Long term studies on the impact of thionic bacteria on the global pollution of waters with toxic ions

The biogeochemical activity of microorganisms from sulphide biogeocoenosis in the zones of sulphide copper ores deposits in East Serbia has been Studied by us since 1975. All deposits of copper mineralization were dominantly sulphides and arsenic sulphides with the constant presence of pyrite. The obtained results proved that the biochemical and chemical activity of thionic bacteria have an influence on the global pollution of waters. All the waters were characterized by a low pH value and by high Eh values, mineralization (over 7 gL(-1)) and in total iron (even more than 4 gL(-1)) dominantly as Fe3+ ions. These waters were characterized by toxic concentrations of copper ions, within the limits from about 2 to almost 200 mgL(-1) and arsenic, up to more than 4 mgL(-1). These waters partly arrive in an aquifer and the major part flows into surface water courses gravitating towards the Danube River, which empties into the Black Sea. In a hypothetical case, if maximum concentrations of copper and arsenic and maximum capacity of the springs are considered, under the assumption that the pollutants do not precipitate on the way to the main recipient, the striking information is obtained that the Danube River receives about 31 t of copper and more than 0.6 t of arsenic per annum from one place alone, which undoubtedly points to the contribution of thionic bacteria as "biological agents" to global pollution of surface and ground waters.BIOHYDROMETALLURGY: A MEETING POINT BETWEEN MICROBIAL ECOLOGY, METAL RECOVERY PROCESSES AND ENVIRON

Bioremediation of soil polluted with crude oil and its derivatives: Microorganisms, degradation pathways, technologies

The contamination of soil and water with petroleum and its products occurs due to accidental spills during exploitation, transport, processing, storing and use. In order to control the environmental risks caused by petroleum products a variety of techniques based on physical, chemical and biological methods have been used. Biological methods are considered to have a comparative advantage as cost effective and environmentally friendly technologies. Bioremediation, defined as the use of biological systems to destroy and reduce the concentrations of hazardous waste from contaminated sites, is an evolving technology for the removal and degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons as well as industrial solvents, phenols and pesticides. Microorganisms are the main bioremediation agents due to their diverse metabolic capacities. In order to enhance the rate of pollutant degradation the technology optimizes the conditions for the growth of microorganisms present in soil by aeration, nutrient addition and, if necessary, by adding separately prepared microorganisms cultures. The other factors that influence the efficiency of process are temperature, humidity, presence of surfactants, soil pH, mineral composition, content of organic substance of soil as well as type and concentration of contaminant. This paper presents a review of our ex situ bioremediation procedures successfully implemented on the industrial level. This technology was used for treatment of soils contaminated by crude oil and its derivatives originated from refinery as well as soils polluted with oil fuel and transformer oil

Original scientific paper Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from seven wild-growing Senecio species in Serbia and Montenegro

Abstract: The genus Senecio (family Asteraceae) is one of the largest in the world. It comprises about 1100 species which are the rich source of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids are among the most important sources of human and animal exposure to plant toxins and carcinogens. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids of seven Senecio species (S. erucifolius, S. othonnae, S. wagneri, S. subalpinus, S. carpathicus, S. paludosus and S. rupestris) were studied. Fourteen alkaloids were isolated and their structures determined from spectroscopic data ( 1H- and 13C-NMR, IR and MS). Five of them were identified in S. erucifolius, four in S. othonnae, two in S. wagneri, four in S. subalpinus, two in S. carpathicus, three in S. paludosus and three in S. rupestris. Seven pyrrolizidine alkaloids were found for the first time in particular species. The results have chemotaxonomic importance. The cytotoxic activity and antimicrobial activity of some alkaloids were also studied

Ex situ bioremedijacija vanbilansnih ugljovodonika, tzv. „otpadnog mazuta“ iz JKP „Beogradske elektrane“ na industrijskoj projektovanoj gomili-haldi zapremine oko 600 m3 - U primeni!

NTD-CH Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo, Novi Sad i BREM GROUP d.o.o., Beograd, 2008