ALTER

Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia

DIASPORA 2023 – Collaborative Research Projects

Advanced eLectrochemical Treatment of PFAS contaminated watER: Novel Materials and Mechanisms-ALTER

Duration: 2 years, 2025-2026.

SROs: Faculty of Physical Chemistry (FFHUB); Faculty of Pharmacy (FPUB); Institut Català de Recerca de l’Aigua (ICRA)

Serbian team: Maja Milojević-Rakić, Nemanja Gavrilov, Bojana Nedić Vasiljević, Aleksandra Janošević Ležajić, Danica Bajuk Bogdanović, Anka Jevremović and Maja Ranković

Diaspora team: Jelena Rađenović, Mira Petrovic, Sara Rodriguez and Nick Duinslaeger

Abstract: PFAS have been widely found in the environment and exert a harmful impact on human health. Electrochemical oxidation (EO) has gained ground among removal techniques in recent years. Challenges remain concerning the anode material and water medium, specific operational parameters (i.e. type of current collector) ,which impact the efficiency and energy consumption during EO. Enhancements of the reactivity, electronic properties, and stability are needed for practical applications in the EO degradation of PFAS. Many of the challenges hinge on reactivity that is determined by the electronic structure of metal oxides, most commonly used as catalysts. Theoretical calculations can help narrow down the search for the most promising catalyst by tracking the electronic structure change upon replacing surface atoms. The electrochemical oxidation of PFAS will be studied using cyclic voltammetry and a potentiometric regime to compare the efficiency of the synthesised material in a three-electrode cell and flow cell regime. HPLC-MS detection will be employed to detect degradation products. A favourable shift in oxidation potential for PFAS degradation is expected on the prepared materials. Lowering of energy consumption during degradation is also envisaged. The Serbian team consists of experts in nanomaterial preparation, electrochemical and environmental studies, while the diaspora team consists of renowned researchers in the field of PFAS degradation in (waste)water systems. The body of work will be done at the FFHUB and FPUB with ICRA in consultancy and advisory roles.

 

Budget: 199,608 EUR

Project results:

Milojević-Rakić, M. (2025, April 25). Загађујуће супстанце на граници фаза [Invited lecture]. Annual Election Assembly of the Serbian Chemical Society, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade, Serbia.

Jevremović, A.; Ranković, M.; Janošević Ležajić, A.; Uskoković-Marković, S.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Gavrilov, N.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D.; Milojević-Rakić, M. Regeneration or Repurposing of Spent Pollutant Adsorbents in Energy-Related Applications: A Sustainable Choice? Sustain. Chem. 2025, 6, 28.

Nedić Vasiljević, B., Ranković, M., Gavrilov, N., Duinslaeger, N., & Milojević-Rakić, M. (2025, September 25–26). DFT investigation of metal-doped and pure rutile slabs: Electronic properties and PFAS adsorption. In Book of Abstracts of the 5th International Meeting on Materials Science for Energy Related Applications (p. 80-81). University of Belgrade – Faculty of Physical Chemistry.

Vojnović, V.; Ranković, M.; Jevremović, A.; Mijailović, N.R.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Milojević-Rakić, M.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D.; Gavrilov, N. Doping of Magnéli Phase-New Direction in Pollutant Degradation and Electrochemistry. Molecules 2025, 30, 4282.

Gavran, A.; Uskoković-Marković, S.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Janošević Ležaić, A.; Gavrilov, N.; Milojević-Rakić, M.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D. Tracking PFAS Using Nanomaterial-Based Sensors: Limitations, Advances, and Challenges. Chemosensors 2025, 13, 421.

Ranković, M.; Rakočević, L.; Jevremović, A.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Janošević Ležaić, A.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D.; Milojević-Rakić, M.; Gavrilov, N. HER and OER Activity of Ti4O7@Ti Mesh—Fundamentals Behind Environmental Application. Processes 2026, 14, 518.

Milojević-Rakić, M. (2026, Februar 18.) Elektrooksidacija PFAS. Centar za ekotoksikološka ispitivanja, Podgorica, Crna Gora.

Milivojević, T.; Ranković, M.; Gavrilov, N.; Jevremović, A.; Nedić Vasiljević, Bajuk-Bogdanović, B; Milojević-Rakić, M. Exploration of PFAS Degradation over Ti-Supported Ti-suboxides. In Book of Abstracts of the 1st Congress of Chemists of Montenegro (p. 74), May 26–29, 2026, Budva, Montenegro.

Gavrilov, N.; Ranković, M.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D.; Milojević-Rakić, M. Electrochemistry of Doped Magnéli Phases for Pollutant Degradation. In Book of Abstracts of the 4th International Conference on Green Energy and Environmental Technology (p. 38), July 27–29, 2026, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.

Milivojević, T.; Ranković, M.; Gavrilov, N.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D.; Janošević Ležaić, A.; Milojević-Rakić, M. Electrochemical Oxidation of PFAS Using Transition-Metal-Doped Titanium Suboxide Coatings on Titanium Mesh. In Book of Abstracts of the 4th International Conference on Green Energy and Environmental Technology (p. 39), July 27–29, 2026, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

Milivojević, T.; Ranković, M.; Gavrilov, N.; Jevremović, A.; Janošević Ležaić, A.; Nakarada, Đ.; Mojović, M.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D.; Milojević-Rakić, M. Exploration of PFAS Degradation over Lower Titanium Suboxides: Ti₆O₁₁ Case. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2026, 143269.

Jevremović A.; Ranković M.; Gavrilov N.; Nakarada Đ.; Mojović M.; Milojević-Rakić M. EPR insight into radical-mediated PFAS degradation on Ti₆O₁₁ electrodes. In the Book of Abstracts of the 11^th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry (p. 304), September 08–12, 2026, Lisboa, Portugal.

Ranković, M., Gavrilov, N., Janošević Ležaić, A., Nedić Vasiljević, B., Bajuk-Bogdanović, D., Milojević-Rakić, M. (2026). Prospective of Ti₄O₇@Ti mesh in environmental application. Book of Abstracts of the 10th Regional Symposium on Electrochemistry—South-East Europe (RSE-SEE 10), Prague, Czech Republic, 20–24 September 2026, p. 88.

Nedić Vasiljević, B., Gavrilov, N., Milojević-Rakić, M. (2026). Theoretical modeling of titanium suboxides for advanced environmental electrochemical applications. Book of Abstracts of the 10th Regional Symposium on Electrochemistry—South-East Europe (RSE-SEE 10), Prague, Czech Republic, 20–24 September 2026, p. 102.

Milivojević, T., Ranković, M., Janošević Ležaić, A., Gavrilov, N., Jevremović, A., Nedić Vasiljević, B., Bajuk-Bogdanović, D., Milojević-Rakić, M. (2026). Insight into degradation mechanism of PFAS on Ti₆O₁₁ electrodes. Book of Abstracts of the 10th Regional Symposium on Electrochemistry—South-East Europe (RSE-SEE 10), Prague, Czech Republic, 20–24 September 2026, p. 48.

Milivojević, T.; Ranković, M.; Milikić, J.; Stojadinović, S.; Nedić Vasiljević, B.; Bajuk-Bogdanović, D.; Milojević-Rakić, M.; Gavrilov, N. Cobalt-Induced Magnéli Phase Transformation Towards Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions. Materials 2026, 19(19), 4099.