Comparison of temperature and oxygen concentration driven aeration methods for biodrying of municipal solid waste

In this study, we used a model bio drying reactor to optimize the drying of municipal solid waste (MSW). Two methods of aeration were used: one involved controlling the concentration of oxygen (16–20%) and the other the temperature in the upper part of the reactor (temperature 42–45 °C, oxygen concentration 16– 20%). In terms of moisture content, the highest increase recorded was 0.94% and the highest decrease was 27.54%. The highest decrease in lower calorific value recorded was 9.23% and the highest increase was 41.12%. The energy balance in all the trial runs was positive. We noted that aeration using different concentrations of oxygen is strongly influenced by organic content. Thus, it is suitable only for drying wastes with known and stable compositions. The outcomes of the different methods used were influenced by ambient relative air humidity. Moisture gradients, which are often described in the literature, were not consistently reproduced in this study

Immobilized inocula of white-rot fungi accelerate both detoxification and organic matter transformation in two-phase dry olive-mill residue

The potential use for agronomic purposes of dry olive-mill residue (DOR), solid waste from the olive oil two-phase extraction process, might be impaired by its phytotoxicity. Although fungal treatments can detoxify DOR, long times are required for these processes. The objective of this study was to assess whether the addition of immobilized fungal inocula to DOR might improve colonization rates, thus reducing the time necessary for its detoxification and bioconversion. Inocula of Panus tigrinus CBS 577.79 and Phlebia sp. DABAC 9 immobilized on either chopped maize stalks or polyurethane sponge (PS) led to higher removals of both phenols and phytotoxicity from DOR than free inocula after 4 weeks of incubation. Best dephenolization (85%) was with PS-immobilized Phlebia sp., the use of which reduced germinability inhibition of Lepidium sativum and Lactuca sativa by 80 and 71.4%, respectively. Regardless of the type of inoculant, a low degree of humification was obtained

Anaerobic bioremediation of PAH contaminated soil : assessment of the degradation of contaminants and biogas production under thermophilic and mesophilic conditions

The degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene were investigated under thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic-methanogenic conditions. By using central composite design, the impact of PAH concentration and soil to inocula ratio were systematically studied for their influence on PAH removal and biogas production. During the first 30 days, PAH concentration decreased in all samples indicating that the inocula used were able to biodegrade the contaminants; although an inhibition effect was initially observed in biogas production. Phospholipids fatty acids analysis was used to monitor the microbial communities present during the process. These communities were more complex in samples containing moderate to high PAH contamination concentrations. After 50 days, the concentration of PAHs increased in the majority of samples indicating possible reversed biotransformation of these compounds

Impact of 30 years precipitation regime differences on forest soil physiology and microbial assemblages

Anthropogenic disturbances and climate change affect abiotic and biotic environmental drivers in forest ecosystems. Global warming impacts the soil moisture content, thus influencing the diversity, abundance and functioning of soil microfauna. However, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of long-term variation in precipitation on soil microfauna. A better understanding of soil microfauna functioning under various precipitation regimes can aid in formulating better prediction models for assessing future climate change impacts. The present study uses a multi-omics approach to capture the variability in the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), pH, metabolites, microbial biomass and function due to the difference in soil water content mediated by long-term precipitation (30 years) and soil texture differences in two Norway spruce seed orchards. Results showed a positive correlation between TOC, TN, extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) content with higher precipitation, whereas microbial diversity showed an opposite trend. A distinct metabolic profile was observed between the two forest soils. Furthermore, variance partitioning canonical correspondence analysis (VPA) revealed a higher contribution of TOC and TN in shaping the microbial communities than soil pH and conductivity in Norway spruce seed orchards. Our study generates field data for modeling the impact of long-term precipitation variance supplemented by soil texture on soil microbial assemblage and function in Norway spruce stands

Nano zerovalent Fe did not reduce metal(loid) leaching and ecotoxicity further than conventional Fe grit in contrasting smelter impacted soils: A 1-year field study.

