KBSU has developed a unique method of wastewater treatment

At the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov developed and successfully implemented an innovative method for treating wastewater from synthetic surfactants that are formed after car washes.

Scientists used serpentinite as a sorption filter, the reserves of which are practically unlimited in the republic. According to the author of the project and head of the center for hydrogen technologies at KBSU Ramazan Tegaev, most existing systems for treating wastewater from surfactants are based on flotation — a method that is expensive, technologically complex and multi-stage. A new method developed at KBSU significantly simplifies the wastewater treatment process, increasing the speed and productivity of filtration by almost ten times. Serpentinite was tested at one of the car washes in Nalchik. The results showed high efficiency, reduction in the content of heavy fractions in a short period. At the same time, the purified water did not lose its foaming properties, which was confirmed by laboratory tests at the Office of Rospotrebnadzor for Kabardino-Balkaria.

Employees of the Center for Hydrogen Technologies of KBSU have discovered another new application for serpentinite. As a result of lengthy research, they managed to completely clean the surface of an oil slick using this natural mineral — a unique case in the world. The accident site was treated with specially treated serpentinite crushed to a powder state, which, like a sponge, “absorbed” all the spilled oil. Using electromagnetic traps, it was possible to collect all this substance, separating hydrocarbons from the mineral. The author of the project claims that water purified in this way from lakes and rivers can be used as drinking water. The development was carried out jointly with the Moscow scientific and production enterprise “Radiy”. The President of CJSC NPP “Radiy” is Magomed Konov.

Yuri Altudov, acting Rector of KBSU:

– Legislation requires mandatory treatment of wastewater before releasing it into the environment. Otherwise, suspended solids, petroleum products and toxic compounds such as lead, zinc, iron, nitrogen and other chemical elements can cause damage to the ecosystem and animals. At increased concentrations of surfactants in natural reservoirs, the number of fry begins to decrease. A new serpentinite-based wastewater treatment method significantly simplifies and speeds up the treatment process, making it less energy-intensive. KBSU has applied for a patent for these two inventions. Scientific research at KBSU is carried out within the framework of the “Priority 2030” program.