The scientists of the Siberian Federal University develop biosorbent based on Siberian larch for river purification

According to the press service of the University, the adsorbent created on the basis of structured biomaterial from raw materials of plant and animal origin will help Krasnoyarsk scientists to reduce the level of contamination of Russian rivers with toxic substances.

As a result of human economic activity surface waters of the Krasnoyarsk territory suffer from high content of phenols, petroleum products, metal compounds (iron, copper, manganese, less cobalt, Nickel). Exceeding the permissible concentration of these substances by 40-80 % is regularly observed in the rivers Yenisei, Chulym, Angara, Kan, as well as in the sub-stone and Lower Tunguska.

According to the project Manager, Professor of the basic Department of Photonics and laser technology of the Institute of engineering physics and Radioelectronics of the Siberian Federal University Evgenia Slyusareva, “the basis of the new adsorbent is the raw material obtained from Siberian larch lárix sibírica. Chemical modification of the natural matrix makes it possible to obtain a water — soluble material (sulfated arabinogalactan) to create a polyelectrolyte complex-a “purifier” of pollutants that helps, in addition, to recycle the products of the woodworking industry. In addition to vegetable raw materials, the biosorbent will include a component of animal origin — chitosan.”