BrainMap

Mr. Ioan Balint

PhD

Senior researcher - INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU

Researcher | Scientific reviewer | Manager

Dr. Ioan Balint is a Senior Researcher and Director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry - Ilie Murgulescu, Romanian Academy. He earned his PhD in Chemistry in 1996 and completed postdoctoral research at Pierre et Marie Curie University (France) and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan). He was an invited professor at Tokyo Tech and received a UNESCO Scholarship. His research covers clean surface science (gas desorption kinetics, defect chemistry), material preparation (nanooxides, well defined meta/bimetallic nanoparticles) catalysis (hydrocarbon combustion, methane coupling, hydrogenation, nitrate abatement, ammonia synthesis), and photocatalysis (water/air depollution, water splitting, solar cells). He has led five national grants and served as an expert in numerous committees. Dr. Balint has published over 108 peer-reviewed papers with an H-index of 24.

Curriculum Vitae (26/03/2025)

Expertise & keywords

Integrated process for the removal of nitrates and organochlorine pesticides from natural water contaminated related to agricultural practices Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-1497 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO)

Project website: http://www.unibuc.ro/prof/bradu_c/inte/

Abstract:

More than 40% of groundwater from agricultural area of European Community (including Romania) have nitrate concentration above guidelines value. Toxic and persistent organochlorine pesticides have been detected adjacent to nitrates in water sources. Thus removal of nitrates and organochlorine pesticides from water is becoming a developing area of research. Along with Good Agricultural Practices, additional actions like water treatment can speed up water sources remediation.

This project focus on the development of an efficient and cost-effective integrated technology for the nitrate and pesticides removal from water contaminated as a result of the agricultural practices, leading to the protection and remediation of natural water resources. The project considers all the steps necessary from the development of suitable treatments up to the elaboration of the experimental model for the integrated water treatment technology. This approach maximizes the benefits of the project by combining innovative water treatments to reduce the environmental impact generated by the two important classes of water pollutants. Up to now the removal of nitrate and organochlorine pesticides from water was considered separately, through individual treatment processes. Our project proposes an integrated approach while several combined processes (catalytic liquid-phase reduction, catalytic advanced oxidation and ion exchange process) might be applied for both nitrate and organochlorine pesticides removal. Novel catalysts based on noble metals supported on nano-structured alumina or ion exchange resins will be used in this respect. The proposed technology could be applied for drinking water treatment and water resources remediation as well. The multidisciplinary Consortium is well balanced to achieve the global goal of the project with scientists experts in various water treatments and water analysis, advanced materials synthesis and materials complex characterization.

New BImetallic nanoparticles with applications in water CLEANing of chlorinated compounds and BIOSensors Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-0054 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO)

Project website: http://www.icf.ro/pr_2011/Project_Bicleanbios.ppt

Abstract:

The project proposes the use eco-friendly bimetallic nanoparticles with controlled composition, morphology, structure and chemical state in catalytic and photocatalytic abatement of toxic chlorinated compounds in water via dehydrochlorination reaction. The fine tuning of nanoparticle structure prepared by polyol method is expected to bring crucial improvements by increasing the catalytic activity and resistance against poisoning compared to existing materials. A strategy for improving the catalytic performances is proposed by using ordered mesostructured Al2O3 as supporting material which will be synthesized by combined microemulsion-hydrothermal techniques. In addition, the photocatalytic hydrodechlorination reaction over bimetallic nanoparticles assembled in a controlled manner with TiO2 will be investigated for the first time. The materials will be characterized by a bunch of physico-chemical techniques (XRD, XPS, fractal analysis, gas titration TPO, TPR, Cyclic Voltammetry). Also they will be tested for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.

Another important application envisaged is to develop new highly sensitive and stable biosensors based on bimetallic nanoparticles. The immobilized biorecognition element(s) on a modified working electrode with bimetallic NPs will be evaluated to identify the most promising systems for biosensor construction.

The targeted technical goal is to develop a laboratory technology for catalytic and photocatalytic degradation of chlorinated compounds in polluted waters. Sensitive and stable biosensors devoted to TCE assessment and based on bimetallic nanoparticles use are also planned to be developed at prototype level.

In order to achieve these ambitious objectives, in the three years proposed, a well-balanced and multidisciplinary consortium of three partners has been created. All the participant members have a well-established reputation in catalysis, material science, bio-chemistry and physico-chemical characterization techniqu

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects