Bartłomiej Cieślik

Characteristics of odors emitted from municipal wastewater treatment plant and methods for their identification and deodorization techniques

Odors emitted from municipal wastewater treatment plants belong to a group of pollutants, which is the main cause of people complaining about atmospheric air quality. The limitation of emissions of unpleasant odors generated by wastewater treatment plants by using appropriate deodorization methods is omitted on numerous occasions. This can have a negative influence on public trust and the quality of atmospheric air. The article presents basic information on the characteristics of odors from wastewater treatment lines and wastewater processing and management lines in a model biological wastewater treatment plant conducting the biogas recovery process and also information is provided on deodorization methods, such as odor masking, biofiltration, thermal disposal and diffusion through activated sludge dedicated to neutralization of odors in biological treatment plants. The main focus is on the field olfactometry technique, which is one of the tools used in environmental protection. Its application facilitates performance of tests concerning the assessment of olfactory properties of odorants in polluted air.

Determination of Selected Metals in Fruit Wines by Spectroscopic Techniques

Background The determination of metals in different types of food and beverages samples has drawn significant attention due to several reasons with the most important one being the nutritional and toxic effects of these elements or their compounds. The knowledge of certain elements content in wines/fruit wines is of special interest due to their toxicity in case of excessive intake and also the effect they seem to have on the organoleptic properties of wine. Results The study was focused on measuring the concentration levels of trace metals in fruit wines. Analysis of K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cd, Mg, Pb, Sn, and Hg in so-called homemade fruit wine was carried out by AES, AAS, CV-AAS, and GF-AAS techniques. The calculated calibration curves showed good linearity range for all tested analytes (with coefficient of determination in the range from 0.989 to 0.999). The low values of the limit of detection (from 0.0031 μg/L to 0.47 mg/L) and the limit of quantification (from 0.009 μg/L to 1.41 mg/L) were obtained. Conclusions The allowed levels of metal in fruit wines are prescribed by the International Office for Grapes and Wines (OIV). The data obtained from the study area for all metals did not exceed the international limits.

Trace Elements in Aquatic Environments

A trace element is defined as a chemical element whose the average concentration is less than 100 ppm (mg/kg, mg/L – in the case of a water matrix). In aquatic environments the concentrations of trace elements are usually at the level of picomoles per liter and lower. This causes extreme analytical problems, especially in situations where low content is in the range of background levels. Taking into account the role of trace elements in the environment, there are toxic ones, physiological, and inert.

Analytical and legislative challenges of sewage sludge processing and management

This article presents the most popular methods of sewage sludge management and analytical techniques which could be a powerful tool in designing new sewage sludge management methods. Chemical analysis is also described as a vital point at the subsequent stages of technological processes control and sewage sludge quality assessment. It is also an instrument essential to maintaining control of processed sewage sludge introduced to the environment as ready-to-use materials. The sludge management method is conditioned by the compliance with legal acts concerning sludge management. The most important of these contain information regarding allowable concentrations of pollutants which can be released into the environment, and the most important declarations concerning sewage sludge management. Various analytical techniques and preparation methods that can be used during the monitoring of the managed and processed sewage sludge are described. The most important are chromatographic techniques, methods based on inductively coupled plasma, and mass spectrometry based methods.Graphical abstract

Bis-phosphonated carbon nanotubes: One pot synthesis and their application as efficient adsorbent of mercury

ABSTRACT Effective, one-pot method of CNTs phosphonylation is presented. Cheap and readily available reagents are used, so the process can be easily transferred to large-scale production. The product was analyzed using spectroscopic methods (FTIR, UV-vis, XPS). Thermal properties of the bis-phosphonated nanotubes are reported for the first time. Newly obtained material was tested as an adsorbent for mercury removal from water. The sorption capacity for newly developed adsorbent was as high as 223.7 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics were studied within framework of Lagergren model, and Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms have been described. The effect of pH on the adsorption process has been evaluated and the optimal environmental conditions were determined to be neutral. The presence of bivalent ions Cd2+, Ni2+ in the solution did not affect adsorption efficiency of novel materials.