New WISE projects target sustainable metal and cleaner environment

Luleå University of Technology has received two new research projects within the WISE program. The projects focus on sustainable solutions for metal processing and degradation of harmful chemicals. The research has the potential to reduce both energy consumption in industry and eliminate environmental toxins that threaten our health and environment.

The first project, Energy-efficient ultrasonic treatment for improved performance of metals, is led by Marta-Lena Antti, Professor of Materials Engineering and Scientific Director of WISE at Luleå University of Technology. The research investigates how ultrasonic technology can replace energy-intensive heating processes in the metal industry. By treating metals with ultrasound at room temperature, the researchers hope to drastically reduce energy consumption and environmental impact, while improving the performance of the metals.

Energy-efficient metal processing with ultrasound

“By using ultrasound, we can remove residual stresses and defects in metals without having to heat them, which is otherwise an energy-intensive process,” explains Marta-Lena Antti.

The research will also investigate how ultrasound affects the microstructure of metals, which could lead to the technology becoming a new standard in industry.

“Ultrasonic treatment is a clean and efficient method that can be scaled up and used widely in industry to reduce energy consumption,” Marta-Lena Antti adds.

The second project, Advancing electrochemical oxidation technique for complete PFAS degradation, is led by Jurate Kumpiene, Professor of Waste Engineering at Luleå University of Technology and focuses on developing a technique to degrade the persistent PFAS chemicals. These chemicals, which are found in products such as food packaging and fire extinguishing foams, are very difficult to break down and pose a serious threat to the environment and public health.

Degradation of PFAS - one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time

“PFAS chemicals are extremely difficult to break down and can remain in the environment for a long time, posing a major threat to both humans and animals. We are developing a technology that uses electricity to break down these chemicals into harmless substances,” says Jurate Kumpiene.

The project aims to create a globally applicable method for cleaning water and soil from these hazardous substances and includes long-term studies to ensure its effectiveness. Collaborations with researchers both in Sweden and internationally contribute to the broad scope of the project.

“In our previous research, we have shown that electricity can effectively break down PFAS in different waste streams. However, the electrodes used for water treatment are not particularly suitable for treating contaminated soil, for example. In this project, we will synthesize and test new electrodes that are expected to be more versatile, robust and cost-effective,” Jurate Kumpiene continues.

Both projects are part of the WISE program, which aims to create sustainable technologies through advanced materials science. With a focus on both energy-efficient metal processing and the elimination of harmful chemicals, the research contributes to solving some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

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