Monika Mierzwa-Hersztek

SEWAGE SLUDGE BIOCHARS MANAGEMENT – ECOTOXICITY, MOBILITY OF HEAVY METALS AND SOIL MICROBIAL BIOMASS

Production of biochar from sewage sludge may be a promising solution for sewage sludge management and improvement of soil properties, including carbon dioxide sequestration. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of biochars derived from different sewage sludges on soil physicochemical and biological properties, ecotoxicity, and plant yield. Three biochars (produced at a temperature of 300 °C) were applied into sandy acid soil in doses of 0.5, 1, and 2% (w/w). Depending on the type and dose, the application of sewage sludge biochars into the soil caused diverse effects on the parameters of soil biological activity (microbial biomass [Cmic], soil respiration, and value of metabolic quotient). No correlation between the applied dose of biochars and inhibition of Vibrio fischeri luminescence was observed. The factor with a stronger impact on the activity of V. fischeri was the type of biochar. The use of the OSTRACODTOXKIT F test (MicroBioTests) showed that the addition of sewage sludge biochar (regardless of its dose) reduced the soil toxicity to Heterocypris incongruens compared with the control soil. A significant increase of Poa pratensis L. biomass was obtained in soils with 1 and 2% additions of each of the biochars. The addition of biochars in doses of 1 and 2% to the soil had greater effect on the content of mobile forms of Cu, Pb, and Cd than the 0.5% dose compared with the control. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1197-1207.

Content of PAHs, activities of γ-radionuclides and ecotoxicological assessment in biochars

Abstract The aim of this research was to determine the effect of thermal conversion temperature and plant material addition to sewage sludge on the PAHs content and the activity of selected γ-radionuclides in biochars, and to conduct an ecotoxicological assessment. The pyrolysis of the mixtures of sewage sludge and plant materials at 300°C and such temperature caused an increase in the contents of 2- and 3-ring hydrocarbons. During the pyrolysis of organic materials at 600°C, the amount of the following compounds was reduced in biochars: benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3c,d]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene. Among γ-radioisotopes of the elements, natural radiogenic isotopes were dominant. 137Cs was the only artificial radioactive isotope. The pyrolysis of the mixtures of municipal sewage sludge and plant materials revealed that isotope 40K had the highest radioactive activity. In the case of other analysed nuclides, activities of 212Pb, 214Pb, 214Bi, and 137Cs were determined after the sample pyrolysis. The extracts from the mixtures of sewage sludge and plant materials were non-toxic to Vibrio fischeri.

Factors Influencing Composting Poultry Waste

Organic recycling of waste, taking into account sanitary safety, should be a fundamental method for recovering the nutrients present in the waste for plants and organic matter. It also refers to by-products of animal origin, which are not intended for consumption by humans. In the present research , composting of hydrated poultry slaughterhouse waste with maize straw was carried out. A combination with fodder yeast and post-cellulose lime was also introduced, which modified chemical and physicochemical properties of the mixtures. The experiment was carried out by recording the biomass temperature for 110 days in 1.2×1.0×0.8 m reactors with perforated bottoms enabling active aeration. The following parameters were taken into consideration in the composted material: carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, respiratory activity, microorganisms, fractions of compost obtained after washing on sieves. Small amounts of fodder yeast favoured the development of microorganisms and caused a sanitary risk in the final product. At the initial stage, the temperature of raw compost in that object was several degrees lower than in the case of the composted mass without yeast addition. The addition of post-cellulose lime at ratios 6.5:1:6.5 (maize straw: poultry slaughterhouse waste: post-cellulose lime) caused a change in the time of microbiological activity, and led to its inhibition in the final process. In comparison to objects with poultry waste, the highest degree of hygienization was found in the compost with post-cellulose lime (with pH close to neutral). By adjusting the ratios of substrates we can influence the microbiological activity, but the amounts of individual substrates should be determined taking into account the quality of the obtained compost.

