Tomasz Ciesielczuk

Pollution of Flooded Arable Soils with Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Soils that are exposed to floodwaters because of shallow groundwater and periodical wetlands are, to a large extent, exposed to contamination by organic and inorganic compounds. These are mainly compounds that have drifted along with the inflow of heavily laden floodwater and are produced within the soil profile by the anaerobic transformation of organic matter. Heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds are absorbed by the soil of the floodwaters, and moving in the soil profile, they pose a threat to groundwater. What is more, after a flood, they may be absorbed by the crops. This paper focuses on the effects of Odra River (Poland) floods, heavy metals, and PAHs on soil and the possibilities of the migration of these pollutants into the soil profile. In the tested sludge samples of floodwater and soil, there were no abnormal concentrations of heavy metals, but the flooding time positively affected the amount listed in the test samples. Concentrations of PAHs increased, but they also exceeded the standards for arable soils in the case of single compounds.

THE INFLUENCE OF BIOMASS ASH ON THE MIGRATION OF HEAVY METALS IN THE FLOODED SOIL PROFILE - MODEL EXPERIMENT

Abstract Soils that have been exposed to flood waters can be heavily polluted by inorganic and organic compounds. They are mainly compounds which appear in dissolved or suspended form flowing together with heavily laden floodwater, as well as compounds created as a result of reactions in the soil profile, mostly due to anaerobic transformation of organic matter. Heavy metals brought with flood waters are absorbed by the soil and also washed out from flood sediments by precipitation when the flood recedes. This paper presents the results of research on the effects of fertilization with ash from incineration or pyrolysis of biomass on the migration process of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd, Mn) in the arable layer of soil. It has been shown that the metals in the flood sediment migrate actively in the soil profile what leads to the enrichment of the soils, also in the case of the soil fertilization with biomass ash.

THE POSSIBILITY OF DISPOSING OF SPENT COFFEE GROUND WITH ENERGY RECYCLING

The current policy of waste management requires, above all, a gradual reduction of waste amount and, to a larger extent, forces us to seek new methods of waste disposal. Recycling the energy contained in biomass waste is a more and more universally applied method of thermal converting. Biomass combustion allows saving fossil fuels which fits into sustainable development. This paper checks the possibility of using spent coffee ground (SCG) in energy recycling using a combustion process. This particular biomass type up to now has not been widely examined, which inclines to consider its usage as a potential additive to alternative fuels. In the study, we examined the quality of fuel, which was in a form of briquette, made of beech shavings with 10 and 25% of post-exploitation waste obtained during the process of coffee infusion. This waste, if fresh, is distinguished by its high hydration. However, after drying it may constitute a valuable additive to alternative fuels. It increases the calorific value of fuel and reduces briquettes’ hardness what contributes to reducing resistance of conveying screw in stoves.

ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN GROUNDWATER IN THE FORMER AIRBASE

Organic Pollutants in Groundwater in the Former Airbase Oil derivatives are commonly used and they play a key role in the economy. They are used in many industries. Such big amounts of oil derivatives products generate vast quantity of pollution. Those pollutants can get into the ground and water beyond any control during catastrophes or due to inadequately managed waste and storage. The aim of the paper was to determine the level of oil derivatives pollution in the groundwater on the area of a former airbase, where between 1950 and 1990 the Soviet Army stationed. Analysis was carried out on groundwater samples from three piezometers placed on the area of the former airbase. In the samples some parameters were determined, i.e. temperature, reaction, electrolytic conductivity, the depth of groundwater surface, the content of aliphatic hydrocarbons, monoaromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Determined amount of dissolved hydrocarbons was large what proves unsatisfactory effectiveness of previous rehabilitation processes. Zanieczyszczenia Organiczne w Wodach Gruntowych na Terenie Byłej Bazy Lotniczej Produkty ropopochodne są szeroko rozpowszechnione i odgrywają kluczową rolę w gospodarce człowieka. Znajdują one zastosowanie w wielu gałęziach przemysłu. Tak duże ilości produktów ropopochodnych generują znaczne ilości odpadów. Odpady te mogą przedostawać się do środowiska gruntowo-wodnego w sposób niekontrolowany podczas różnego rodzaju katastrof czy niewłaściwie prowadzonej gospodarki odpadami, w tym składowania. Celem badań było określenie stopnia zanieczyszczenia substancjami ropopochodnymi wód podziemnych na terenie byłego lotniska wojskowego, na którym w latach 1950-1990 stacjonowały jednostki Armii Radzieckiej (JAR). Analizie poddano próbki wód podziemnych pochodzących z trzech piezometrów znajdujących się na terenie byłej bazy lotniczej. W pobranych próbkach określono takie parametry jak: temperatura, odczyn, przewodność elektrolityczna właściwa, głębokość zalegania wód gruntowych, zawartość węglowodorów alifatycznych, monoaromatycznych oraz wielopierścieniowych węglowodorów aromatycznych. Oznaczona ilość rozpuszczonych węglowodorów była wysoka, co wskazuje na niezadowalającą efektywność przeprowadzonych wcześniej procesów rekultywacyjnych.

