During the 8th period (01.10.2020.-31.12.2020.):

• An interview was given to the representatives of the broadcast “Cognitive Impulse” about the goals of the project, the necessity of the research and the achieved results.
• In order to determine the ability of biosorbents (byproducts of food production) to bind proteins from aqueous solutions, sorption studies have been performed under laboratory conditions using several biosorbents, such as wheat bran, blackcurrant meal, pea skins. The influence of the following parameters on the sorption capacity was studied: protein concentration, contact time between sorbent and adsorbate, pH of the solution. The protein concentration in the solutions was determined using the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay.
• Based on the previous results, extended theses were prepared for the “Wastewater, Water and Resource Recovery Conference”. Title of extended theses – Recovery of proteins from food processing side streams by biosorbents.
• In parallel with laboratory research, work was continued on scientific articles, as well as the preparation of the chapter for the book Advanced Materials for Sustainable Environmental Remediation: Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments (publisher – Elsevier).
• Postdoctoral student Artis Robalds participated in the workshop within project “iWatermap” – “Challenges in the water technology sector in Europe and Latvia” organized by the Ministry of Education and Science (in cooperation with Riga Technical University), as well as in the webinar “Nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment” (organized by the International Water Association).

The cooperating institution – The State Education Development Agency (SEDA). The duration of the project – 36 months. Total costs – 133 805.88 EUR, of which 85% (113 734.98 EUR) is financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Information prepared: 16.01.2021.