Fungistatic activity of composts with the addition of polymers obtained from thermoplastic corn starch and polyethylene - An innovative cleaner production alternative

Compost extracts with the addition of polymers obtained from thermoplastic corn starch and polyethylene are novel organic amendments, which can be typically applied to suppress soil-borne diseases. Considering the diversity of biologically active substances, including those growth-promoting and stabilizing various pathogens contained in extracts, composts have a large potential to successfully replace the massively used pesticides. The effect of various concentrations of water compost extracts with the addition of polymers obtained from thermoplastic corn starch and polyethylene on the linear growth, biomass, and sporulation of the following polyphagous fungi was assessed under in situ and in vitro conditions: Fusarium culmorum (W.G. Smith), Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler. The studies revealed that the fungistatic activity was determined by the kind and concentration of compost extract added to the medium, as well as by the fungus kind. The analyzed compost extracts blocked the linear growth of the tested fungi on average by 22%, biomass increment by 51%, and sporulation by 57%. F. culmorum and S. sclerotiorum proved to be the most sensitive to the tested compost extracts. It was found that the extract from compost with the addition of polymer with the highest share of polyethylene blocked the sporulation of F. culmorum by 87% and F. graminearum by 92%. In turn, composts with the addition of polymers with the highest share of a biocomponent weakened the fungistatic activity of composts. The authors demonstrated that the addition of microbiological inoculum to one of the composts enhanced the fungistatic activity with respect to S. sclerotiorum, F. graminearum, and F. culmorum. The obtained results can be used to better understand the growth-promoting and suppression effects of compost extracts with polymer addition, help to enhance crop production, and constitute a paradigm shift towards the development of the next generation of compost with applications in a range of new fields.

Effect of wheat and Miscanthus straw biochars on soil enzymatic activity, ecotoxicity, and plant yield

Abstract The variety of technological conditions and raw materials from which biochar is produced is the reason why its soil application may have different effects on soil properties and plant growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of wheat straw and Miscanthus giganteus straw (5 t DM ha−1) and biochar obtained from this materials in doses of 2.25 and 5 t DM ha−1 on soil enzymatic activity, soil ecotoxicity, and plant yield (perennial grass mixture with red clover). The research was carried out under field conditions on soil with the granulometric composition of loamy sand. No significant effect of biochar amendment on soil enzymatic activity was observed. The biochar-amended soil was toxic to Vibrio fischeri and exhibited low toxicity to Heterocypris incongruens. Application of wheat straw biochar and M. giganteus straw biochar in a dose of 5 t DM ha−1 contributed to an increase in plant biomass production by 2 and 14%, respectively, compared to the soil with mineral fertilisation. Biochars had a more adverse effect on soil enzymatic activity and soil ecotoxicity to H. incongruens and V. fischeri than non-converted wheat straw and M. giganteus straw, but significantly increased the grass crop yield.

Effect of thermal conversion of pig manure and poultry litter on the content and mobility of Mn and Fe in biochars and in soil after their application

9 CHILEAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 76(1) JANUARY-MARCH 2016 3 ULY-SEPTEMBER By-products of animal breeding and raising can contain considerable amounts of trace elements, including Mn and Fe, due to the fact that their amounts in fodders are purposefully being increased. Thermal conversion of pig manure and poultry litter may have a significant effect on changes in the content and mobility of Mn and Fe in these materials. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of thermal conversion of pig manure and poultry litter on the content and mobility of Mn and Fe in biochars and in soil after their application (0.5%, 1%, and 2% amendments to the soil). As a result of thermal conversion of pig manure and poultry litter, an increase in the content of total forms and a reduction of Mn and Fe forms extracted with water were recorded. The 2% amendment of pig manure biochar to soil caused an increase in the content of mobile forms of Fe, whereas poultry litter biochar decreased mobility of this element. Introduction of pig manure biochar and poultry litter biochar to the soil caused a similar immobilization of mobile forms of Mn as in the case of application of thermally unprocessed manure and litter. It has been shown that the content of Fe and Mn extracted with 0.025 M C10H22N4O8 was higher than the content of these elements extracted with 1 M NH4NO3.

