Preliminary studies of photolysis and TiO2-montomorillonite-immobilised photocatalysis processes for the degradation of organic pollutants in water treatment

Organic compounds are the most diverse group of contaminants. The largest anthropogenic source of these contaminants in water is municipal and industrial wastewater. One of the indicators of surface water pollution is biological oxygen demand (BOD). Purifying water from organic micropollutants is a serious challenge and requires the development of newer and more effective methods. The removal of such contaminants is most effective only in advanced oxidation processes (AOP), which include UV photolysis and photocatalysis. The presented results are from preliminary research to evaluate the effectiveness of water treatment by ultraviolet (UV) photolysis and photocatalysis. Treatment efficiency was evaluated on the basis of changes in the BOD index before and after the advanced oxidation process of raw water. The values of the BOD5 index determined in accordance with PN-EN 25813:1997. The exposure time of the samples was a maximum of 60 minutes. The tested material was water samples taken from the Rudawa River, which is one of the drinking water sources for Krakow. The initial BOD5 value (expressed as concentration of O2) for all samples was about 8 mg/L but it has decreased to over 2 mg/L due to AOP processes. This means that after an hour, more than 75% of organic compounds present in the raw water were removed. For photocatalysis (TiO2-MMT), the exposure time of the samples was a maximum of 35 minutes. Water samples taken from the Rudawa River were also used as test material. The initial BOD5 value for all samples was about 9 mg/L but it has decreased to about 4 mg/L due to the photocatalysis process. This means that after 35 minutes, 55% of the organic compounds present in the raw water were removed

Occurrence of pharmaceutical residues, personal care products, lifestyle chemicals, illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater and receiving surface waters of Krakow agglomeration in South Poland

This is the first study of broad range of chemical classes CECs conducted in the upper Wisla river catchment including the biggest WWTPs in this region and surface waters. The list of compounds is extensive and the paper provides, for the first time, better understanding of environmental burden from PCPCs in Poland. Cumulative contribution of hypertension pharmaceuticals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and lifestyle chemicals was 89% and 95% in wastewater influent, and 75% in wastewater effluent at both WWTPs. Significant removal efficiencies, exceeding 90%, were found for parabens, UV filters, NSAIDs, steroid estrogens, plasticizers, antibacterials/antibiotics, stimulants and metabolites and lifestyle chemicals. The comparison of the average mass loads of CECs between the influent and effluent, has shown that 27% and 29% of all detected CECs were removed by less than 50%. An increase of concentrations of CECs in the effluent was observed for 18% and 20% of all detected CECs in Kujawy and Plaszow WWTPs, respectively. Negative mass balances of fexofenadine, venlafaxine, o-desmethyltramadol, ketamine and temazepam were noted within WWTPs, which are a result of dissolution of persistent contaminants accumulated in aggregates and/or back-transformation or de-conjugation of metabolites into parent compounds. 44 CECs were detected in surface waters located upstream and downstream of the WWTPs. The concentrations of compounds were largely dependent on the dilution factor of WWTP discharge. The risk quotation (RQ) values for compounds present in surface waters were calculated in relation to their potential for bioaccumulation. Among compounds with high potential for bioaccumulation, with log KOW ≥ 4.5, diclofenac, atorvastatin and triclosan were found to be of high risk. Many CECs with high, moderate or even low environmental impact have shown high potential for bioaccumulation and should be considered as priority at the same risk level. Moreover, possible synergistic action is still of concern

Occurrence of pharmaceutical residues, personal care products, lifestyle chemicals, illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater and receiving surface waters of Krakow agglomeration in South Poland

This is the first study of broad range of chemical classes CECs conducted in the upper Wisla river catchment including the biggest WWTPs in this region and surface waters. The list of compounds is extensive and the paper provides, for the first time, better understanding of environmental burden from PCPCs in Poland. Cumulative contribution of hypertension pharmaceuticals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and lifestyle chemicals was 89% and 95% in wastewater influent, and 75% in wastewater effluent at both WWTPs. Significant removal efficiencies, exceeding 90%, were found for parabens, UV filters, NSAIDs, steroid estrogens, plasticizers, antibacterials/antibiotics, stimulants and metabolites and lifestyle chemicals. The comparison of the average mass loads of CECs between the influent and effluent, has shown that 27% and 29% of all detected CECs were removed by less than 50%. An increase of concentrations of CECs in the effluent was observed for 18% and 20% of all detected CECs in Kujawy and Plaszow WWTPs, respectively. Negative mass balances of fexofenadine, venlafaxine, o-desmethyltramadol, ketamine and temazepam were noted within WWTPs, which are a result of dissolution of persistent contaminants accumulated in aggregates and/or back-transformation or de-conjugation of metabolites into parent compounds. 44 CECs were detected in surface waters located upstream and downstream of the WWTPs. The concentrations of compounds were largely dependent on the dilution factor of WWTP discharge. The risk quotation (RQ) values for compounds present in surface waters were calculated in relation to their potential for bioaccumulation. Among compounds with high potential for bioaccumulation, with log KOW ≥ 4.5, diclofenac, atorvastatin and triclosan were found to be of high risk. Many CECs with high, moderate or even low environmental impact have shown high potential for bioaccumulation and should be considered as priority at the same risk level. Moreover, possible synergistic action is still of concern

BPA – an endocrine disrupting compound in water used for drinking purposes,a snapshot from South Poland