Hydrogen peroxide as a biodegradation stimulator in remediation processes of soils heavily contaminated with petrochemicals

Abstract The soil contaminated with petroleum products must be excluded from the crops and treated to reclamation processes. Natural processes of decomposition of hydrocarbon compounds go very slow, so it is necessary to use bioaugumentation or stimulation in order to accelerate the return of the soil to high culture. In this study the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the process of cleaning soil strongly contaminated with pertochemicals was investigated. For this purpose, a pot experiment lasting 60 days was carried. The dynamics of changes in the population of filamentous fungi, yeasts and bacteria were examined and also content of aliphatic hydrocarbons (n-alkanes), monoaromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Experimental use of hydrogen peroxide in the process of biodegradation of petroleum compounds assisted in the analyzed soil led to an increase of the number of grampositive bacteria during the test. Stimulation of oil products biodegradation by hydrogen peroxide also increased by 35% decomposition efficiency of aliphatic hydrocarbons (C8-C40) and about 50% PAH’s in comparison to control samples without hydrogen peroxide. There was no influence of hydrogen peroxide on the content of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX) with respect to controls, although in the end of experiment, the total concentration decreased by about 50% compared to the initial content.

HOMEMADE SLOW-ACTION FERTILIZERS, AS AN ECONOMIC SOLUTION FOR ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION

Organic plant cultivation, especially those intended for human consumption, poses new requirements for gardening. It is recommended to use organic slow-action fertilizers, which provide doses of nutrients essential for plants for a long time. Particularly valuable fertilizers are those that arise within the household, due to their high quality and the absence of costs associated with their purchase and transport. Organic matter contained in the food industry waste or arising in households, in the absence of contamination by other types of waste, can be used for self-production of organic fertilizer. The paper presents the results of testing organic fertilizers, which you can make yourself, destined for the cereal plants. The experimental fertilizers were made from coffee spent grounds (CSG) and ash from the thermal conversion of biomass (A), and the components limiting the amount of pests in the form of leaves and flowers of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.). The fertilizer can be used at the time of planting and sowing, because of the slow release of nutrients. Moreover, the addition of leaves and flowers of tansy helps to protect the seedling due to the content of essential oils. As a comparison, the horse manure and rabbit droppings fertilizers were used. Such fertilizers can be prepared independently, which leads not only to reducing the weight of biodegradable and mineral waste, but also provides the ability to generate financial savings of the household and promote organic gardening. Fertilizers made from a mixture of CSG and A support the implementation of good agricultural practice and sustainable development.

Ashes from Sewage Sludge and Bottom Sediments as a Source of Bioavailable Phosphorus

Phosphorus is an element necessary for the growth of plants. As phosphate rock gets depleted, it becomes an increasingly scarce resource. Therefore, it seems necessary to implement simple methods of cheap and effective phosphorus recovery from waste. The ashes of municipal sewage sludge and bottom sediments constitute particularly valuable sources of phosphorus. However, these materials usually carry significant amounts of pollutants, including heavy metals. Optimization of ash phosphorus sequential extraction methods from a thermal conversion of sewage sludge and bottom sediments allows to select an effective and simple technology of phosphorus recovery, while maintaining low heavy metal pollution, which is one of the main restrictions in use of ashes. Determination of an amount of bioavailable phosphorus is therefore a basis for estimation of the possibility of using it from waste. Extraction using the Golterman method or shaking out with calcium lactate or Trougs reagent indicates that the ashes from sewage sludge and bottom sediments are rich sources of bioavailable phosphorus, which could find use under field conditions as a viable alternative to fertilizers containing fossil phosphorus.

