Mariola Chomczyńska

MEASUREMENT OF ACTIVATED SLUDGE PARTICLE DIAMETERS USING LASER DIFFRACTION METHOD

Abstract The paper presents a study on the possibility of using the laser diffraction method for measuring the size of the activated sludge particles. Susceptibility of the particles to mechanical disintegration, dependent on the programmed value of stirring intensity, was observed (stirring was caused by required dynamic flow of analysed suspension through the measurement unit). According to the conclusions presented in this paper, it may be assumed that the laser diffraction method can be applied for measurement of activated sludge particle diameters under the following conditions: 1) the size of activated sludge particles measured by the laser diffraction method is not a real value, but after standardisation of measurement conditions can be treated as a parameter describing the sludge; 2) the particle diameters of activated sludge should be stabilised before the measurement, eg by mixing in the measurement unit or by ultrasound waves application. Abstrakt Praca dotyczy oceny możliwości wykorzystania dyfrakcji laserowej do badania rozmiarów kłaczków osadu czynnego. W czasie pomiarów zaobserwowano podatność analizowanych cząstek na zniszczenie mechaniczne zależną od zaprogramowanej intensywności mieszania (mieszanie i przepompowywanie jest wymagane w celu wymuszenia przepływu analizowanych zawiesin przez układ pomiarowy). Na podstawie wniosków opracowanych na podstawie prowadzonych badań można stwierdzić, iż metoda dyfrakcji laserowej może być stosowana do pomiarów rozmiarów kłaczków osadu czynnego pod następującymi warunkami: rozmiary kłaczków oraz pozostałych elementów osadu czynnego uzyskane w czasie pomiarów nie mogą być traktowane jako wartość bezpośrednia opisująca rozmiary kłaczka, lecz po standaryzacji warunków pomiarowych może być traktowana jako ilościowy parametr opisujący właściwości osadu czynnego. Przed pomiarem metodą dyfrakcji laserowej osad czynny powinien być uprzednio stabilizowany na przykład za pomocą mieszania w układzie pomiarowym bądź też za pomocą ultradźwięków.

Productivity and Chemical Composition of Tomato and Cucumber Plants Growing in Nickel-Polluted Soils Fertilized with Biona-312

Abstract: The effect of ion‐exchange substrate Biona‐312 additions to nickel (Ni)–polluted soil on yield and mineral composition of cherry tomato and cucumber was evaluated. The plants were grown on the following media: untreated soil (the control series) and soil with added Ni (40 and 100 mg of Ni kg−1, respectively) as well as Biona‐312 (2 and 5% mass additions, respectively). In the presence of 40 mg of Ni kg−1 of soil, the plant yield did not change significantly, whereas in conditions of 100 of mg Ni kg−1, it decreased significantly. Biona‐312 application on Ni‐polluted soil increased the productivity of both species. The content of macronutrients in the plant biomass varied depending on the growth stage, Ni level, and Biona‐312 dose. For both species, higher Ni content was observed in the aboveground organs than in roots, but tomato contained more Ni than cucumber. Biona application reduced the Ni content in plant biomass of both species after being introduced into soil with a higher Ni level.

Productivity and Chemical Composition of Tomato and Cucumber Plants Growing in Natural Soils Fertilized with Biona‐312

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of small additions of ion exchange substrate, Biona‐312, to soil on the yield and mineral composition of cherry tomato cv. ‘Koralik’ and cucumber cv. ‘Hermes F1.’ The test plants were grown under greenhouse conditions and subjected to 0, 2, and 5% (mass) Biona‐312 doses introduced into the soil. The study results showed that Biona‐312 introduced into soil significantly increased the yield of the test species at the flowering and fruiting stage. Soil enrichment with 2 and 5% Biona additions generally increased the nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (N‐P‐K) content in tomato and cucumber organs at the flowering and fruiting stage with parallel magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) content decrease. Introduction of nutrients together with the ion exchange substrate did not cause negative effects of overfertilization, and thus the ion exchange substrate can be recommended as a fertilizer in tomato and cucumber cultivation.

Lettuce yield and root activity as affected by an ion exchange substrate and mineral nutrition level

ABSTRACT The study involved investigating the effect of ion exchange substrate (IES) addition to a nutrient solution (2% or 5% v/v) on the yield and root parameters of butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. “Justyna”) under the conditions of basic (1.5-times concentrated Hoagland solution, electrical conductivity, EC 2.41–2.47 dS m−1), and intensive (3-times concentrated Hoagland solution, EC 6.85–7.30 dS m−1) mineral nutrition level. Regardless of the mineral nutrition level, both experimental additions of IES significantly increased the yield and elevated the volume, as well as the whole (WRA) and the active (ARA) adsorptive surface area of roots. It was confirmed that the substrate did not cause salt stress. Additionally, it was revealed that the substrate constitutes a beneficial component of lettuce in non-salinized (basic) or salinized (intensive mineral nutrition level) environment and that the 2% dose was more favorable than 5% dose.

METHODS APPLIED FOR MEASUREMENT AND VISUALIZATION OF CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY

Abstract The article presents the possible methods for determining biological or statistically significant differences between taxocenoses compared with respect to biodiversity. To obtain a complete description of biological differences between the compared hypothetical communities, the following indices were calculated: S (taxon richness), H (the Shannon index), Hmax (the maximum value of the Shannon index for the richness of taxa represented by the same number of individuals), Vd (a percentage value of covering the structural capacity of community, “evenness deficiency”), E (the MacArthur index - a taxon number (S) in a community for which the observed value of H equals Hmax), and Ps (a taxon richness shortage in percents). Moreover, a graphic profile method (Дд, Tj, and Lj profiles) was used for comparing the diversity of the communities. To obtain information about statistically significant differences in biodiversity between the analysed communities, rarefaction curves were applied. The curves are based on the null models and the Monte Carlo method. The rarefaction method resulted in determination of the statistical significance of the differences between taxon richness and Shannons index values for the compared communities. The Vd and Ps indices and the profile method allowed concluding about the significance of the biological differences between taxocenoses, even when their values of Shannons H indices were numerically similar.

Ion Exchanger Composites as Humus Substitute for Restoration of Degraded Soils

Utilization of synthetic ion exchanger composites as a substitute of ion exchange materials for restoration of degraded soils has been described.

Effect of ion exchange substrate on grass root development and cohesion of sandy soil

Abstract The effect of small additions of ion exchange substrate (nutrient carrier) on root development and accompanying ground cohesion (characterized by its penetration resistance) was studied. During two pot experiments Dactylis glomerata L. was grown on sand and its mixture with 1 and 2% (v/v) of ion exchange substrate, respectively. The number and total length of roots were measured during the first test. Penetration resistance was measured with a pentrologger, following the second experiment. After six weeks of growth, number and length of roots in sand mixture with 1 and 2% substrate was greater than in sand-only medium by 211-287 and 273-323%, respectively. At the same time, penetration resistance in series with substrate additions was significantly higher than in control medium at depth of 2.5-7(8) cm, whereas after 12 week of growth, penetration resistance in series with 1 and 2% substrate additions was significantly greater than in control sand at the whole analyzed depth. The highest resistance values in media with substrate additions 2-2.5 times greater than those in sand alone – were observed at depth of 3.5-4.0 cm. Higher resistance of sand-substrate mixtures results from more intensive development of root systems, forming a mesh which binds sand particles. Such media would be less susceptible to erosion.