Departaments and Divisions

Division of Biogenic Raw Materials specializes in the analysis and assessment of specific problems and phenomena related to the management of fertilizer raw materials, with particular emphasis on phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. The division’s work includes development of management strategies and recommendations (roadmaps) regarding the sustainable and circular management of fertilizer raw materials (from primary and secondary sources) with the identification of market, technological, legal, environmental and social conditions, developing strategies for preventing food waste at the stages of production and consumption. Team has experience in developing strategies for water protection against nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from anthropogenic sources, determining directions for counteracting eutrophication and recommendations for the management of waste from the water and sewage sector in the context of water, raw materials and energy recovery. The division conducts activities in the field of identification and assessment of saturation of soils and surface waters (lakes, rivers) with fertilizer components and development of the concept of environmentally safe fertilizers, based on model studies on the transfer of phosphates and nitrates to surface waters and soils. In addition, the division conducts research in the field of searching for new materials (including nanomaterials) that may be used in the processes of municipal and industrial wastewater and soils treatment.

Division of Biogenic Raw Materials participates in international projects (Horizon 2020, EIT Raw Materials, NAWA) related to the management of phosphorus raw materials and the development of recommendations (roadmaps) for the management of biogenic raw materials in the context of implementing the assumptions of sustainable development (SD), circular economy (CE) and the European Green Deal in the water and sewage, fertilizer and agri-food sectors.

Division of Biogenic Raw Materials performs comprehensive work in the field of:

• development of recommendations (road maps) for sustainable and circular management of raw materials from primary and secondary sources,
• development of strategies for preventing food waste at the stages of production and consumption,
• development of recommendations (road maps) for the implementation of the European Green Deal in the raw materials, water and sewage, fertilizer and agri-food sectors,
• development of the concept of environmentally safe fertilizers based on model studies on the transfer of phosphates and nitrates to surface waters and soils,
• identification and evaluation of fertilizer potential in the field of single and multi-component mineral fertilizers produced on the basis of waste (municipal and industrial sewage, sewage sludge, bottom sediments of water reservoirs, soils saturated with nutrients, waste from the agri-food sector and others),
• assessment of technological, legal, environmental and social aspects of the management of biogenic raw materials,
• developing strategies to protect waters against contamination with biogenic raw materials from anthropogenic sources and defining directions of counteracting the process of eutrophication,
• characteristics of new materials (including nanomaterials) that may be used in municipal and industrial wastewater and soils treatment processes.