The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of utilizing sodium alginate biopolymer as animmobilization carrier for laccase in the removal of indigo carmine (IC), an anionic dye. The main goal of this work was to optimize the decolourization process by selecting the appropriate immobilized enzyme dose per 1 mg of dye, as well as the process temperature. The effective immobilization of laccase using sodium alginate as a carrier was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. An analysis of the size and geometric parameters of the alginate beads was also carried out. Tests of IC decolourization using alginate-laccase beads were conducted. Applying the most effective dose of the enzyme (320 mg of enzyme/1 mg of IC) made it possible to remove 92.5% of the dye over 40 days. The optimal temperature for the IC decolourization process, using laccase immobilized on sodium alginate, was established at 30-40ºC. The obtained results indicate that laccase from Trametes versicolor immobilized on sodium alginate was capable of decolourizing the tested dye primarily based on mechanism of biocatalysis.

The continuous process of urbanization and climate change has led to severe urban heat island (UHI) effects. Constructing parks with cooling capabilities is considered an effective measure to alleviate UHI effects. However, most studies only quantify the cooling effect from a maximum value perspective, lacking a measure of temperature diffusion in space. This study combines the perspectives of maximum value and accumulation to define a cold island index, quantifying the cooling effect of 40 urban parks in the main urban area of Xi'an city. The results show that, on average, urban parks can reduce the surrounding environment by approximately 2.3℃, with a cooling range of about 127.1ha, which is three times the park area. Different factors drive the measurement of the cooling effect using different cold island indexes, but all indexes are highly correlated with green space area. There are significant differences in the cooling effect among different types of parks, and overall, ecological parks have the best cooling effect. The directional spread of internal cold islands in parks is most related to park shape, while external spread is related to surrounding green spaces. The research results have practical value in the construction of parks with cooling effects and the sustainable development of cities in urban planning processes..

The waste production is closely related with human activity. Various approaches have been applied to manage and reduce its increasing volume (Paranjpe et al. 2023). One of the possibilities that comply with the assumptions of circular economy is utilization of wastes in anaerobic digestion (AD) process. This technology is common worldwide and it is recognized as the cost-effective methods of energy generation that also allow for nutrient recovery, as well as effective waste management (Alharbi et al. 2023). The biogas generated within this process is considered as a multifunctional renewable source that might be a promising alternative to the depleting traditional fuels. It finds various applications such as heat and power generation, fuel in automobiles, and substrate in chemical industry (Shitophyta et al. 2022, Pradeshwaran 2024). Typically, biogas contains 50–70% of CH4, 30–50% of CO2, and 1–10% of other trace gases like H2, H2S, CO, N2. Its composition mainly depends on the feedstock characteristics, operational conditions, and adopted technology (Gani et al. 2023, Archana et al. 2024). Considering further application, the priority action should be increasing its volume and methane content. There are several strategies to achieve these goals, including implementing codigestion strategy, adding additional component to the main substrate, introducing trace elements essential in AD, pretreatment strategies, and introducing enzymes and microbial strains to digesters (Zhang et al. 2019). Each method has limits related to the implementation costs, changes in the adopted technology, operator training needs, and additional energy input, which might negatively influence the energy balance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (Meng et al. 2022). Therefore, recent scientific attention has focused on combining various strategies to achieve intended goals. Moreover, such combinations might allow for an effective utilization of various wastes, the earlier use of which in AD was difficult. Orange waste could be an example of such a substrate. The previous studies indicated that its application in AD resulted in poor process efficiency, mainly due to the presence of limonene, recognized as the main inhibitor of biological activity (Calabro et al. 2020, Bouaita et al. 2022). In this study, the novel concept of implementing solidified carbon dioxide (SCO2) in the anaerobic co-digestion of municipal sewage sludge (SS) and orange peel waste (OPW) has been proposed. This approach may help overcome the disadvantages of the two-component AD of these wastes. Importantly, such studies have not been conducted thus far. However, the recent studies indicated that application of SCO2 to aerobic granular sludge improved biogas and methane yields and also enhanced the kinetics of biogas production (Kazimierowicz et al. 2023 a,b). Importantly, SCO2 might be generated in biogas upgrading technologies (Yousef 2019). Such solution is consistent with the principles of the circular economy and contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of WWTPs.

