Renáta Marcinčáková

Study of Ni And Cd Bioleaching from Spent Ni-Cd Batteries

Abstract In the present work the Ni and Cd extraction from the electrode material of spent Ni-Cd batteries by bioleaching using the bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was examined. The possibility of the use of the bacteria for both the Ni and Cd recovery was analyzed. The anode of Ni-Cd batteries contains Ni0, Ni(OH)2, Cd0 and Cd(OH)2. The cathode is covered by nickel hydroxides and nickel oxy-hydroxides. The pH values and content of Ni and Cd in the solution were monitored throughout the experiment (the initial pH was 1.5, the experiment took 28 days). The bioleaching efficiency of Ni and Cd from anode powder reached 5.5% and 98%, respectively. During the cathode powder bioleaching Ni and Cd efficiency reached 45% and 100%, respectively. Throughout the bioleaching process mainly the dissolution of hydroxides occurred meanwhile Ni0 leaching was not observed. The AAS analysis was used to analyze the amount of Ni and Cd in the solutions. The amount of Ni and Cd present in the solid samples before and after bioleaching was examined using X-ray analysis.

Assessment Of Biologically Synthesized Ag Nanoparticles Toxicity Against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Parachlorella kessleri And Sinapis alba

Abstract In general, Ag+ ions and AgNPs are considered to be the most toxic for bacterial cells and less toxic for higher organisms. In the present work inhibitory effects of biologically prepared silver nanoparticles on the growth of bacteria E. coli CCM 3954 and Staphylococcus aureus CCM 3953, green microscopic alga Parachlorella kessleri LARG/1 and seed germination and root growth of plant Sinapis alba seeds were investigated. Surprisingly, silver nanoparticles showed much stronger inhibitory effects on plant seed germination and root growth than on the bacterial growth. At concentration of 75 mg/l AgNPs both seed germination and root growth of Sinapis alba was inhibited whereas inhibition of the growth of E. coli and S. aureus was observed at >195 mg/l. Growth inhibition of alga Parachlorella kessleri was recorded at 300 mg/l AgNPs concentration. The inhibitory effect of silver ions was much higher compared to silver nanoparticles. Even 20 mg/l concentration of Ag+ ions inhibited the root growth and concentration > 45 mg/l inhibited germination of Sinapis alba seeds. Inhibition zones in both studied bacteria were found at concentration > 140 mg/l.

Influence Of Used Bacterial Culture On Zinc And Aluminium Bioleaching From Printed Circuit Boards

Abstract Bioleaching processes were used to solubilize metals (Cu, Ni, Zn and Al) from printed circuit boards (PCBs). In this study, a PCBs-adapted pure culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, pure culture of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and PCBs-adapted mixed culture of A. ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans were used for recovery of the metals. The study showed that the mixed bacterial culture has the greatest potential to dissolve metals. The maximum metal bioleaching efficiencies were found to be 100, 92, 89 and 20% of Cu, Ni, Zn and Al, respectively. The mixed culture revealed higher bacterial stability. The main factor responsible for high metal recovery was the ability of the mixed culture to maintain the low pH during the whole process. The pure culture of A. thiooxidans had no significant effect on metal bioleaching from PCBs.

The Effect of Culture Age and Initial Silver Concentration on Biosynthesis of Ag Nanoparticles

Abstract Many organisms or their extracts have the ability to reduce Ag+ ions to Ag0 and stabilize them what results in nanoparticle formation in solution. The aim of the article was to study the influence of two selected parameters - initial silver concentration and culture age, on Ag nanoparticles production by green algae Parachlorella kessleri. The presence of Ag nanoparticles in the solution was confirmed by the UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM analyses. Typical curve with the peak at app. 420 nm was found for nanoparticles produced by algae. While culture age did not have any significant effect, the initial silver concentration had significant influence on nanoparticle production which influenced the rate of nanoparticle production, their amount, their size and stability, as well

Assessment of Microbially Influenced Corrosion Risk in Slovak Pipeline Transmission Network

Microbial activities are particularly serious in buried natural gas pipelines resulting in high corrosion costs. It is a mater of necessity to deal with this factor during the evaluation of corrosion risk. The objective of this investigation was to determine to what extent the main factors of environment are responsible for biocorrosion behavior in particular transmission pipeline sections running through Slovakia and subsequently evaluate the biocorrosion risk in the studied areas. According to the point method the probability and outcome value of three chosen factors, such as soil characteristics, water presence, and location were determined for each excavation. Two from the monitored excavations in the east of Slovakia and three situated in the south of Slovakia were found to be the most hazardous sites in terms of biocorrosion risk.