste-Derived MgO/GCN Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic and Biological Applications ” P. Panchal, P. Rauwel, L. Coconubo-Guio, G. Hermosa, E. Estephan, E. Rauwel GREENCHEM-26.

05/09/2025 “Plant Mediated Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Sustainable Approach and Future Applications” Priyanka Panchal, Protima Rauwel, Glemarie Hermosa, and Erwan Rauwel, NANOMAT2025.

04/09/2025 “Assessing Cobalt Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications and Water Remediation” Erwan Rauwel, Laura Simonelli, Carlos Marini, Rohit Kumar, Glemarie Hermosa, Kristi Praakle, Isabelle Gélard, and Protima Rauwel, NANOMAT2025.(Invited oral presentation)

20/08/2025 “Heavy Metal Ions Extraction from Water and Wastewater Using Sand Nanocomposite to Promote Circular Economy” Erwan Rauwel, Protima Rauwel, Rohit Kumar, Laura Simonelli, Carlos Marini, Glemarie Hermosa, Isabelle Gélard, 33rd International Materials Research Congress 2025. (Invited oral presentation)

Defended thesis:

“Tailoring Cu-Based Nanostructures for Sunlight-Assisted Photocatalysis Applications” defended by Patricio Paredes; supervisors: Protima Rauwel, Erwan Rauwel

Press release:

01.10.2025: Postimees “ Doktoritöö: päikesevalguse ja vase abil saab vees lagundada kuni 96% reostusaineid ”  [weblink]

26.09.2025: ERR „Vasest nanoosakesed puhastavad päikesevalguse toel tööstuslikku reovett“ Article that describes thesis outcomes of Patricio Paredes (Our PhD student) [weblink]

Former staff members: