Elżbieta Grabińska-Sota

The toxicity of cationic surfactants in four bioassays.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicity of 15 quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) in a battery of four bioassays comprising the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, two ciliated protozoa Spirostomum ambiguum and Tetrahymena thermophia, and the anostracean crustacean Artemia franciscana. The compounds were prepared by Professor Pernaks group at Poznań University of Technology (Poland). The toxicity of the test compounds was very high, with EC(LC)(50) values varying from 0.11 to 70 micromol/L. Microtox was the most sensitive bioassay, while the crustacean test was the least sensitive. Among the protozoa T. thermophila was 5-30 times less sensitive than S. ambiguum. The toxicity of the QACs depended on their structure, but no simple correlation was found for all the bioassays applied.

Biological Removal of Azo and Triphenylmethane Dyes and Toxicity of Process By-Products

Increasing environmental pollution is connected with broad applications of dyes and imperfection of dyeing technology. Decolourization of triphenylmethane brilliant green and disazo Evans blue by bacterial and fungal strains and toxicity (phyto- and zootoxicity) of degradation by-products were investigated. Influence of incubation method on dyes removal was evaluated (static, semi-static, shaken). Dead biomass was used for sorption estimation. Toxicity of treated dyes was measured to estimate possible influence on aquatic ecosystems. The zootoxicity test was done with Daphnia magna and phytotoxicity with Lemna minor. Samples were classified according to ACE 89/BE 2/D3 Final Report Commission EC. The best results of removal for all tested strains were reached in shaken samples. In opposite to fungi, bacterial strains decolourized brilliant green more effectively than Evans blue. The most effective bacterial strain was Erwinia spp. (s12) and fungal strains were Polyporus picipes (RWP17) and Pleurotus ostreatus (BWPH and MB). Decolourization of brilliant green was connected with decrease of zootoxicity (D. magna) and phytotoxicity (L. minor). Removal of Evans blue was connected with no changes in zootoxicity and decrease of phytotoxicity in most of samples.

Efficiency of decolorization of different dyes using fungal biomass immobilized on different solid supports

Different technologies may be used for decolorization of wastewater containing dyes. Among them, biological processes are the most promising because they seem to be environmentally safe. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of decolorization of two dyes belonging to different classes (azo and triphenylmethane dyes) by immobilized biomass of strains of fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus – BWPH, Gleophyllum odoratum – DCa and Polyporus picipes – RWP17). Different solid supports were tested for biomass immobilization. The best growth of fungal strains was observed on the washer, brush, grid and sawdust supports. Based on the results of dye adsorption, the brush and the washer were selected for further study. These solid supports adsorbed dyes at a negligible level, while the sawdust adsorbed 82.5% of brilliant green and 19.1% of Evans blue. Immobilization of biomass improved dye removal. Almost complete decolorization of diazo dye Evans blue was reached after 24 h in samples of all strains immobilized on the washer. The process was slower when the brush was used for biomass immobilization. Comparable results were reached for brilliant green in samples with biomass of strains BWPH and RWP17. High decolorization effectiveness was reached in samples with dead fungal biomass. Intensive removal of the dyes by biomass immobilized on the washer corresponded to a significant decrease in phytotoxicity and a slight decrease in zootoxicity of the dye solutions. The best decolorization results as well as reduction in toxicity were observed for the strain P. picipes (RWP17).