Krzysztof Ulfig

Estimation of the environmental risk posed by landfills using chemical, microbiological and ecotoxicological testing of leachates.

The leachates from 22 municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites in Southern Poland were characterized by evaluation of chemical, microbiological and ecotoxicological parameters. Chemical analyses were mainly focused on the identification of the priority hazardous substances according to Directive on Priority Substances, 2008/105/EC (a daughter directive of the WFD) in leachates. As showed, only five substances (Cd, Hg, hexachlorobutadiene, pentachlorobenzene and PAHs) were detected in the leachates. The compounds tested were absent or present at very low concentrations. Among them, only PAHs were found in all samples in the range from 0.057 to 77.2 μg L⁻¹. The leachates were contaminated with bacteria, including aerobic, psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria, coliform and fecal coliforms, and spore-forming-bacteria, including Clostridium perfringens, and with filamentous fungi. From the analysis of specific microorganism groups (indicators of environmental pollution by pathogenic or opportunistic pathogenic organisms) it can be concluded that the landfill leachates showed sanitary and epidemiological hazard. In the ecotoxicological study, a battery of tests comprised of 5 bioassays, i.e. Microtox(®), Spirotox, Rotoxkit F™, Thamnotoxkit F™ and Daphtoxkit F™ magna was applied. The leachate samples were classified as toxic in 13.6%, highly toxic in 54.6% and very highly toxic in 31.8%. The Spirotox test was the most sensitive bioassay used. The percentage of class weight score was very high - above 60%; these samples could definitely be considered seriously hazardous and acutely toxic to the fauna and microflora. No correlations were found between the toxicity values and chemical parameters. The toxicity of leachate samples cannot be explained by low levels of the priority pollutants. It seems that other kinds of xenobiotics present in the samples at subacute levels gave the high aggregate toxic effect. The chemical, ecotoxicological and microbiological parameters of the landfill leachates should be analyzed together to assess the environmental risk posed by landfill emissions.

A preliminary study on antifungal effect of TiO2-based paints in natural indoor light

A preliminary study on antifungal effect of TiO2-based paints in natural indoor light The antifungal activity of four commercial photocatalytic paints (KEIM Ecosil ME, Titanium FA, Photo Silicate and Silicate D) in natural indoor light was investigated. The paints contained TiO2 in rutile and anatase crystalline forms as evidenced by means of the X-ray diffraction analysis. In most cases the paints inhibited growth of fungi viz. Trichoderma viride, Aspergillus niger, Coonemeria crustacea, Eurotium herbariorum, and Dactylomyces sp. The KEIM Ecosil ME paint displayed the highest antifungal effect in the light, which could be explained with the highest anatase content. The paint antifungal activity and the fungal sensitivity to the TiO2-mediated photocatalytic reaction both decreased in the following orders: KEIM Ecosil ME > Titanium FA > Photo Silicate > Silicate D and T. viride > Dactylomyces sp. > A. niger > E. herbariorum.

Biopiles for Remediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soils: A Polish Case Study

The US Department of Energy and the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas of Poland demonstrated bioremediation techniques for the cleanup of acidic petroleum sludge impacted soils at an oil refinery in southern Poland. The waste was composed of high-molar mass paraffinic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Benzo(a)pyrene and BTEX compounds were identified as the contaminants of concern. Approximately 3 300 m3 of contaminated soil (TPH ∼ 30 000 ppm) was targeted for treatment. A biopile design which employed a combination of passive and active aeration in conjunction with nutrient and surfactant application was used to increase the biodegradation of the contaminants of concern. Over the 20 month project, more than 81 % (120 metric tons) of petroleum hydrocarbons were biodegraded. Despite the fact that the material treated was highly weathered and very acidic, biodegradation rates of 121 mg per kg soil per day in the actively aerated side (82 mg per kg soil per day in the passive side) were achieved in this biopile. Microbial counts and dehydrogenase measurements gave the best correlation with the biodegradation rates. Costs were competitive or significantly lower when compared with other ex situ treatment processes.

