Project will develop suitable biochar in accordance with green principles and green chemistry and applied it in environmental, analytical and electroanalytical chemistry as a material for method development for persistent organic pollutants determination and removal from aquatic environment.
EnviroChar project is one of 30 projects funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia for young researchers through the PROMIS2023 program.
Project title: Sustainable solutions in environmental chemistry: exploring biochar potential
Project acronym: EnviroChar
Project coordinator: dr Jelena Beljin, Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad
Call identifier: The Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
Grant no.: 10810
Start date: 03.01.2024.
Duration: 24 months
The EnviroChar team members participated in the SmartWaterTwin workshop, "Communication Skills for Greater Impact of Your Research," held on September 30th and October 1st, 2024, at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad.
The workshop was designed to improve communication skills, focusing on enhancing the ability to write Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation (CDE) plans for project proposals, and defining target groups and communication channels. Through a series of practical exercises and group work, participants explored various aspects of verbal and nonverbal communication, and how to effectively communicate scientific research in the context of the Horizon Europe framework. This training was an excellent opportunity to refine our skills and engage with colleagues on best practices for research communication. We look forward to applying the insights gained during this workshop to future projects and initiatives.
We would like to thank the SmartWaterTwin team for organizing such a useful event!
The EnviroChar project coordinator, Dr. Jelena Beljin, associate professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, actively participated in the “Communicating Your Research to Non-Specialists – Nature Masterclass,” a full-day workshop held on October 4, 2024, organized by BIO4 Campus in collaboration with Springer Nature. The workshop, led by expert Dr Jeffrey Robens in scientific communication, aimed to enhance researchers' skills in effectively presenting their research to a broader audience.
Dr Jeffrey Robens is Head of Community Engagement at Nature Portfolio and the Lead Trainer for the Expert Trainer-led Nature Masterclasses—training workshops to improve publication output worldwide. He has strong scientific qualifications with 20 years of academic experience and numerous publications and awards. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and then worked at premier research institutes in Singapore and Japan. Since leaving academia in 2012, he has conducted over 600 academic training workshops worldwide to help researchers improve their publication quality and impact.
During the event, participants learned about the importance of communicating science to the public, strategies for writing engaging content for non-experts, and using various platforms such as social media and AI to promote their work. The agenda covered key topics such as audience understanding, effective writing techniques, and building narratives to make scientific findings more relatable and impactful.
Dr. Beljin's presence at this event underscores our team commitment to advancing science communication and engaging the public with scientific research.
From 13 to 17 May 2024
IFAT Munich enables us to present and discuss the latest technologies and ideas in the field of environmental technology by promoting a sustainable future.
The key issues at IFAT Munich were related to the world dealing with climate change and protecting the environment through international climate protection targets. In that sense, circular economy plays a key role, as it can help to effectively reduce the (primary) raw materials that need to be used. IFAT combines the relevant topics and issues of the water and recycling industries in the most efficient way.
IFAT Munich 2024 offers a mutual exchange of ideas for advancing developments in various industries. Since water, energy, the environment, and climate are among the most important issues, a circular economy could be maintained through water and wastewater management, waste, and recycling industries.
The Fair in 300,000 square meters of exhibition space included 3,211 exhibitors from 61 countries and regions and 142,000 visitors from 170 countries and regions, and 220 speakers shared their expertise on the various stages.
The EnviroChar attended the International BioCompWaterClean Workshop titled “New applications in wastewater treatment on the way to zero-waste technology,” held on October 20–21, 2025, at the Science and Technology Park Novi Sad. Dr. Jelena Beljin, principal investigator, had a presentation entitled: “Reusability of biochar as a catalyst in persulfate systems for atrazine and simazine degradation” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Tijana Marjanović Srebro had an oral presentation “Impact of water matrix on persulfate activation efficiency for the removal of lindane and β-endosulfan using corn cob biochar” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Jasmina Anojčić participated in the conference with a poster presentation titled “Biochar-based electrochemical sensors for pesticides detection in aquatic environment” (book of abstracts | pdf), while the MSc Nina Đukanović had oral presentation with the title: “The influence of pyrolysis temperature on the properties of biochar derived from wheat straw” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Tijana Marjanović Srebro participated in the conference with oral presentation titled “Activation of persulfate by biochar: Dosage optimization for effective lindane degradation in water” (book of abstracts | pdf), while the MSc Nina Đukanović had oral presentation with the title: “Biochar from wheat straw and wood: a sustainable solution for pesticide removal from water” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Jasmina Anojčić participated in the conference with a poster presentation titled “Carbon paste electrode modified with biochar for sensitive electrochemical determination of carbendazim in environmental water samples” (book of abstracts | pdf), Dr. Sanja Mutić also with the title: “Comparison of wheat and corn-derived biochar as modifiers of carbon paste electrode for voltammetric determination of carbendazim” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Tijana Marjanović Srebro participated in the conference with a poster presentation titled “Biochar as an effective catalyst for persulfate activation: A review and future research directions” (book of abstracts | pdf), MSc Nina Đukanović also with the title: “Catalytic activation of persulfate using biochar for pesticide degradation in water” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Tijana Marjanović Srebro participated in the conference with a poster presentation titled “Tečno-tečna ekstrakcija pesticida: Uloga zapremine uzorka i rastvarača” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Sanja Mutić participated in the conference with a poster presentation titled “Green electrochemical sensor based on biochar for quantification of selected pesticides in aqueous solutions” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Tamara Apostolović had an oral presentation “Pyrolysis temperature effects on wood derived biochar and its potential for organic pollutant removal from water” (pdf).
Dr. Jasmina Anojčić participated in the conference with a poster presentation titled “Use of hardwood biochar for the development of a sensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of pesticide mancozeb in wastewater sample” (book of abstracts | pdf), Dr. Tamara Apostolović with the title: “Removal of Organic Pollutants from Water Using Wood-Derived Biochar” (book of abstracts | pdf), and Dr. Sanja Mutić with the title: “Electroanalytical approach for quantification of pesticide maneb in river water sample using biochar-modified carbon paste electrode” (book of abstracts | pdf).
Dr. Jasmina Anojčić participated in the conference with a poster presentation titled “Biochar-modified carbon paste electrode as an advanced material for electrochemical investigation of pesticide mancozeb” (book of abstracts | pdf), MSc Sanja Mutić also with the title: “Exploring biochar potential for electrochemical sensing of pesticide maneb” (book of abstracts | pdf).
EnviroChar project at the 53rd Conference – Waste Waters, Municipal Solid Wastes and Hazardous Wastes.
Papers from the Proceedings in pdf are available HERE.
Dr. Jelena Beljin had oral presentation “Agricultural residues as an unused resource: opportunities and challenges”,
MSc Nina Đukanović also with title: “Influence of pyrolysis temperature on selected physical and chemical properties of biochar”.
Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection
Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad,
Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Srbija
jelena.beljin@dh.uns.ac.rs
+381 21 485 27 20
