The aim of the research is to develop a comprehensive solution for сhemical by-products (phosphogypsum) recycling under wastewater and sewage sludge treatment with the production of biofuels and other useful bio-products. The research is based on the use of municipal sewage sludge, poultry litter digestsate, crops biomass (sweet sorghum) or similar materials as carbon source and phosphogypsum as source of nutrients and microelements for cultivated useful groups of microorganisms for bio-methane, bio-hydrogen and other bio-based products (biosulfur, digestate etc.). In this regard, the following areas of wastewater treatment in bioprocesses are proposed: anaerobic digestion of wastewater with the addition of chemical by-products and the production of biomethane and other useful bio-based products; dephosphotation and detoxification of sewage sludge with phosphogypsum addition with the production of biomethane and digestate. Municipal sewage sludge and digestate/ biocomposite will be tested as soil amendments in microfield experiments with sweet sorghum and switchgrass grown in reclaimed mine lands.

Key words:

Biofuel; digestate; phosphogypsum; sewage sludge; waste recycling; energy crops; reclaimed minelands

Multidisciplinary research team composition:

The members of the research team have to describe his/her position in the team (main coordinator, co-researcher) and his/her relation (affiliation) and status (PhD. student, staff, master degree student, bachelor degree student) and working unit or department where the person studies/works.

Researchers from Sumy State University, Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University and the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague participate in the multidisciplinary research team. 

From Sumy State University:

Yelizaveta Chernysh (scientist under 35 years) – main coordinator, PhD, D.Sc., Associate Professor, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies

Iryna Ablieieva (scientist under 35 years) – co-researcher, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies

Irina Vaskina – co-researcher, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies

Igor Roy (scientist under 35 years) – co-researcher, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies

Olena Yakhnenko – co-researcher, PhD, Assistant, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies

Iryna Berezhna – co-researcher, PhD student, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies

Victoriia Chubur – co-researcher, PhD student, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies

From Dnipro State Agrarian and Economy University:

Mykola Kharytonov – co-researcher, professor, PhD, Department of soil science and farming

Iryna Rula – co-researcher, associated professor, PhD, Department of chemistry

Olena Zolotovs’ka- co-researcher, associated professor, PhD, Department of agri-engineering technique

Nataliia Gonchar – co-researcher, associated professor, PhD, Department of soil science and farming

From Czech University of Life Sciences Prague:

Hynek Roubík – co-researcher, PhD, Group leader of Biogas Research Team, Department of Sustainable Technologies

Chama Theodore Ketuama – co-researchers, PhD student, member of Biogas Research Team, Department of Sustainable Technologies