Sunčica Sukur, who is employed as a research assistant at the Chemistry Department on the RIS RESTORE project, and is also a master student, won the 3rd place in the international competition for innovative ideas in the field of material science.
Sunčica presented the result of her graduation thesis defended in July 2020, which brought a significant potentially applicative result on domestic pyrophyllite. Pyrophyllite is an aluminosilicate of which we have in Bosnia and Herzegovina about 38 million tons in the Parsovići deposit near Konjic, which makes it probably the largest deposit of this mineral in the world.
After a detailed examination of the kinetics of neutralization of acid solutions with micronized pyrophyllite powder, Sunčica came to the conclusion that this kinetics is very fast, ie that pyrophyllite completely neutralizes acidic solutions up to pH=2 in less than one minute, and then buffers them into a slightly basic area of about pH=8. This phenomenon could be applied in the rapid treatment of acid injuries in work, industry or in cases of acid attacks which are unfortunately very common in the world. It would be a convenient packaging of pyrophyllite in bottles similar to baby powder bottles that should be on hand in first aid kits in every home or workplace where there is a possibility of these injuries. Proving this application continues in collaboration with colleagues from Department of Biology.
The award includes a modest amount of money, but is prestigious given that Sunčica’s result was achieved in modest laboratory conditions, on a device purchased from TRAKMAT project (support from Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society). On the other hand, other competitors presented results supported by valuable internationally funded projects. The award also represents a motivation for other students to continue to achieve such notable results through project activities at Chemistry Department.
Links:
https://pmf.unibl.org/trakmat-national-project/
https://www.eitrawmaterials-rcadria.eu/events/adria-innovation-day-2020