Due to the widespread presence and harmfulness of heavy metals in the environment, scholars around the world have evaluated the exposure characteristics and health risks of heavy metals. To understand the status, hotspots, and development treads of heavy metal health risk assessment research, we used bibliometric analysis tools to conduct scientometric analysis of the literature related to the health risk assessment of heavy metals in the Web of Science database from 2000 to 2022. The analysis results indicate that research related to heavy metal health risk assessment is rapidly developing in both developed and developing countries. China’s significant international influence in this field is worth noting, as there are many publications and highly cited documents related to China. France and other developed countries also play an important role in this field due to their high centrality and strong bursts. The results of co-citation cluster analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis indicate that in the past two decades, the primary research domains and hotspots of heavy metal health risk assessment have been the study of heavy metals in soil, dust, drinking water, vegetables, fish, and sediment. There is a specific focus on bioaccumulation, bioavailability, source apportionment, and spatial distribution of heavy metals. The main types of heavy metals studied are lead, cadmium, mercury, and zinc. The results of the bursts keywords analysis suggest that future research trends may focus more on the health risks of heavy metals in different functional areas of cities.

The aim of the work was to develop a mathematical model using equations of fluid mechanics that describe the dynamics of air flow in a part of the compost aerating system integrated with a stationary reactor. The results of the simulation show that adjusting the flow resistance along the entire length of the compost aerating duct, depending on the distance from the connection of the duct with the fan's pressure conduit pipe through gradually increasing the air outflow area by increasing the number of repeatable gaps, yields a uniform pressure distribution above the grate. The process parameters used for computation were relevant to composting a subscreen fraction separated from mixed municipal waste using 80 mm mesh screen (Fr<80 mm) under real conditions. Microsoft EXCEL 2010 software and STATISTICA version 13.3 by StatSoft were used for numerical and statistical analysis of the test results. The research results are presented in four tables and five figures and discussed in the text of the article. During tests performed in real conditions, various variants were tested for reactor filling level and air outflow active surfaces in subsequent grate parts (Fc (i)). It was found that the target waste layer thickness i.e. 3.0 m and Fc (i) changes, in accordance with the values of the developed model, result in a stable pressure distribution pd, amounting to 1506 Pa and 1495 Pa at the grate front and end part.

The amount of solid organic waste is constantly growing. This is caused by the growth of industrial and agricultural capacities, and the inefficiency of existing waste processing technologies. Biotechnologies can provide effective environmentally friendly solutions for waste treatment. Therefore, the goal of our work was to compare the efficiency of strictly anaerobic fermentation of multi-component solid organic waste with hydrogen synthesis and waste treatment with pulsed air access in batch bioreactors.During fermentation, the following parameters were controlled: pH, redox potential (Eh), concentration of dissolved organics, and the content of H2, O2, and CO2 in the gas phase. The efficiency was evaluated via the process duration, calculation of the ratio of the initial and final weight of waste (Кd), and the yield of molecular hydrogen. Obtained results revealed high efficiency of organic waste degradation in both variants. The weight of waste 83-fold and 86-fold decreased, respectively. The time required for fermentation in strictly anaerobic conditions was 4 days, whereas 7 days were required for the mode with pulsed air access. The first variant provided a 2.8-fold higher hydrogen yield (54±4,1 L/kg of waste), and the second one provided a decrease in the concentration of dissolved organic compounds in the fermentation fluid. Fermentation is the effective approach for accelerated degradation of solid organic waste. Strictly anaerobic fermentation appeared to be useful in the need to accelerate the process. The mode with the pulsed air access can provide not only degradation of solid waste but also purification of the fermentation fluid.

