ANTARES institutional research project
Project name: Advanced technologies for wastewater treatment and corrosion resistance of materials in aggressive environments (ANTARES)
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Sc. Ladislav Vrsalović
Project duration: 48 months (from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2029)
Project summary: The ANTARES project responds to the global challenges of increased pollution and deterioration of water quality and the possibility of utilizing available waste materials as unused resources. It focuses on the development of advanced and sustainable wastewater treatment methods that enable the removal of a wide range of pollutants (synthetic dyes, microplastics, organic substances, heavy metals, etc.). The key innovation is the development of a hybrid system that integrates different wastewater treatment methods in order to achieve improved treatment efficiency (removal of pollutants). By using minerals such as zeolite and bentonite and by-products of the food industry, treatment methods become more cost-effective and environmentally compatible, and industrial by-products and waste gain value. Also, by using waste metal material from industrial production instead of conventional sources for the manufacture of electrodes, the amount of waste and production costs are reduced, which contributes to environmental protection and the fulfillment of the goals of the circular economy. The project will be upgraded with a digital component through the application of advanced computer tools for planning and modeling experiments, nonlinear regression analysis, as well as the development of mathematical process models. The developed system will be validated on real wastewater samples, and the scientific contribution of the project is planned through scientific publications, final and diploma theses and doctoral dissertations. ANTARES represents an interdisciplinary contribution to the development of sustainable technologies with a focus on environmental protection, waste recycling and conservation of natural resources.
