Łukasz Tuhy

The application of biosorption for production of micronutrient fertilizers based on waste biomass.

In the present paper, new environmental-friendly fertilizer components were produced in biosorption process by the enrichment of the biomass with zinc, essential in plant cultivation. The obtained new preparations can be used as controlled release micronutrient fertilizers because microelements are bound to the functional groups present in the cell wall structures of the biomass. It is assumed that new fertilizing materials will be characterized by higher bioavailability, gradual release of micronutrients required by plants, and lower leaching to groundwater. The biological origin of the material used in plant fertilization results in the elimination of toxic effect towards plants and groundwater mainly caused by low biodegradability of fertilizers. Utilitarian properties of new formulations enable to reduce negative implications of fertilizers for environmental quality and influence ecological health. In this work, the utilitarian properties of materials such as peat, bark, seaweeds, seaweed post-extraction residues, and spent mushroom substrate enriched via biosorption with Zn(II) ions were examined in germination tests on Lepidium sativum. Obtained results were compared with conventional fertilizers—inorganic salt and chelate. It was shown that zinc fertilization led to biofortification of plant in these micronutrients. Moreover, the mass of plants fertilized with zinc was higher than in the control group.

Seaweed extract by microwave assisted extraction as plant growth biostimulant

Abstract Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) was used to obtain aqueous extracts of Baltic seaweeds. Three different temperatures: 25, 40, 60°C were examined. Algal extracts were characterized in terms of polyphenols, micro- and macroelements, lipids content and antibacterial properties. This is the first study that examines the effect of algal extract obtained by MAE in plant cultivation. The utilitarian properties were checked in the germination tests on Lepidium sativum for three dilutions of extract (0.5, 2.5 and 10%). Results showed that the content of polyphenols in extracts decreased with temperature, whereas the content of micro- and macroalements increased with temperature. The aqueous extracts did not contain fatty acids and did not show inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Germination tests showed that plants in the experimental groups with an optimal concentration of extract had a higher height, weight, chlorophyll and micro- and macroelement content than plants in the control group. The algal extracts did not significantly influence the morphology of plants as shown in SEM pictures. Results show that algal extracts obtained by MAE have the highest potential applied in agriculture as biostimulants. Graphical Abstract

Biofortification of milk and cheese with microelements by dietary feed bio-preparations.

AbstractThe present work reports studies on biofortification of milk and cheese with microelements. The diet of goats was supplemented with soya-based preparations with Cu(II), Fe(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II), produced by biosorption, instead of mineral salts. In innovative preparations, soya was the biological carrier of microelements. The utilitarian properties of the new preparations were tested in two groups (8 goats in each): experimental and control. The concentration of supplemented microelements was monitored in milk during the experiment. The collected milk was then used to produce cheese by enzymatic and acidic coagulation method. The effect of milk and cheese biofortification in microelements was confirmed. In milk, the level of the following microelements was higher than in the control: Cu(II) – 8.2 %, Mn(II) – 29.2 %, Zn(II) – 14.6 %. In cheese the content of Zn(II) obtained in enzymatic (19.8 %) and in acidic (120 %) coagulation was higher when compared to the control group. By using bio-preparations with microelements it was possible to produce new generation of functional food biofortified with microelements, by agronomic, and thus sustainable and ethically acceptable way. Biofortified milk and cheese can be used as designer milk to prevent from micronutrient deficiencies. Graphical Abstractᅟ

Plant Growth Biostimulants Based on Different Methods of Seaweed Extraction with Water

We explored two methods for obtaining aqueous extracts: boiling and soaking of Baltic seaweeds (EB and ES, resp.). Algal extracts were characterized in terms of polyphenols, micro- and macroelements, lipids content, and antibacterial properties. The utilitarian properties were examined in the germination tests on Lepidium sativum for three extract dilutions (0.5, 2.5, and 10%). It was found that the extracts were similar in micro- and macroelement concentrations. Water was proved to be a good solvent to extract phenolic compounds. The algal extract produced by soaking biomass did not show inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Only the boiled extract had an inhibitory activity against E. coli. Germination tests revealed a positive influence of the bioproducts on the cultivated plants. In the group treated with 10% EB, plants were 13% longer than in the control group; the content of elements B, Mo, Zn, and Na in the group treated with 10% ES was higher by 76%, 48%, 31%, and 59% than in the control group, respectively; the content of chlorophyll was 2.5 times higher in 0.5% ES than in the control group. Extracts showed the slight impact on the morphology of plants.

Algae as Source of Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals or pharmaceutical products are medicinal drugs—of proven safety, effectiveness and high quality, which are prescribed and intended to rational dosage. In general, most of the pharmacologically active compounds were isolated from microorganisms and plants, drug-resistance and identification of new disease entities have imposed to select both new sources and application areas of drug components. There is a broad range of health disorders—including cancer, allergy, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation, against which algae have been widely used. Medicinal application of algae depends on the biochemical diversity which is affected by a number of factors, including location, season, grazing pressure, salinity, water motion, temperature, light climate, biomass density and nutrient availability. Despite algae variability, main groups of compounds—such as polysaccharides, pigments, terpenoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, peptides and polyunsaturated fatty acids—showing pharmaceutical activity are indicated. Algae constitute an abundant source of bioactive compounds which have a great potential to be used as pharmaceuticals. Currently, the growing interest is put on the application of different algal compounds in the civilization diseases treatment and the market for pharmaceuticals based on compounds of natural origin is growing worldwide. The still untapped reservoir of chemically active compounds and potential in the field of pharmaceuticals imply a requirement of increased screening of algae for healthcare chemicals and the isolation methods development.