The main aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of using biopolymers of different viscosities (high, medium and low viscosity) as immobilization carriers for laccase in synthetic dye removal. The following dye solutions were decolorized: indigo carmine (IC, anionic dye), methylene blue (MB, cationic dye), and their mixture in a molar mass ratio MB/IC=0.69, using biopolymers of different viscosities as laccase immobilization carriers. Toxicity tests were also carried out to assess the toxicity of the post-decolorization samples. Decolorization tests showed that the main decolorization mechanism depends on the dye class. The removal of IC (max. total removal efficiency 72.15%) was mainly by biocatalysis. The mechanism of the MB decolorization process was mainly by sorption on alginate beads, and the efficiency of enzymatic removal was low. However, the highest efficiency of MB decolorization (45.80%) was obtained for beads prepared using the high viscosity alginate when decolorization occurred by both sorption and biocatalysis. The results of mixture decolorization tests differ from the results obtained for single dyes.The results showed differences in the efficiency of the dye sorption process depending on the alginate used for immobilization. Moreover, the varying mechanisms of dye removal from the dye mixture were confirmed by toxicity tests. The occurrence of both biocatalysis and sorption promotes reduced toxicity

The present work focuses on examining the batch removal of Fe (III) from water using powdered Peganum Harmala seeds, characterized as FT-IR. In this work, several parameters are measured, including contact time, pH, Fe (III) concentration, reaction temperature effect, and adsorbent dose effect. Fe (III) adsorption was assessed using a UV-vis spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 620 nm. The findings demonstrated a positive correlation between the dosage of adsorbent and Fe (III) ions removal, with an increase in the adsorbent dose corresponding to higher elimination of Fe (III) ions. Therefore, the Langmuir isotherm model yielded more accurate equilibrium data compared to the Frendulich model. The kinetic data were mostly analyzed using a pseudo-second-order model rather than a pseudo-first-order model. Thermodynamic parameters, including enthalpy (ΔH◦), entropy (ΔS◦), and free energy (ΔG◦), were calculated. The adsorption process was found to be exothermic. Overall, Peganum Harmala was a favorable adsorbent for removing Fe (III) from aqueous solutions.

There are approximately 15 million users of system heat in Poland, but unfortunately nearly 70% of the fuel used in heat production is fossil fuel. Therefore, the CO2 emission reduction in the heat production industry is becoming one of the key challenges. City Heat Distribution Enterprise Ltd. in Nowy Sącz (Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej sp. z o.o.) has been conducting a self-financed research and development project entitled The use of algae as carbon dioxide absorbers at MPEC Nowy Sącz. The project deals with postcombustion CO2 capture using Chlorella vulgaris algae. As a result of tests conducted in a 1000 l hermetic container under optimal temperature and light conditions, the recovery of biomass can be performed in weekly cycles, yielding approximately 25 kilograms of biomass per year. Assuming that half of the dry mass of the algae is carbon, it can be said that 240 grams of carbon is bound in one cycle, which, converted to CO2, gives 880 grams of this gas. Our results showed that around 45.8 kilograms of CO2 per year was absorbed. Additionally, it is possible to use waste materials and by-products of technological processes as a nutrient medium for algae

The study’s objective was to assess the efficacy and to identify the toxic mechanisms of action of some plant-derived monoterpenes and yucca extract as alternatives to chemical insecticides against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Carvone, 1,8-cineole, cuminaldehyde, and linalool, as well as Yucca schidgera extract, were the control agents whose efficacy against the red flour beetle was tested in the laboratory and compared to malathion. The criteria for evaluating efficacy were the effects of the tested compounds on adult mortality and red flour beetle progeny. Furthermore, the effects of the control agents on some enzymes (Acetylcholinesterase, ά-amylase, and alkaline phosphatase) in T. castaneum were investigated. Moreover, the effect of the tested control measures on weight loss of treated wheat grain was studied. The tested substances showed a high ability to control T. castaneum with regard to adult mortality and offspring production, especially when used as fumigants. For adult mortality, malathion showed the highest potential against T. castaneum as a fumigant, followed by carvone, yucca extract, cuminaldehyde, linalool, and 1,8-cineole with LC ₅₀ values of 0.05, 331.5, 365.1, 372.2, 460, and 467.5 mg · 1000 cm ^–2 after 72 hours, respectively. The highest reduction in progeny was for malathion followed by carvone, linalool, cineole, yucca extract, and cuminaldehyde with reduction percentages of 100, 90, 89.3,79.4 and 65.8%, respectively. The tested compounds significantly affected acetylcholinesterase activity, alpha-amylase activity, and alkaline phosphatase in the red flour beetle. There was no significant reduction in the weight of wheat grains treated with the tested materials compared to the untreated healthy grains. Finally, the tested compounds as fumigants, especially 1,8-cineole, can be considered as effective alternatives to control the red flour beetle.

