Konstantin Raclavský

Temporal and seasonal variations of black carbon in a highly polluted European city: Apportionment of potential sources and the effect of meteorological conditions

Black carbon - a primary component of particulate matter emitted from an incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biomass, and biofuels - has been found to have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. Since black carbon emissions data are not readily available, no measures are implemented to reduce black carbon emissions. The temporal and seasonal variations of black carbon concentrations were evaluated during 2012-2014. The data were collected in the highly polluted European city - Ostrava, Czech Republic, surrounded by major highways and large industries. Significantly higher black carbon concentrations were obtained in Ostrava, relative to other European cities and the magnitude was equivalent to the magnitude of black carbon concentrations measured in Poland and China. The data were categorized to heating and non-heating seasons based on the periodic pattern of daily and monthly average concentrations of black carbon. A higher black carbon concentration was obtained during heating season than non-heating season and was primarily associated with an increase in residential coal burning and meteorological parameters. The concentration of black carbon was found to be negatively correlated with temperature and wind speed, and positively correlated with the relative humidity. Other black carbon sources potentially included emissions from vehicle exhaust and the local steel-producing industry.

1H and 13C NMR Analysis of Poly(succinimide) Prepared by Microwave-Enhanced Polycondensation of L-Aspartic Acid

Poly(succinimide) (PSI) is a polymer of aspartic acid with interesting properties and numerous possible uses. Application areas include agriculture, cleaning agents, metallurgy, the building industry, wastewater treatment, medicine, pharmaceuticals, bioengineering, and many more. Therefore, the particular structure analysis is crucial for these purposes, especially considering possible reactions between monomer and solvent used in the polycondensation process. Moreover, utilization of microwave irradiation in such synthesis is conducive to reducing reaction time and improving yield. In this article, the detailed structure analysis of PSI prepared under microwave irradiation conditions as well as a comparison study with thermally synthesized PSI are presented.

Comparison of enrichment factors for heavy metals in urban street dust and air aerosols

The article deals with the possibility of comparison of enrichment factors in air aerosols (PM10) and in the street dust, which is influenced by air pollution. For Pb and Sb, the same value of enrichment factor for both matrices was determined. The highest enrichment index (> 100) in air aerosols was found for Cd, Sb, and As, and also for Pb, and Zn (approximately 100). Enrichment factor shows significant differences in the summer and winter period, for Cd, Sb, As, Pb, and Zn it is > 2x higher in winter. Enrichment factor in street dust was also evaluated using geochemical background of soils from Olomouc. It was found that the highest value of enrichment factor is achieved by Cu, which comes from transport (probably bus operation).

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals bound on particulate matter

Probki pylu zawieszonego (PM10) zebrano w pieciu miejscach o roznym charakterze w regionie Mo-rawskośląskim (Republika Czeska). Stezenie metali ciezkich związanych z cząstkami stalymi oznaczano metodą ICP - optycznej spektroskopii emisyjnej. Zanieczyszczenie metalami ciezkimi zostalo wyrazone jako wskaźnik obciązenia zanieczyszczeniem - PLI. Ocene ryzyka dla zdrowia ludzkiego przeprowadzono metodą US EPA - z wykorzystaniem ilorazu zagrozenia - HQ, wskaźnika zagrozenia - HI i zwiekszenia ryzyka wystąpienia raka w calym okresie zycia - ELCR. Zanieczyszczenie i związane z tym ryzyko rako-tworczości zwieksza sie w sezonie zimowym. Potencjalne zagrozenie nierakotworcze nie jest znaczące.

Possibilities of the utilization of char from the pyrolysis of tetrapak

Since the cellulose used in the production of tetrapak is of very high quality, the char generated during pyrolysis should be influenced mainly by the pyrolysis temperature. This article aims to determine the chemical composition of biochar prepared at the temperatures of 400, 500, 600 and 700 °C and its environmental properties determined by the presence of organic compounds with toxicity and relatively high mobility in the environment. The analytical pyrolysis of char was used to identify the following groups of organic compounds: alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes, cycloalkenes, alkynes, alkadiens, ethers, alcohols, nitrogen compounds, nitrils, ketones and aldehydes, compounds containing phenols, furans, benzofurans, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), carboxylic acids, compounds containing benzenes and markers indicative of the presence of synthetic polymers (polyethylene layers, a part of dyes, antioxidants, stabilizers), and fragments of cellulose. Concerning the use of char as a soil conditioner, its ecotoxicity was monitored (Folsomia candida) by monitoring its addition to the artificial soil (char addition: 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 and 100%). The lowest reproduction inhibition of Folsomia candida is caused by biochar prepared at the temperature of 400 °C and 700 °C, but it is not suitable for the agricultural application, the concentration of PAHs is three times higher than the EBC limit. Low-density polyethylene which is present in the aseptic box in concentration of 6%, can degrade biochar so that it cannot be used as a soil amendment. The results of the char analyses show that the pyrolysis temperature is a decisive factor in the applicability of biochar.

Relationship between magnetic susceptibility of soils and concentrations of heavy metals in the region of Moravosilesian Beskydy Mts., Czech Republic

In the Ostrava - Karvina Industrial Region and in the vicinity of the Town Trinec, enormous amounts of dust are produced. The dust particles are emitted in the environment and they are deposited prevalently in forest soils. The usual component of dust is formed magnetic particles. Their presence makes it possible to utilize magnetic susceptibility as an indicator of deposition load. The area distribution of magnetic susceptibility values in the region of Ostrava - Karvina Industrial Region, Beskydy Mts. and their piedmont area was already published by authors of this article. The subject of this contribution is the solution of relationship between magnetic susceptibility and concentration of chemical elements in soils in selected part of the studied region.