reducing the negative impact on soils affected by military operations through phytoremediation. This is the goal of the project of Serhiy Krasovsky, a new participant in the competition from the Ukrainian Reconstruction Fund “Revival and Innovative Development of Ukraine”
Currently, the contestant is a graduate student (dual education) at the National Technical University “Dnipro Polytechnic” (Dnipro) and the Technical University “Freiberg Mining Academy” (Freiberg, Germany).
In the description of his concept, the young scientist notes that the war increases the risks of environmental hazards in Ukraine. In particular, a large amount of agricultural land is mined. The explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant changed the soil and water balance in southern Ukraine.
Digging trenches and craters caused by explosions, the construction of fortifications, and the movement of military equipment cause the degradation of vegetation. And when ammunition explodes, a large amount of heavy metals and toxic chemicals are released into the environment.
Phytoremediation (growing plants that can accumulate, stabilize, or immobilize high concentrations of toxic elements) is one of the methods of solving the environmental problem, emphasizes Krasovsky. He plans to investigate one of the plants, known for its adaptability to unfavorable growing conditions, as a phytoremediation for contaminated Ukrainian soils (with further use as biofuel).
The researcher hopes that the results will allow him to design a remediation model that will greatly facilitate soil restoration in the future.