This study aimed to evaluate the bioherbicidal effect of aqueous fresh extracts of leaves and roots of the Aloe vera plant on the broad leaf weed growth of Sonchus oleraceus associated faba bean plants. During the winters of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, two pot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse of the National Research Center. Leaf and root aqueous extracts of Aloe vera were applied as soil and/or spray treatments at different concentrations. The results showed that there was significant inhibition in the fresh and dry biomass of S. oleraceus and was maximum with application of soil treatment (10%) of the leaf extract sequenced by spraying leaf extract at 20%. Furthermore, the inhibition of the weed growth was accompanied by an increase in the growth and yield of faba bean. The results indicated that phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins were present in the leaf extract, and there were smaller amounts of tannins and saponins in the root extract than in the leaf extract. Total phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids in the leaf extract was more than three times that of the root extract. The results also revealed that the presence of higher concentrations of natural substances in the leaf extract than in the root extracts gave it its efficiency in inhibiting the growth of S. oleraceus weeds.

Eupatorium odoratum is known for its ability to resist nematode infestations that attack the root systems of banana plants. An aqueous extract of the leaves and stems of E. odoratum (named EEOL) represents a natural solution that we investigated for its potential to control the harmful nematode, Radopholus similis, in Cavendish banana plants. Our research into EEOL’s efficacy spanned two distinct environments: a micro plot experiment model and a field model. Various concentrations of EEOL were examined to assess its efficacy in alleviating R. similis infestations and in mitigating their adverse effects on Cavendish banana plants. In the micro plot experiment model, the concentration of the original solution, diluted at ratios of 1:30×, 1 : 16×, 1 : 8×, 1 : 4×, and 1 : 2×, ranged from 1.76 to 28.16 mg · ml ^-1. In the field model, the corresponding rates varied from 6.03 to 96.54 l · ha ^-1. Key parameters, including infection rates, root necrosis indices, plant growth metrics, percentage of fallen trees, and harvest yields, were meticulously monitored and assessed. The results demonstrated that EEOL significantly reduced infection rates ( p < 0.05), decreased root necrosis indices ( p < 0.05), and promoted increased plant height, pseudostem circumference, and leaf area ( p < 0.05) in both models. Furthermore, it lowered the percentage of fallen trees ( p < 0.05) and enhanced harvest yields ( p < 0.05) in the field model. Notably, observations in the field model revealed that EEOL, particularly at a dosage of 96.54 l · ha ^-1, exhibited effectiveness equivalent to the conventional chemical nematode control method, fenamiphos ( p > 0.05). The study’s findings underscore the promising potential of EEOL in effectively managing R. similis infestations and improving the yield and quality of Cavendish banana plants. The aqueous extract of the stem and leaves of E. odoratum emerged as an effective nematode management solution for banana cultivation, in both the micro plot experiment and field conditions.

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma asperellum organic extract and its emulsion to control cocoa black pod disease caused by Phytophthora megakarya. Organic extract was obtained after fermentation of T. asperellum and its emulsion prepared by emulsification. The in vitro antimicrobial assays of organic extract and its emulsion were evaluated and the in situ tests were carried out on detached cocoa pods. T. asperellum inhibited the mycelia growth of P. megakarya at the rates of 52% and 100%, respectively, on dual culture and the cellophane plate. This antagonist produced lytic enzymes such as cellulase, amylase, lipase and protease. The organic extract contained alkaloid, flavonoid and phenol compounds. The emulsion obtained was stable. At 100 μg · ml ^-1, the extract and its formulation completely inhibited the mycelial growth of P. megakarya. Similarly, when infected detached cocoa pods were sprayed with extract or emulsion, there was a significant reduction of necrosis both for healing and prevention with the latter being the most efficient. For the preventive tests, the total inhibition was recorded at 3000 μg · ml ^-1 and 1000 μg · ml ^-1, respectively, with crude organic extract and its emulsion· For curative tests, total inhibition was obtained at 4000 μg · ml ^-1 and 3000 μg · ml ^-1, respectively, for preventive and curative tests. There was a significant and positive correlation between the content of biochemical markers and the reduction of necrosis on cocoa pods after treatment with the extract or its formulation. T. asperellum organic extract emulsion could be used as an alternative in the bio- protection of cocoa black pods disease.

