305 publications from this institution
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of three different phyto-humic feed preparations on the basic qualitative characteristics of eggs, i.e. total cholesterol content and fatty acid profile of the yolk. The study was carried out on 80 Lohmann Brown (LB) laying hens in an experimental facility with a floor maintenance system on a straw bedding (5 layers/m2). A control group (K) and three experimental ones (A, B, C), with 20 birds in each (in separate pens), were created. The birds were placed in the 16th week of life, while the experimental preparations were introduced in the 22nd week of life and were administered for 43 weeks (constant 3% addition to the feed mixture).The following preparations were applied: humic-peat (H-t) in group A, humic-herbal (H-z) in group B, and humic-lucerne (H-1) in group C. The eggs for the study were collected three times, 30 eggs from each group in the following periods: 1st series – 31st week of life (peak of laying period); 2nd series – 54th week of life (later phase of laying period) and 3rd series – 65th week of life (final phase of laying period). Six samples (mean of 5 well-mixed yolks) from each group in three laying periods (360 eggs were used in total) were prepared for laboratory analyzes (lipids examination). Laboratory analyzes were performed using a chromatograph – Finnigan Focus PolarisQ manufactured by Thermo Electron with capillary columns: HP-88 by Agilent J&W (fatty acids) and Rtx-1MS by Restek (cholesterol). The applied phytohumic preparations – but only those with a share of dried lucerne or herbs – significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced total cholesterol content, especially in group C (10.88 mg/g yolk) compared to group K (11.94 mg/g yolk). All preparations positively influenced the fatty acids profile of yolk; there was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in the concentration of n-3 PUFAs (max 2.84% in the group B), the n-6/n-3 ratio decreased significantly (most beneficial 8.33 in group B), and lipids quality improved: atherogenic index (AI) decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in group A (0.32) and thrombogenic index (TI) was a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower in all experimental groups (0.83 – 0.84) compared to group K (0.36 and 0.87 respectively). Dietary phyto-humic preparations increased the nutritional and dietary value of hen eggs.
In this work, for the first time, the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from carbonized refuse-derived fuel (CRDF) were quantified on a laboratory scale. The analyzed CRDF was generated from the torrefaction of municipal waste. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify 84 VOCs, including many that are toxic, e.g., derivatives of benzene or toluene. The highest emissions were measured for nonanal, octanal, and heptanal. The top 10 most emitted VOCs contributed to almost 65% of the total emissions. The VOC mixture emitted from torrefied CRDF differed from that emitted by other types of pyrolyzed biochars, produced from different types of feedstock, and under different pyrolysis conditions. SPME was a useful technology for surveying VOC emissions. Results provide an initial database of the types and relative quantities of VOCs emitted from CRDF. This data is needed for further development of CRDF technology and comprehensive assessment of environmental impact and practical storage, transport, and potential adoption of CRDF as means of energy and resource recovery from municipal waste.
Abstract The product of thermochemical processing of lignocellulosic biomass is biochar. It has a range of properties that make it suitable for a variety of economic applications. However, during pyrolysis and torrefaction, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released and may redeposit on the surface of the biochar. Some of these compounds may be harmful to the environment and humans. Bibliometric study shows that, to date, studies on the release of VOCs from biochar have been of an inventory nature and concerned with specific case studies of the specific types of biomass. To date, there has been no comprehensive and systematic analysis of the influence of lignocellulosic biomass properties and pyrolysis/torrefaction process parameters on VOC formation and redeposition on biochar. In this paper, the analysis is presented of the potential harmfulness of VOCs released during the thermochemical processing of lignocellulosic biomass components, based on cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin pyrolysis/torrefaction chemistry data. 10 volatile organic compounds from cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin pyrolysis were identified as potentially harmful due to the following properties: carcinogenicity, toxicity, flammability, skin corrosion/irritation, eye irritation, and mutagenicity, with different degrees of harmfulness. Additionally, the VOCs identified on biochar samples show a potential hazard. Among 140 identified compounds, 33 of them had harmful properties. Therefore, the redeposition on biochar of ketones, aldehydes, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and their derivatives, esters, and furans may lead to environmental contamination due to their release from biochar. A new niche for systematic research on the development of new knowledge regarding the biochars produced from biomass as a source of pollutant emission has been identified.