YIELD FORMING EFFECT OF APPLICATION OF COMPOSTS CONTAINING POLYMER MATERIALS ENRICHED IN BIOCOMPONENTS

In a pot experiment the impact of composts containing polymeric materials modified with biocomponents on the diversity of crops of oats and mustard was examined. The composts used in the study were produced in the laboratory from wheat and rape straw, and pea seed cleaning waste with 8-percent addition of chopped biopolymer materials (films) which were prepared in the Central Mining Institute (GIG) in Kato wice. Three polymers differing in content of starch and density were selected for the composting. The pot experiment was conducted on three substrates: light and medium soil and on the sediment obtained after flotation of zinc and lead ores, coming from the landfill ZGH “Boleslaw” S.A. in Bukowno. The need for using such materials and substrates results from the conditions of processing some morphological fractions of municipal waste and from improving methods of reclamation. Yield enhancing effect of composts depends on the substrate on which the compost was used, cultivated plants and crop succession. Application of composts prepared with 8% of polymeric materials based on polyethylene, modified with starch as biocomponent, resulted in significantly lower yields in sandy (light) soil in case of oats and, in some cases, in medium soil. Subsequent plant yield did not differ significantly between the objects fertilized with compost.

Influence of Plant Biomass Added to Sewage Sludge on the Product Energy Potential

The authors of this study aimed at evaluating the influence of plant biomass added to sewage sludge on the product energy potential. In order to improve its physical properties, sewage sludge was mixed with wheat straw, sawdust, and bark of conifers. Materials with a natural water content were mixed at 1:1 weight ratio on a dry matter basis. The scheme of the experiment was as follows: sewage sludge without any additions (SS), sewage sludge + wheat straw (SS + WS), sewage sludge + sawdust (SS + S), sewage sludge + bark (SS + B). The moisture of materials, the contents of volatile matter, combined carbon, heat of combustion and calorific value were determined in the study. The addition of plant biomass to sewage sludge reduced the moisture content and increased the volatile matter content compared to sewage sludge without such addition, in which case the variation was relatively low. For the studied mixtures, larger variations were observed in relation to the ash and combined carbon contents. The highest contents of ash and combined carbon were found in the mixture of sewage sludge and bark. The highest value of heat of combustion was determined in the mixture of sewage sludge and sawdust (14,000 J g−1). Calorific values of the mixture of sewage sludge and wheat straw and sewage sludge and bark were 13,640 J g−1 and 11,540 J g−1, respectively, and were higher by more than 40% on the average compared to the calorific value of sewage sludge without any additions.

The Influence of Biochar Enriched with Magnesium and Sulfur on the Amount of Perennial Ryegrass Biomass and Selected Chemical Properties and Biological of Sandy Soil

ABSTRACT Biochar used in this study was prepared from wheat straw and enriched with 10% solutions of chemically pure salts: ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4] and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 7H2O). The aim of this study was to determine the growth response of Perennial ryegrass L. as well as identify changes in chemical and biological properties of sandy soil after the application of biochar. A significant increase in the amount of Perennial ryegrass L. biomass was determined after amending the soil with unenriched biochar and biochar enriched with (NH4)2SO4. The highest immobilization of available forms of Mg was observed for biochar enriched with (NH4)2SO4. The highest dehydrogenase activity was determined in the soil with biochar enriched with MgSO4 7H2O.

Impact of thermal treatment of mixtures of sewage sludge and plant material on selected chemical properties and Vibrio fischeri response

Abstract The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of temperature during the treatment process as well as the effect of adding plant materials to sewage sludge on selected chemical properties and Vibrio fischeri response. The mixtures were placed in a chamber furnace, under airless conditions. Two temperature procedures were applied: 300 and 600ºC; the exposure time in both cases was 15 minutes. Thermal treatment of sewage sludge without a plant component is not well-founded and may cause an increase in concentration of trace elements. Using the temperature of 300ºC caused significantly lower changes in the contents of total forms of trace elements than using the temperature of 600ºC. The metals extracted from the studied mixtures were not toxic for the Vibrio fischeri. In the case of the fractional composition of humic compounds, thermal treatment of mixtures of sewage sludge and plant materials is not beneficial in terms of labile fractions, but it had a beneficial effect on stabilizing the durable bonds between C compounds in those mixtures.