Biofortification of maize with micronutrientsby Spirulina

Abstract The aim of the present work was to examine the effect of the application of Spirulina platensis post-extraction residues enriched with Zn(II), Mn(II), Cu(II) via biosorption as micronutrient fertilizer for the biofortification of maize grains with micronutrients in field tests. As a nominal dose 2.5 kg ha-1 of zinc, 1.0 kg ha-1 of manganese and 0.5 kg ha-1 of copper were applied. The preparation was applied also in higher doses (150%, 200%) to investigate agronomic biofortification of maize grains. In field trials, obtained grain yield (7.2 Mg ha-1 for Spirulina 100%) was higher than in control group (6.2 Mg ha-1) and commercial reference product (6.6 Mg ha-1). For the same dose of micronutrients, their bioavailability was higher for bio-preparations than for reference fertilizer. The highest content of micronutrients delivered to plants (2.15 mg kg-1 – Cu, 7.07 mg kg-1 – Mn, 29.0 mg kg-1 – Zn) was observed for maize grains fertilized with preparation of Spirulina 150%, which signifies that biofortified maize grain was obtained. Corn grains biofortified with micronutrients can be used as staple food or feed preventing from micronutrient malnutrition. The application of micronutrient biocomponents based on Spirulina biomass allows to manufacture a valuable fertilizer with bioavailable micronutrients. Graphical Abstract

Biofortification of maize grains with micronutrients by enriched biomass of blackcurrant seeds

Abstract Effect of the application of blackcurrant seed post-extraction residues (BS) enriched via biosorption with Zn(II), Mn(II) and Cu(II) was examined in field tests on maize. As a nominal dose (100%), 2.5 kg of zinc, 1 kg of manganese and 0.5 kg of copper per hectare, were applied. The preparation was applied, also, in higher doses (150%, 200%). Crop yield and quality were assessed and multielemental analysis of grains was conducted. Grain yield obtained for maize treated with different doses of micronutrients (7.3 and 7.2 Mg ha-1 for BS 100% and BS 200%, respectively) was higher than in control group (6.2 Mg ha-1) and similar to a commercial reference product (7.1 Mg ha-1). Bioavailability of micronutrients from BS was shown to be higher than from reference commercial fertilizer. The highest content of micronutrients delivered to plants was observed for groups fertilized with BS in nominal dose of micronutrients (1.79, 7.08 and 28.55 mg kg-1 for Cu, Mn and Zn, respectively). The content of each micronutrient was 5.6% (Cu) 12.1% (Mn) and 12.6% (Zn) higher than in untreated group and 8.9% (Cu) 9.7% (Mn) and 8.7% (Zn) higher than commercial reference micronutrient fertilizer. New biocomponents are cheap and biodegradable carriers of nutrients which can be released in controlled way. Graphical Abstract

Using XRF and ICP-OES in Biosorption Studies

In this work, a method of recalculation of results of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique to Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method was elaborated for biosorption studies. Equations that calibrate XRF to ICP-OES were determined, as a biosorbent strawberry, blackcurrant and raspberry seeds after supercritical CO2 extraction were used. ICP-OES showed a better precision and lower detection limits than XRF. The latter technique is cheaper, requires minimal sample preparation and gives faster results. Linear regression of the data gave almost 1:1 correlations without additional correction (for Cu r2 = 0.9998, Mn r2 = 0.807, Zn r2 = 0.979). Calibration and quantification of intensities of XRF was obtained using ICP-OES measurements after samples digestion with HNO3 in a microwave system. High positive correlations were estimated for Cu, Mn, Zn. It was demonstrated that XRF technique can be used together with other well established techniques (ICP-OES) to produce quantitative data from biosorption studies. Elaboration of cheap and quick analytical methodology is an important aspect in development of new processes and products based on biosorption process.

Algae as Source of Food and Nutraceuticals

Increasing knowledge on nutrition and plant biotechnology has changed the concepts of agriculture, food, and its impact on health. The numerous scientific research and publications have shown that algae provide health benefits to the people. Seaweeds, due to the beneficial biochemical composition, have a great potential to be used as components of food aimed at increasing its nutritional value. Algal cells possess a wide diversity of biologically active metabolites, e.g., proteins, vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, lipids and could be used in the development of pharmaceuticals and also essential compounds for human nutrition. They could be used as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, antiobesity, antidiabetic, hypercholesterolemic, and antihypertensive nutraceuticals. The nutritional algae value differs from various species, geographic areas, seasons, and water conditions are taken into account. Currently, the algal products have become familiar to people and the prevention of disease is better understood. The number of healthcare pharmaceuticals from algae is still in the development stage and new functions are being investigated.

The Influence of pH of Extracting Water on the Composition of Seaweed Extracts and Their Beneficial Properties on Lepidium sativum

Baltic seaweeds were used to obtain aqueous extracts (E) through changing initial pH of deionised water added to algal biomass (EpH3·H2O, EpH7·H2O, and EpH10·H2O) and through changing pH of the mixture of algae and deionised water (EpH3, EpH7, and EpH10). Algal extracts were characterized in terms of the concentration of polyphenols and micro- and macroelements. The highest concentration of polyphenols was determined in extract EpH3 and the lowest in extract EpH10·H2O. It was found that the obtained extracts had similar concentrations of elements (except EpH3). The phytotoxicity of algal extracts (0.5, 2.5, and 10%) was examined in the germination tests on Lepidium sativum. No phytotoxic effects were observed. It was found that they had beneficial effects on the cultivated plants (length and weight). The best biostimulant effect was observed in the groups treated with EpH3 (2.5%), EpH7 (2.5%), and EpH7 (10%). The dry weight of plants was similar in all the groups. Algal extract also improved the multielemental composition of plant. The greatest concentration of total chlorophyll in plants was obtained by using extract EpH10·H2O, 0.5%. These results proved that algal extracts have high potential to be applied in cultivation of plants.