Marija Zupančič

Phytoremediation of landfill leachate and compost wastewater by irrigation of Populus and Salix: biomass and growth response.

A pot experiment is described with a fast-growing poplar clone and two native willows (Populus deltoides Bartr. cl. I-69/55 (Lux)), Salix viminalis L. and Salix purpurea L.), irrigated with landfill leachate and compost wastewater over a 1-year growing period. The use of leachate resulted in up to 155% increased aboveground biomass compared to control water treatments and in up to 28% reduced aboveground biomass compared to a complete nutrient solution. The use of compost wastewater resulted in up to 62% reduced aboveground biomass compared to the control treatments and in up to 86% reduced aboveground biomass compared to the complete nutrient solution. Populus was the most effective in biomass production due to the highest leaf production, whereas S. purpurea was the least effective in biomass accumulation, but less sensitive to high ionic strength of the irrigation water compared to S. viminalis. The results showed a high potential for landfill leachate application (with up to 2144 kg N ha(-1), 144 kg P ha(-1), 709 kg K ha(-1), 1010 kg Cl ha(-1), and 1678 kg Na ha(-1) average mass load in the experiment). High-strength compost wastewater demonstrated less potential for application as irrigation and fertilization source even in high water-diluted treatments (1:8 by volume).

Biological Activity of Some Magnesium(II) Complexes of Quinolones

A new magnesium complex of quinolone antibacterial agent was prepared. This new complex as well as a previously isolated complex of magnesium with ciprofloxacin were tested against various Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms. Antimicrobial activities were evaluated using the agar diffusion test. The results have shown that all magnesium complexes are significantly less active than the parent quinolone drugs. It was also found that the activity of quinolones is reduced when the solutions of quinolones are titrated with magnesium ions.

Chromium in soil layers and plants on closed landfill site after landfill leachate application

Landfill leachate (LL) usually contains low concentrations of heavy metals due to the anaerobic conditions in the methanogenic landfill body after degradation of easily degradable organic matter and the neutral pH of LL, which prevents mobilization and leaching of metals. Low average concentrations of metals were also confirmed in our extensive study on the rehabilitation of an old landfill site with vegetative landfill cover and LL recirculation after its treatment in constructed wetland. The only exception was chromium (Cr). Its concentrations in LL ranged between 0.10 and 2.75 mg/L, and were higher than the concentrations usually found in the literature. The objectives of the study were: (1) to understand why Cr is high in LL and (2) to understand the fate and transport of Cr in soil and vegetation of landfill cover due to known Cr toxicity to plants. The total concentration of Cr in LL, total and exchangeable concentrations of Cr in landfill soil cover and Cr content in the plant material were extensively monitored from May 2004 to September 2006. By obtained data on Cr concentration in different landfill constituents, supported with the data on the amount of loaded leachate, amount of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (ETP) during the performance of the research, a detailed picture of time distribution and co-dependency of Cr is provided in this research. A highly positive correlation was found between concentrations of Cr and dissolved organic carbon (r=0.875) in LL, which indicates the co-transport of Cr and dissolved organic carbon through the system. Monitoring results showed that the substrate used in the experiment did not contribute to Cr accumulation in the landfill soil cover, resulting in percolation of a high proportion of Cr back into the waste layers and its circulation in the system. No negative effects on plant growth appeared during the monitoring period. Due to low uptake of Cr by plants (0.10-0.15 mg/kg in leaves and 0.05-0.07 mg/kg in stems of Salix purpurea), the estimated Cr offtake from LL by plants represented only a small proportion of the LL Cr mass load during the observation period, resulting in no dispersion of Cr into the environment through leaf drop.

Leachability of Cr(VI) and other metals from asphalt composites with addition of filter dust.

The potential use of filter dust in asphalt composites for road construction was investigated. Filter dust contains high concentrations of metals, of which Cr(VI) and Pb are leached with water. Compact and ground asphalt composites with addition of 2% of filter dust by mass were studied. In order to evaluate their environmental impact, leachability tests were performed using water and salt water as leaching agents. The concentrations of Cr(VI) and Pb were determined in leachates over a time period of 182 days. The results indicated that Pb was not leached with leaching agents from asphalt composites. Cr(VI) was also not leached with leaching agents from compact asphalt composites. However, in ground asphalt composites, Cr(VI) was leached with water in concentrations up to 220 microg L(-1) and in salt water up to 150 microg L(-1). From the physico-mechanical and environmental aspects, filter dust can be used as a component in asphalt mixtures.

Fate of saline ions in a planted landfill site with leachate recirculation.