The growth of Thermomyces lanuginosus (TSIKL.) isolates from garden composts and coffee beans on cellulose substrates and xylan at various water activity

Abstract The study was to determine the effect of water activity (0.850; 0.900; 0.950; 0.995; and 0.999 aw) on the growth of T. lanuginosus on solid media containing different cellulose substrates (crystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose - CMC, fi lter paper, and sawdust) and xylan. The growth of isolates from coffee beans and garden composts were compared. All isolates did not grow on media with aw < 0.950. On media with aw > 0.950, the hydrolysis zones were only observed on xylan and CMC. The highest daily growth and hydrolysis zone rates were mostly obtained at 0.995 aw and the lowest values were observed at 0.950 aw. The coffee beans isolates at 0.950 aw had the CMC hydrolysis coeffi cient 1.7-times higher than that for xylan. The fungal growth (FG) coeffi cient data indicate that the coffee beans isolates were able to utilize CMC and crystalline cellulose for growth and the highest growth rate was obtained at 0.999 aw. Subsequently, the compost isolates were able to grow on all substrates but the highest growth rate was obtained on CMC at 0.950 and 0.999 aw. Thus, coffee beans and composts provide T. lanuginosus isolates with various growth and hydrolytic zone rates in the range of 0.950−0.999 aw.

BIODEGRADATION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS BY KERATINOLYTIC FUNGI

The chapter reviews available data on the ability of keratinolytic fungi to remove hydrocarbons from different media and on the ecology of these fungi in oil-contaminated environments. In pure culture, these fungi were able to remove hexane, toluene, hexadecane, pristane and autoclaved crude oil from mineral media. The hydrocarbon removal process was much more effective when hair or peptone was added to the media. Thus, the process was dependent on fungal proteolytic or keratinolytic activity, specifically on the readily available protein content in the media. The ability for hydrocarbon removal was found to be species- and strain-specific. In pure culture, keratinolytic fungi removed polar products of petroleum biodegradation from the media. In a soil environment, the degradation process was slowed down due to the accumulation of these polar products.

Antifungal Effect of Titanium Dioxide, Indoor Light and the Photocatalytic Process in In Vitro Test on Different Media

Abstract The goal of the study was to examine the influence of TiO2, indoor light and the photocatalytic process on the growth of Penicillium chrysogenum strains. An agar plate method with four fungal media (SGA, CYA, MEA, PDA) was used. The daily growth rates (mm × day-1) were calculated from the linear regression equation. In comparison to controls the TiO2 addition to the media mostly inhibited fungal growth in the dark. The indoor light mostly decreased fungal daily growth rates both in controls and in media supplemented with TiO2. The TiO2 photocatalytic activity was observed for one strain on MEA (5 g TiO2 × dm-3) and CYA (20 g TiO2 × dm-3) and for another one on SGA (5 g TiO2 × dm-3). The effects of TiO2, light and photocatalytic reaction on fungal growth were found to be strain- and medium-dependent.

THE POTENTIAL OF KERATINOLYTIC AND KERATINOPHILIC FUNGI FOR DEGRADATION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS IN SOIL

The goal of work was to determine potential of keratinolytic fungi for degra- dation of crude oil. Two strains belonging to species Chrysosporium kerati- nophilum and Trichophyton ajelloi were isolated form sewage sludge and oil waste-contaminated soil from a refinery. Preliminary experiment was per- formed in liquid media with increasing concentration of peptone with and without presence of hair(source of keratin). The mean value of hydrocarbons loss was 39,8% during degradation of peptone and 49,2% during degradation of peptone and hair. The ability for removal of hydrocarbons was characteris- tic for fungal strains and probably associated with their high degree of adap- tation for living in habitats heavily contaminated with petroleum hydrocar- bons. It was observed that petroleum hydrocarbon removal rates depended on fungal proteolytic activity, biomass production, and easily degradable protein content in the medium. The main goal of work was determination of effect of fungi inoculum on the petroleum hydrocarbon removal rate in soil covered and not covered with hair. The hair was the major nutrient for keratinolytic fungi and other soil mi- croorganisms. The fungal inoculum accelerated the petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation process during the first month of the experiment. The highest petroleum hydrocarbon removal rate was observed in soil inoculated with na- tive fungal strains. The lowest removal rate was observed in soil not inocu- lated with fungi (60%). The hair applied as additional nitrogen, sulfur and carbon source did not impact, or slightly inhibited, the petroleum hydrocar- bon biodegradation process. The fungal inoculum caused dramatic changes in soil fungal qualitative composition.