The SPbGASU Educational Center for Project-Based Learning (ECPL) together with Scientific and Innovative Enterprise AQUAEFFECT – a long-standing industry partner of the university, held an elective course. Joint research and development projects contribute to the evolution of modern environmental and engineering education.

For 13 years, AQUAEFFECT Scientific and Innovative Enterprise has been developing, implementing, and operating cutting-edge water treatment and disinfection solutions, as even minor contaminants can significantly alter water properties and pose a threat to human health and the environment. Understanding the processes behind these changes and ensuring the safety of water bodies requires systematic research and the implementation of innovative purification technologies.

As part of the Project Activity elective, three student project groups were formed, each developing one of the relevant areas:

• study of changes in water quality when various types of pollutants are introduced;
• predicting the efficiency of swimming pool clarification filters using the AE-1 oligodynamic solution synthesis unit;
• development of an automated pre-trip technical condition monitoring system for buses using video analytics technologies.

The choice of topics is directly linked to global trends: the reduction of chlorine-containing reagents and the development of safe water treatment technologies. Thanks to the support of an industrial partner, students have the opportunity to work with modern equipment and gain practical experience which is in demand in the industry.

The partners provided the students with a test setup, which allowed them to significantly improve their laboratory research to match the real-world operating conditions of water treatment systems.

A team supervised by Roman Gurdin, an Assistant at the Department of Water Use and Environment, studied changes in water quality when various types of pollutants were introduced. "The team investigated how different ammonium concentrations affected water quality and key indicators (color, turbidity, pH), and also studied which chemical reagents, and in what quantities, could reduce ammonium concentrations in water," said Roman Gurdin.

After completing the laboratory phase, the elective course participants were able to test their findings at live facilities at the AQUAEFFECT SIE. The results obtained will form the basis for scientific publications and final qualifying works.

"SPbGASU's joint projects with industrial partners confirm the importance of applied research for the development of environmentally friendly water treatment technologies, an area that directly impacts the quality of life and the sustainability of natural systems," says Inna Sukhanova, Director of the SPbGASU ECPL.