Recirculation of leachate on a covered landfill site planted with willows or other highly evapotranspirative woody plants is an inexpensive option for leachate management. In our study, a closed landfill leachate recirculation system was established on a rehabilitated municipal solid waste landfill site with planted landfill cover. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the sustainability of the system with regard to high hydraulic loads of the landfill leachate on the landfill cover and high concentrations of saline ions, especially potassium (K(+)), sodium (Na(+)) and chloride (Cl(-)), in leachate. The results of intensive monitoring, implemented during May 2004 and September 2007, including leachate, soil and plant samples, showed a high sustainability of the system regarding saline ions with the precipitation regime of the studied region. Saline ion concentrations in leachates varied between 132 and 2592mg Cl(-) L(-1), 69 and 1310mg Na(+) L(-1) and between 66 and 2156mg K(+) L(-1), with mean values of 1010, 632 and 686mg L(-1), respectively. Soil salinity, measured as soil electrical conductivity (EC), remained between 0.17 and 0.38mS cm(-1) at a depth between 0 and 90cm. An average annual precipitation of 1000mm provided sufficient leaching of saline ions, loaded by irrigation with landfill leachate, from the soil of the landfill cover and thus prevented possible salinity shocks to the planted willows.

The impact of humic acid on chromium phytoextraction by aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor.

Studies assessing chromium phytoextration from natural waters rarely consider potential implications of chromium speciation in the presence of ubiquitous humic substances. Therefore, the present study investigated the influence of environmentally relevant concentration of humic acid (TOC = 10 mg L(-1)) on chromium speciation (Cr = 0.15 mg L(-1)) and consequently on phytoextraction by aquatic macrophyte duckweed Lemna minor. In absence of humic acid, only hexavalent chromium was present in water samples and easily taken up by L. minor. Chromium uptake resulted in a significant reduction of growth rate by 22% and decrease of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents by 48% and 43%, respectively. On the other hand, presence of humic acid significantly reduced chromium bioavailability (57% Cr uptake decrease) and consequently it did not cause any measurable effect to duckweed. Such effect was related to abiotic reduction of hexavalent chromium species to trivalent. Hence, findings of our study suggest that presence of humic acid and chromium speciation cannot be neglected during phytoextraction studies.

Possible time-dependent effect of ions and hydrophilic surfaces on the electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions.

The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of mechanical and electrical treatment on the electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions. Solutions were treated mechanically by iteration of two steps: 1:100 dilution and vigorous shaking. These two processes were repeated until extremely dilute solutions were obtained. For electrical treatment the solutions were exposed to strong electrical impulses. Effects of mechanical (as well as electrical) treatment could not be demonstrated using electrical conductivity measurements. However, significantly higher conductivity than those of the freshly prepared chemically analogous solutions was found in all aged solutions except for those samples stored frozen. The results surprisingly resemble a previously observed weak gel-like behavior in water stored in closed flasks. We suggest that ions and contact with hydrophilic glass surfaces could be the determinative conditions for the occurrence of this phenomenon.

Application of multiple toxicity tests in monitoring of landfill leachate treatment efficiency

Leachate from a closed landfill used for co-disposal of municipal and tannery waste was submitted to coagulation treatment, air stripping, adsorption on granular activated carbon, and Fenton oxidation with the aim to reduce toxicity of the leachate. Optimal operational conditions for each process were identified. The performance of the treatment was monitored by determination of organic matter (COD, DOC, BOD5), inorganic components (N-NH4+, Cl−, alkalinity, metals), organic compounds (BTEX, PAHs, PCBs, OCPs) while changes in toxicity were followed by multiple toxicity tests. Among the applied treatment techniques, adsorption on granular activated carbon was the most efficient method for removal of organic matter and metals while air stripping was the most efficient for removal of N-NH4+ and reduction of toxicity. Lower reduction of organic matter content and toxicity was obtained during coagulation treatment. Fenton oxidation was effective for removal of COD; however, it negatively affected toxicity reduction. The combination of adsorption on granular activated carbon and air stripping led to an appreciable reduction of organic and inorganic pollutants and to leachate detoxification. Application of bioassays was helpful for assessing suitability of treatment methods and demonstrated that they are, together with physicochemical parameters, an indispensable part for monitoring of treatment efficiency.

Study of the leaching behaviour of ladle slags by means of leaching tests combined with geochemical modelling and mineralogical investigations

In this study, the leachability of freshly produced ladle slag derived from both austenitic and ferritic stainless steel production, and from electrical and structural steel production, was investigated, in order to determine whether variations in the chemical and mineralogical composition of these slags affect their leaching behaviour. The effect of the method used for slag cooling was also studied. The results obtained by using the single batch test were combined with those obtained by means of more sophisticated characterisation leaching tests, which, in combination with geochemical speciation modelling, helped to better identify the release mechanisms and phases that control the release of individual elements. It was found that, although variations in the chemical composition of the slag can affect the slags minerology, neither such variations, nor the choice of the slag cooling treatment, have a significant effect on the leachability of individual elements, since the leaching is governed by surface phenomena. In fact, the mineral transformations on the slag surface, rather than the bulk mineral composition, dictate the release of these elements from the ladle slag. The solubility-controlling phases were predicted by multi-element modelling, and verified to the extent made possible by the performed mineralogical investigations.