There are so many amazing research projects taking place on Clarkson’s campus, and many of them tackle sustainability issues. Ulfet Erdogan is a PhD student in the Chemistry Department and a member of the Andreescu Lab group. She is working on sustainable waste-derived adsorbents for phosphorus removal from eutrophic water.
Erdogan shared the following with the ISE:
“Phosphorus is essential for life and food production, acting as an irreplaceable fertilizer. However, increased phosphorus use has worsened water eutrophication. Demand has surged due to population growth, changing diets, and biofuel needs, but phosphorus is a finite, unevenly distributed resource. Listed as critical by the European Commission, it could be depleted within 300-400 years. Recovery methods are crucial to sustain this resource, prevent eutrophication, and enable reuse. This study aims to develop sustainable phosphorus adsorbents from plant-based and waste-derived materials to remediate phosphorus in eutrophic waters. Using plant-based waste like coffee grounds, wood chip, and luffa, modified with nanostructures, we aim to capture and recover phosphorus. Once recovered, these materials can be repurposed as fertilizers, thus sustaining the phosphorus cycle. Our goals include waste upcycling, reducing phosphorus pollution, and recycling phosphorus for agriculture, all aligning with sustainability, so we [can] get closer to meet[ing] the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Andreescu Lab group’s work, and Erdogan’s passion for the project, is important and inspiring, and the ISE can’t wait to see where the work goes next!
The Institute for a Sustainable Environment is working to feature sustainability initiatives, like Ulfet’s efforts, taking place on campus. At Clarkson, we are committed to including sustainability in everything we do. If you have a project, story, or other sustainability work you’d like to share, please email Evelyn (laferrep@clarkson.edu).