Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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An elective course was held at the Project-Based Learning Educational Center (PBL) of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU) with the participation of NPC "AQUAEFFECT"– a long-standing industry partner of the university. Joint research and development projects contribute to the development of modern environmental and engineering education.
For 13 years, AQUAEFFECT Research and Development Institute has been developing, implementing, and operating cutting-edge water treatment and disinfection solutions, as even minor contaminants can significantly alter water properties and pose a threat to human health and the environment. Understanding the processes behind these changes and ensuring the safety of water bodies requires systematic research and the implementation of innovative purification technologies.
As part of the Project Activity elective, three student project groups were formed, each developing one of the relevant areas:
Study of changes in water quality when introducing various types of pollutants; forecasting the efficiency of clarification filters for swimming pools using the AE-1 oligodynamic solution synthesis unit; development of an automated system for pre-trip monitoring of the technical condition of buses based on video analytics technologies.
The choice of topics is directly linked to global trends: the reduction of chlorine-containing reagents and the development of safe water treatment technologies. Thanks to the support of an industrial partner, students have the opportunity to work with modern equipment and gain practical experience in demand in the industry.
The partners provided the students with a test setup, which allowed them to significantly improve their laboratory research to match the real-world operating conditions of water treatment systems.
A team supervised by Roman Gurdin, an assistant professor in the Department of Water Use and Ecology, studied changes in water quality when various types of pollutants were introduced. "The team investigated how different ammonium concentrations affect water quality and key indicators (color, turbidity, pH), and also studied which chemical reagents and in what quantities can reduce ammonium concentrations in water," said Roman Gurdin.
After completing the laboratory phase, the elective course participants were able to test their findings on actual facilities at the AQUAEFFECT Research and Design Institute. The results obtained will form the basis for scientific publications and final theses.
"SPbGASU's joint projects with industrial partners confirm the importance of applied research for the development of environmentally friendly water treatment technologies, including those directly impacting the quality of life and the sustainability of natural systems," says Inna Sukhanova, Director of the SPbGASU Regional Center for Professional Development.
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