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. As an endocrine-disrupting compound, it has been included in the list of substances requiring special supervision as a very high-risk substance due to its toxic influence on reproduction. BPA with a reference value of 0.01 μg/L was included in the Drinking Water Directive revision (DWD 2018). This paper presents the results of preliminary studies aimed at identifying the occurrence of BPA in different types of water, i.a. groundwater captured with house wells or flowing wells in a selected location in southern Po-land. These waters are commonly used as a source of water intended for human consumption and their quality is not regularly controlled. Additional tests were carried out for surface water, as well as water from springs used for drinking purposes. The authors also analysed tap water from various sources, i.e. surface and groundwater, as the final product of the drinking water production cycle. The results indicate the presence of BPA in water and the necessity of a detailed study on the risk of the BPA occurring in groundwater, especially in domestic wells

Seasonal Variability of PM10 Chemical Composition Including 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene, Marker of Plastic Combustion and Toxicity in Wadowice, South Poland

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the seasonal variation of the chemical composition of PM10 including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene (135TPB), which is a well known marker of plastic combustion. The presented work is a part of the project concerning assessment of air quality of small cities around Krakow agglomeration. Monitoring campaign was conducted between February and October 2017 in Wadowice, a small city in Krakow agglomeration, South Poland. To widen the knowledge of Krakow's agglomeration air quality, other aerosol chemical components were analyzed. Ion chromatography (IC) was used for analysis of cations and anions, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for PAHs. Samples were also analyzed for OC/EC (organic/elemental carbon) by thermal-optical analysis with a Sunset Laboratory carbon analyzer, Sunset Inc. The co-combustion of plastic in addition to conventional fuels and the respective impact on air quality is evaluated via the concentration of the marker compound 135TPB. Co-combustion of plastics with fuels resulted in a higher abundance of fluorene and most of 4–6 ring PAHs, in agreement with recent literature. Authors proved that other sources besides plastic burning, including road transport, residential heating, residential combustion, industrial emissions, affect the air quality in South Poland. The modeling tool Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT), developed by NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory, was used to define the possible areas outside Wadowice contributing to urban air pollution

Citric Acid Controls the Activity of YopH Bacterial Tyrosine Phosphatase

Joanna Styszko,1 Tomasz Kostrzewa,1 Magdalena Gorska-Ponikowska,1,2 Alicja Kuban-Jankowska1 1Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland; 2Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, GermanyCorrespondence: Alicja Kuban-Jankowska, Email [email protected]: Citric acid (CA) is a tricarboxylic acid with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Based on previous studies, the small compound with its three carboxylic groups can be considered a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. YopH, a protein tyrosine phosphatase, is an essential virulence factor in Yersinia bacteria.Materials and Methods: We performed enzymatic activity assays of YopH phosphatase after treatment with citric acid in comparison with the inhibitory compound trimesic acid, which has a similar structure. We also measured the cytotoxicity of these compounds in Jurkat T E6.1 and macrophage J774.2 cell lines. We performed molecular docking analysis of the binding of citric acid molecules to YopH phosphatase.Results: Citric acid and trimesic acid reversibly reduced the activity of YopH enzyme and decreased the viability of Jurkat and macrophage cell lines. Importantly, these two compounds showed greater inhibitory properties against bacterial YopH activity than against human CD45 phosphatase activity. Molecular docking simulations confirmed that citric acid could bind to YopH phosphatase.Conclusion: Citric acid, a known antioxidant, can be considered an inhibitor of bacterial phosphatases.Keywords: protein tyrosine phosphatase, citric acid, trimesic acid, bacterial virulence factors, YopH, Yersinia, CD45 phosphatas

Usefulness of RAPD, RFLP and SCAR molecular markers and AGPaseB gene methylation level in the screening of resistance to the golden cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) pathotype Ro1 in different Polish potato genotypes

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the application of various DNA markers as well as the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase small subunit (AGPaseB) gene methylation for the screening of potato cultivars and breeding lines with different resistance to Globodera rostochiensis. Tetraploid genotypes were included. The 2 kb and 0.7 kb random amplified polymorphic (RAPD) fragments as well as a PCR-amplified 1.6 kb fragment of AGPaseB gene positioned close to the Gro1 locus were tested. Two novel sequence characterised amplified region (SCAR) fragments were generated from 2 kb RAPD product of susceptible and resistant genotypes. Significant correlation (r=0.32) was detected only between the presence of SCARI and SCARII fragments markers in all the investigated genotypes. Three different allelic forms of the AGPaseB gene were detected in tetraploid potato genotypes. One of these allelic forms may be closely linked with Gro1. A strong methylation occurred at promoter region and the 5' part of AGPaseB gene which was generally absent at its 3' UTR region. The methylation pattern of AGPaseB investigated by restriction with MspI and HpaII varied between some G. rostochiensis resistant and sensitive genotypes. We concluded that methylation profiling of AGPaseB gene should be promising for the development of practical assays for resistance to nematodes in potato

Energetyka a środowisko

W artykule przedstawiono sposoby produkcji energii zgodnie z ideą zrównoważonego rozwoju. Opisano realizację europejskiej polityki środowiskowej poprzez gospodarkę o obiegu zamkniętym. Podkreślono znaczenie dostępu do danych środowiskowych oraz nowoczesnych technik pomiarowych w analizach ilościowych i jakościowych. Wskazano korzyści płynące z zastosowania klasycznych metod oraz technik głębokiego i wzmacnianego uczenia do modelowania procesów energetycznych. Omówiono kwestię wykorzystania innowacyjnych materiałów katalitycznych i sorpcyjnych do oczyszczania gazów odlotowych oraz konwersji i zagospodarowania dwutlenku węgla. Wykazano znaczenie identyfikacji i kwantyfikacji punktów krytycznych w całym łańcuchu wartości paliwa. Przedstawiono znaczenie decyzji inwestycyjnych i regulacyjnych w procesie dekarbonizacji