Project type:   Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation

Grant agreement No.:   451-03-91/2022-05/03

Project is funded by:   Ministarstvo prosvete, nauke i tehnolo¹kog razvoja (Belgrade, Serbia)

Instituions where the research is conducted:

  • University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia) – Coordination
  • University of Belgrade - Faculty of Mining and Geology (Belgrade, Serbia) – Beneficiary
  • Innovation center of the Faculty of Chemisty in Belgrade (Belgrade, Serbia) – Beneficiary
  • Institut za tehnologiju nuklearnih i drugih mineralnih sirovina (Belgrade, Serbia) – Beneficiary

Project realization is scheduled from July 1, 2023 till June 30, 2025.

Project staff

Principal investigator:   Ksenija A. Stojanoviæ, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Beograd, Serbia)

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Short description of the project

The main focus of the Project is establishment of sources of organic matter, formation conditions and quality of middle-late Miocene lignite in the Danube region. The representative basins include: the Lavanttal Basin in Austria of middle Miocene age, the Karlovo Basin of late Miocene age in Bulgaria, and the largest lignite Basin in Serbia, Kolubara of late Miocene age. The comprehensive multidisciplinary research applies up-to date geological and geochemical methods: organic petrography, investigation of molecular composition of lignite organic matter, isotope signatures of individual biomarkers, analysis of mineral part of lignite, including major, trace and rare earth elements. The obtained data should provide more insights into the sources of lignite organic matter and into paleoenvironmental conditions (e.g. redox settings, climate, post-depositional events) within the different basins. The Project results indicate possibility of more efficient and environmentally friendly lignite utilization (coal bed methane production, fluidized bed gasification, briquetting and application of lignite as raw material for obtaining rare earth elements). In addition, the Project results enable to detect lignite layers that are the most favourable for utilization in Thermal Power Plants and the human health risk assessment. The Project results represent the basis for the possible development of further practical projects, including cooperation with companies.