The aim of the study was to apply the bioactive components casein hydrolysate and casein–iron chelate to yoghurt and to analyze their influence on product parameters. Casein was hydrolyzed with the non-commercial protease obtained from Yarrowia lipolytica yeast and subjected to chelating process with Fe2+ ions. Both preparations were introduced to yoghurt production as additives for elevation of dry matter by 2%. The control yoghurt was produced with the addition of skim milk powder. In the prepared experimental yoghurts, the content of dry matter [DM], protein, fat, as well as iron contents were determined. The conducted studies showed that in all analyzed yogurts, DM content was at a similar level, while the protein content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the variant containing 2% casein–iron chelate. In yoghurts with the casein–iron chelate as a bioactive compound, the iron concentration was about 61.5–123 times higher than in yoghurt with the addition of skim milk powder. It was shown that during storage the addition of casein–iron chelate positively influenced the number of analyzed microbe groups.
The intensive development of the polyurethanes industry and limited resources (also due to the current geopolitical situation) of the raw materials used so far force the search for new solutions to maintain high economic development. Implementing the principles of a circular economy is an approach aimed at reducing the consumption of natural resources in PU production. This is understood as a method of recovery, including recycling, in which waste is processed into PU, and then re-used and placed on the market in the form of finished sustainable products. The effective use of waste is one of the attributes of the modern economy. Around the world, new ways to process or use recycled materials for polyurethane production are investigated. That is why innovative research is so important, in which development may change the existing thinking about the form of waste recovery. The paper presents the possibilities of recycling waste (such as biochar, bagasse, waste lignin, residual algal cellulose, residual pineapple cellulose, walnut shells, silanized walnut shells, basalt waste, eggshells, chicken feathers, turkey feathers, fiber, fly ash, wood flour, buffing dust, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethane, ground corncake, Tetra Pak®, coffee grounds, pine seed shells, yerba mate, the bark of Western Red Cedar, coconut husk ash, cuttlebone, glass fibers and mussel shell) as additives or fillers in the formulation of polyurethanes, which can partially or completely replace petrochemical raw materials. Numerous examples of waste applications of one-component polyurethanes have been given. A new unexplored niche for the research on waste recycling for the production of two components has been identified.
Abstract Composting is a complex biological process, and due to the numerous variables affecting its course, it requires constant supervision and, depending on the needs, appropriate modifications. In particular, it is necessary to strive to ensure the quality of substrates, the elimination of possible contaminants, the efficient and inexpensive conduct of the process, and the fulfillment by the finished compost of the quality requirements allowing its use as a fertilizer or crop improvement agent. Therefore, new effective methods for composting optimization are needed. This paper reviews the state of the art on the use of artificial neural networks (ANN) in bio-waste composting with a special focus on applying machine learning tools. Artificial neural networks were characterized along with their division into different types, the basics of the composting process and legal requirements for bio-waste recycling were described. Different types of machine learning were compared with attention paid to the effectiveness of the tools used. Also, for further studies, the appropriate independent variables were proposed to be used in ANN designing. The presented examples of the application of ANN confirm the usefulness of this method, to solve the complexity of the composting issue, and the need for further research.
The methane fermentation of organic waste is one way to minimize organic waste, which accounts for 77% of the global municipal waste stream. The use of biochar as an additive for methane fermentation has been shown to increase the production potential of biogas. Sulfur waste has a potential application to synergistic recycling in a form of composites with other materials including biochar. A composite product in the form of a mixture of biochar and molten sulfur has been proposed. In this experiment, additions of the sulfur–biochar composite (SBC) were tested to improve the fermentation process. The biochar was produced from apple chips under the temperature of 500 °C. The ground biochar and sulfur (<1 mm particle size) were mixed in the proportion of 40% biochar and 60% sulfur and heated to 140 °C for sulfur melting. After cooling, the solidified composite was ground. The SBC was added in the dose rate of 10% by dry mass of prepared artificial kitchen waste. Wet anaerobic digestion was carried out in the batch reactors under a temperature of 37 °C for 21 days. As an inoculum, the digestate from Bio-Wat Sp. z. o. o., Świdnica, Poland, was used. The results showed that released biogas reached 672 mL × gvs−1, and the yield was 4% higher than in the variant without the SBC. Kinetics study indicated that the biogas production constant rate reached 0.214 d−1 and was 4.4% higher than in the variant without the SBC.
