More information
Description
Intensive agriculture in most European countries uses of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilisers, which results in accelerated eutrophication of lakes and rivers. It involves water being excessively enriched with nutrients that cause algae to grow too quickly, which can deplete the oxygen in the body of water and degrade it. Our project commercialises an innovative biotechnology product that will remove phosphorus from water bodies. Hydrogel microcapsules designed to bind phosphorus and remove it from surface water will be used to reduce eutrophication, that is to improve the quality of small and large retention reservoirs, ponds or city lakes. Its form makes the product easy to use for individual and institutional customers. In addition, used capsules containing phosphorus compounds can then be reused in agriculture for soil remediation (as a phosphorus fertiliser). The weight of phosphorus that will be removed/recovered from surface waters thanks to this innovative product will amount to 10.5 tons per year.
The project includes the purchase of a production line to manufacture microcapsules, and expert consulting services from research and development units in Poland – concerning the use of microcapsules for agricultural purposes, and in Norway – concerning the use of microcapsules in water and soil. The project partner, NIVA - Norwegian Water Research Institute, will support APRS in the preparation of instructions for the potential customer on the use of this new product.