The majority of the studies on nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) are conducted at a laboratory-scale, while field-scale evidence is scarce. The objective of this study was to compare the metal(loid) immobilization efficiency of selected Fe-based materials under field conditions for a period of one year. Two contrasting metal(loid) (As, Cd, Pb, Zn) enriched soils from a smelter-contaminated area were amended with sulfidized nZVI (S-nZVI) solely or combined with thermally stabilized sewage sludge and compared to amendment with microscale iron grit. In the soil with higher pH (7.5) and organic matter content (TOC = 12.7 %), the application of amendments resulted in a moderate increase in pH and reduced As, Cd, Pb, and Zn leaching after 1-year, with S-nZVI and sludge combined being the most efficient, followed by iron grit and S-nZVI alone. However, the amendments had adverse impacts on microbial biomass quantity, S-nZVI being the least damaging. In the soil with a lower pH (6.0) and organic matter content (TOC = 2.3 %), the results were mixed; 0.01 M CaCl extraction data showed only S-nZVI with sludge as remaining effective in reducing extractable concentrations of metals; on the other hand, Cd and Zn concentrations were increased in the extracted soil pore water solutions, in contrast to the two conventional amendments. Despite that, S-nZVI with sludge enhanced the quantity of microbial biomass in this soil. Additional earthworm avoidance data indicated that they generally avoided soil treated with all Fe-based materials, but the presence of sludge impacted their preferences somewhat. In summary, no significant differences between S-nZVI and iron grit were observed for metal(loid) immobilization, though sludge significantly improved the performance of S-nZVI in terms of soil health indicators. Therefore, this study indicates that S-nZVI amendment of soils alone should be avoided, though further field evidence from a broader range of soils is now required. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tree diversity and species identity effects on soil fungi, protists and animals are context dependent

Plant species richness and the presence of certain influential species (sampling effect) drive the stability and functionality of ecosystems as well as primary production and biomass of consumers. However, little is known about these floristic effects on richness and community composition of soil biota in forest habitats owing to methodological constraints. We developed a DNA metabarcoding approach to identify the major eukaryote groups directly from soil with roughly species-level resolution. Using this method, we examined the effects of tree diversity and individual tree species on soil microbial biomass and taxonomic richness of soil biota in two experimental study systems in Finland and Estonia and accounted for edaphic variables and spatial autocorrelation. Our analyses revealed that the effects of tree diversity and individual species on soil biota are largely context dependent. Multiple regression and structural equation modelling suggested that biomass, soil pH, nutrients and tree species directly affect richness of different taxonomic groups. The community composition of most soil organisms was strongly correlated due to similar response to environmental predictors rather than causal relationships. On a local scale, soil resources and tree species have stronger effect on diversity of soil biota than tree species richness per se

Possibilites of development of electrical engineering industry in the Pilsen region

Předkládaná práce má objasnit možnosti rozvoje elektrotechnického průmyslu v Plzeňském kraji. V první části se bude zaobírat popisem elektrotechnického průmyslu Plzeňského kraje a jeho stávajícího stavu. V další fázi se práce zaměří na otázku výzkumu a vývoje. Ta bude rozdělena do dvou částí. První se zaměří na současný a budoucí stav výzkumu a vývoje v kraji obecně a druhá na výzkumný a vývojový potenciál významných elektrotechnických firem. Posledním krokem bude zhodnocení možností další expanze elektrotechnického průmyslu. To bude provedeno za pomocí SWOT a PESTE analýz.Katedra technologií a měřeníObhájenoThe present work should clarify the possibility of the development of the electronics industry in the Pilsen region. The first part will be engaged a description in the electrical industry Pilsen region and description of the current situation. In another part of the work will focus on the question of research and development. It will be divided into two parts. The first will focus on the current and future state of research and development in the region and the other on research and development potential of major electrical companies. Assessing the possibility of further expansion of the electronics industry will be the last step. This will be done using SWOT a PEST analysis

Možnosti uplatnění dat laserového skenování v katastru nemovitostí =Possibilities of Laser Scanning Data Application in the Cadastre of Real Estate

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