PROJECT TITLE: Harnessing the multifunctionality of tailor-made polysaccharides to design nanostructured sorbents for wastewater treatment 

ACRONYM: MPSorb

PROJECT CODE: PN-IV-P1-PCE-2023-1968; Contract number: 4PCE/2025

DURATION: 36 months; STARTING DATE: 08.01.2025

FUNDING PROGRAMME: PNCDI IV - Programme 5.1 - Ideas 

SUBPROGRAM: Exploratory Research Projects - 2023 Call 

CONTRACT AUTHORITY: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISDCI)

TOTAL BUDGET: 1.200.000,00 lei

ABSTRACT: Significant progress has been made in polymer science through collaborative efforts across different areas of chemistry. Emerging from combination of polymer materials with chemical transformations, a more efficient approach has been envisioned as promising alternative in synthesis of polymer architectures with multiple functions. Thus, tailor-made multifunctional polymer sorbents (MPSorbs) can be obtained in fewer synthesis steps by simultaneously combining two or more starting materials in a "one-pot" reaction. In this project, the “one-pot” concept is proposed to modify polysaccharides and develop nanostructured MPSorbs through self-assembly and cross-linking. The successful introduction of hydrophobic functional groups will allow the sorbents to effectively remove organic contaminants including oils, hydrophobic drugs, and/or complex pesticide formulations. At the same time, the non-modified hydrophilic moieties of polysaccharides will favor the adsorption of soluble pollutants, such as metal ions. Furthermore, the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential will be explored by introduction of natural active compounds (monoterpenes and/or phenolic acids) in synthesis of polysaccharide derivatives. The synergy between multiple functionalities is expected to pave the way for more efficient sorption systems that will lower the amount of material required to remove various contaminants, and thus reduce the production costs without compromising the adsorption features.