Acute toxicity of experimental fertilizers made of blood meal, spent coffee ground and biomass ash

Abstract The study presents the results of research on the acute toxicity of a fertilizer formulas made of spent coffee ground (SCG) with addition of ash from low-temperature combustion of biomass or ash with an admixture of magnesium sulphate and blood meal. The experimental fertilizer formulas included also rape oil used as a plasticizer for controlling the nutrients release from the fertiliser. Mustard (Sinapis alba L.), oats (Avena sativa sp. L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and cress (Lepidium sativum L.) were used as test plants species in the experiment. The toxicity tests were performed using a standard procedure of 72 h with the use of Phytotoxkit microbiotest and fertilizer application of 2.5; 5 and 10% (v/v). The obtained results indicated an increase of acute toxicity for all tested plant species, proportionally to the applied doses of the fertilizer. During the 72 h period, the strongest inhibition of seedling growth was recorded in samples consisting of 10% of the tested fertilizers, particularly when they showed considerable level of salinity or low pH values. From the tested plant species, cress (Lepidium sativum L.) turned out to be the most sensitive to the applied fertilizers, the least was cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) for which only a small inhibition of root system growth was observed. The inhibited growth of roots could be attributed to a reduced oxygen access and excessive salinity of the substratum caused by the applied additives.

ASSESSMENT OF PAHS AND SELECTED PESTICIDES IN SHALLOW GROUNDWATER IN THE HIGHEST PROTECTED AREAS IN THE OPOLE REGION, POLAND

The ground water quality was determined after the analyses of water samples from 18 wells. The wells were in the Groundwater Area with the Highest Protection (Triassic water, Opole region, Poland), rural build up. The water table level was low: 0.5 – 18.0 m below the ground surface level (except for one artesian well). The following parameters were determined: pH, EC, colour, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved orthophosphate, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD-Mn, COD-Cr, humic substances, chloride, sulphate, total hardness, alkalinity, dry residue PAHs (16 compounds), pesticides (6 compounds), however, only selected data were presented in this paper. In all the analysed water samples chloro-organic pesticides were observed. The analysed water contained heptachlor in the highest concentrations of 15.97 mg/ dm 3 . Good quality water must not include concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/dm 3 of heptachlor. However, the concentration was circa 32 times higher than this value. The second pesticide determining poor water quality is dieldrin. This compound in the investigated groundwater was 1.94 mg/dm 3 – 4 times higher than the limit for acceptable quality ground water. The concentration of pesticides also changed over the course of the research; the concentration in the analysed groundwater in the same well changed quite dramatically over a period of 1 year. Although PAHs and pesticides are potentially toxic for biological organisms they do exist in the environment as a product of the natural biological transformation of organic matter. The noted concentrations and compositions of PAH compounds were different to natural PAHs. It confirms the fact that agricultural activity influences groundwater quality .

THE INFLUENCE OF RED WORMS (E. FOETIDA) ON COMPOST’S FERTILIZING PROPERTIES

Composting is becoming a more and more common way of biodegradable waste disposal. Composts should be characterized by high content of nutrients and low amount of pollutants. Vermicompost is a compost produced by overpopulated culture of earthworm Eisenia foetida (Savigny 1826). World scientific literature states that vermicompost has a high fertilizing value which often exceeds such value of conventional composts. The results showed that vermicompost has a much higher fertilizing value than the compost produced by the traditional pile method. However, prism vermicompost created with the participation of a less concentrated population of earthworms has an intermediate value as a fertilizer (nitrogen and heavy metals), it could be assessed as a lower value product due to the lower content of potassium and phosphorus than the material obtained without earthworms.