Chemistry for Climate Action winners use volcanic rocks and white-rot fungi for waste management
22 May 2024
By Maha Rhannam
The winners of the 2024 Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge are Dr Altantuya Ochirkhuyag of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (left) and María Alejandra Flórez-Restrepo of Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia. (Photo © Ekaterina Popova)
These early-career researchers are creating innovative solutions for water and waste management challenges in Mongolia, Colombia and beyond
From 2017 to 2021, about 30% of all scientific research had direct ties to the UN Sustainable Development Goals opens in new tab/window, with climate change emerging as the most frequently referenced topic, according to Scopus opens in new tab/window data. This statistic is not startling considering the global threat posed by climate change.
The surprising element might be the significant role chemistry can play in devising pragmatic solutions to the environmental issues we need to conquer for a sustainable future. We need to leverage the potency of chemistry to combat climate change effectively.
The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge opens in new tab/window aims to discover solutions rooted in chemistry that can help mitigate the climate crisis. This year, we received 91 applications from 41 countries. Five finalists presented their proposals to the scientific jury at the 8th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference opens in new tab/window, held May 13–15 in Dresden, Germany. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the winners.
Dr Altantuya Ochirkhuyag opens in new tab/window is a researcher in environmental chemistry at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences opens in new tab/window Mongolian Academy of Sciences opens in new tab/window Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
María Alejandra Flórez-Restrepo opens in new tab/window is a researcher in the BIOPOLIMER Research Group at Universidad de Antioquia opens in new tab/window, Colombia.
The winners will each receive a €25,000 prize and two month's access to Elsevier's premier chemistry and cheminformatics database, Reaxys opens in new tab/window.
“Selecting the winners of the 8th Challenge was incredibly difficult, but we are delighted to recognize the hard work and dedication of our two winning early career women researchers,” said Prof Dr Klaus Kümmerer opens in new tab/window, Chair of the Challenge’s scientific jury and the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference. “Their commitment towards a sustainable future serves as an inspiration to us all, and we eagerly anticipate the impacts their future work will have.”
Harnessing the properties of volcanic rocks for wastewater treatment
As one of the world’s most high-risk countries for water stress opens in new tab/window, Mongolia is experiencing firsthand the challenges of climate change. Amid these pressing concerns, Dr Ochirkhuyag is offering an innovative and resourceful solution: utilizing volcanic rocks for wastewater treatment.
Her project, VolcaniBlock, is designed to tackle organic-contaminated water sources, a widespread problem in many Mongolian communities. The process involves using abundant volcanic rocks such as zeolite, basalt and perlite, which are rich in microorganisms capable of breaking down pollutants in water. The resulting VolcaniBlocks not only provide a solution for cleaning water but also an environmentally friendly one, marking a significant stride towards sustainability for a country grappling with the effects of climate change.
A sample of volcanic rock from Dr Altantuya Ochirkhuyag’s research.
“I truly value the Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge as it provides a great opportunity for early career researchers like me to gain local and international visibility,” said Dr Ochirkhuyag. “It opens up doors for collaboration, in addition to the financial support provided by the grant.”
From fungi to biomaterials: An innovative approach to waste management
Agro-industrial waste used as a substrate in the waste management process developed by María Alejandra Flórez-Restrepo and her team in the BIOPOLIMER Research Group at Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia.
Faced with the global challenges of climate change, Flórez-Restrepo and her research team have developed a unique and sustainable approach — utilizing mycelium biomaterials for waste management.
The project revolves around the development of mycelium biomaterials from white-rot fungi, a resource found in Colombian forests. The process involves using agro-industrial waste as a substrate, transforming this waste into a resource for creating these biomaterials. The mycelium biomaterials serve as a habitat for bacteria that play a crucial role in breaking down pollutants.
White-rot fungi is used to develop mycelium biomaterials in the waste management process development by María Alejandra Flórez-Restrepo.
Prototype developed by María Alejandra Flórez-Restrepo and her team at the Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia.
The resulting biomaterials are not only a solution to waste management; they also provide an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic materials, marking a significant step towards sustainability in a world grappling with the effects of climate change. Flórez-Restrepo’s project showcases the potential of sustainable development through the innovative use of locally sourced materials. In expressing her gratitude for the win, she said:
This recognition is a reminder of our collective work to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. We want to develop technologies for the change and take real actions for the benefit of our planet. We are going to develop this project towards circular economy and using our biodiversity with the aim of mitigating the effects of climate change.
Identifying “concrete solutions to very real climate problems”
The Challenge is organized by the Elsevier Foundation in collaboration with Elsevier’s Sustainable Chemistry journal group and the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference.
“We are facing a triple planetary crisis related to climate, the environment and biodiversity,” said Rob van Daalen opens in new tab/window, Senior Publisher for Sustainable Chemistry at Elsevier:
It is inspiring to see that so many researchers around the world are trying to work on these problems. We hope that awarding these two winners will make an important impact on their regional communities and will inspire others.
Rob van Daalen
Ylann Schemm opens in new tab/window, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation, pointed out that women are disproportionately affected by climate change and that the Challenge addresses that reality: “Both winners have done a really fantastic job in centering women within their projects — as team leads and producers of these innovative solutions. We’re also proud that eight years on, the Challenge continues to identify concrete solutions to very real climate problems in the Global South.”
Ylann Schemm
Contributor
MR