Azerbaijan's “Clean Caspian” project receives support from Alkagesta

The project came to the attention of the Alkagesta team through the GUB Startup Platform, where it was presented under the "Skills for the Future" initiative. Following an assessment of its scientific potential, environmental impact, and contribution to fostering an entrepreneurial culture among young people in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Alkagesta decided to support the initiative as part of its broader ESG strategy and long-term investment in science-driven development.

Based in Azerbaijan, the Clean Caspian project focuses on addressing one of the most significant environmental risks associated with hydrocarbon extraction and transportation in the Caspian region oil pollution. Oil spills and hydrocarbon films on water surfaces can disrupt oxygen exchange, damage marine ecosystems, and negatively affect coastal communities.

To address these challenges, the project team is developing scalable and cost-effective scientific solutions. Research efforts are focused on environmentally safe coagulants and oil containment materials designed to improve the speed and efficiency of oil spill response operations. Current areas of study include biodegradable sorbents, nanomaterial-based oil collection systems, as well as advanced containment technologies such as boom barriers and skimmers.

One of the project's most promising developments is a new chemical solution capable of treating heavily contaminated water under a variety of environmental conditions. Preliminary laboratory findings indicate that just four grams of the substance can purify up to one ton of polluted water at a very low production cost, demonstrating strong potential for large-scale and industrial applications.

Research activities have been ongoing for more than two months, with initial results showing encouraging practical outcomes. The team is currently working on optimizing reagent synthesis and evaluating operational performance across different technical and environmental conditions.