Researchers from Dagestan State University collaborated with the Institute of Physics at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Makhachkala and partners in the Czech Republic to create intelligent polymer membranes that can purify water by light exposure or mechanical stimulation. This advancement was announced with reference to the Russian Science Foundation’s press service, highlighting the scientific momentum in the region and its potential impact on water treatment technologies.
The team emphasizes that these smart hybrid polymer catalysts could offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly path for removing contaminants from wastewater. Project leader Farid Orudzhev notes that the material enables precise control over catalytic activity and reaction speed, which could translate into more efficient and adaptable treatment processes. By adjusting the material’s response to light or mechanical cues, operators could tailor the purification system to varying pollution loads and water compositions, reducing energy consumption and chemical usage while maintaining high purification standards.
The innovative membrane formation involved incorporating the active component as a hydrated salt of calcium nitrate, a choice designed to interact with water pollutants under specific conditions. In laboratory tests, the membrane demonstrated a notable capacity to break down organic substances when exposed to visible light, dissolving roughly half of these compounds. When subjected to ultraviolet radiation, the performance increased dramatically, achieving nearly 90 percent removal of impurities. These results suggest a scalable approach to water purification that can be activated by simple light sources, potentially broadening access to clean water in diverse settings, from industrial facilities to remote communities.
Prior to this development in Dagestan, researchers in the North Caucasus Federal University (NCFU) reported progress in creating activated carbon from agricultural byproducts such as rice husk, buckwheat, sunflower seeds, and lavender. The new findings build on this tradition of turning local resources into effective purification materials, offering a complementary technology that enhances the range of tools available for water treatment, pollutant capture, and environmental remediation. The emphasis on utilizing readily available materials aligns with broader efforts to reduce reliance on expensive inputs while maintaining robust performance in real-world conditions.
In related work within Russia, teams have explored methods that enable high-efficiency recovery of valuable elements from industrial effluents, including approaches aimed at extracting silver from wastewater. Such explorations underscore a national trend toward sustainable resource recovery and pollution mitigation, where advanced materials and catalytic systems play a central role. The ongoing collaboration among universities and research institutes across regions signals a strong commitment to translating laboratory breakthroughs into practical solutions that can address water quality challenges faced by communities and industries alike, both within Russia and beyond its borders.