Seed coating technology combined with biopolymers offers an alternative method to reduce environmental contamination. However, when biological agents are incorporated, biopolymers would have diverse properties and effects. This underscores the necessity of exploring the optimal dosages and formulations of biopolymers to ensure the survival of beneficial microorganisms, seed quality, and proper storage. This study aimed to explore the effects of different sodium alginate and chitosan coating formulations on Trichoderma harzianum viability and canola seeds quality. The coating process involved mixing T. harzianum powder with sodium alginate, talc and chitosan in different doses, sequences and formulations. Trichoderma harzianum viability was assessed through colony-forming units per ml over time. Canola seed quality was evaluated by measuring radicle emergence, germination percentage, seedling growth, and field emergence. Sodium alginate, both alone and in combination with talc, improved T. harzianum viability immediately after treatment and during storage. These coatings did not impair seed germination and improved canola root growth. Among the different chitosan formulations, a 1 : 100 ratio in talc improved strain survival and root growth without affecting germination, radicle, and field emergence. Coating canola seeds is a practical alternative to the application of T. harzianum, sodium alginate and talc, as it preserves their viability over time and improves seedling performance. Chitosan formulations in acetic acid should be carefully developed to prevent negative effects on seeds or biological agents.

The occurrence of three bamboo aphid species of the genus Takecallis was detected. T. arundicolens (Clarke) and T. arundinariae (Essig) were recorded for the first time in Poland, and new localities for T. nigroantennatus Wieczorek were found. Key diagnostic morphological characteristics to help distinguish these species and DNA barcoding to analyze individuals at the molecular level were provided.

For the first time, the mycophagous beetle Sericoderus lateralis (Gyllenhal, 1827) was documented feeding on tomato leaf mold ( Cladosporium fulvum Cooke, 1878) tissues. The phenomenon was observed during the years 2022 and 2023 in a hydroponic tomato greenhouse situated near the Czech-Polish border within the cadastre of Dolní Lutyně municipality in Czechia. Greenhouse and laboratory observations confirmed that adult and larvae feeding activity led to a reduction in tomato leaf mold lesions. In addition, there was a positive correlation between tomato leaf mold disease progression and increased populations of S. lateralis in the tomato crop. Petri dish observations confirmed egg laying occurred on a diet of tomato leaf mold. Further research is warranted to discern whether S. lateralis is a potential biological control agent for tomato leaf mold or if it acts to facilitate the spread of the disease by acting as a spore vector.

Fruit flies belonging to the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex pose a significant threat to mangoes and other crops in the Philippines and worldwide. Identifying cryptic species within this complex is challenging, particularly when relying solely on morphological analysis. In this study, we sequenced two fragments of the nuclear 18S and ITS2-28S rRNA genes from specimens of Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel collected in the Philippines to assess their applicability for species diagnostics. Subsequent sequencing and analysis revealed that the 18S and 28S rRNA gene fragments matched B. dorsalis sequences in NCBI but also displayed high similarity with other Bactrocera and insect species. On the other hand, sequences of the ITS2 segment showed hits specific to B. dorsalis. Further analysis of the 18S rRNA gene in fruit flies collected from various sources and host plants in the country suggests conserved sequences among Bactrocera samples, irrespective of collection site and host plant species. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, among the tested nuclear DNA fragments, only the ITS2 demonstrates sufficient species-level nucleotide variation for effective use as a molecular diagnostic marker for B. dorsalis identification.

In the years 2018‒2020, the effectiveness of three synthetic active substances (acequinocyl, fenpyroximate, spirodiclofen), one substance derived from Streptomyces spp. (abamectin), a plant extract (orange oil) and silicone polymers in controlling Phyllocoptes gracilis in two Polish raspberry plantations (v. ‘Glen Ample’) was assessed. All the substances showed high and comparable efficacy against the tested pest, significantly reducing its population. However, their effects occurred at different times after the application. The strongest immediate control was shown by silicone polymers, followed by abamectin and spirodiclofen. The full effect of fenpyroximate application was visible after approx. 2 weeks, while acequinocyl was effective 3‒4 weeks after the application. Moreover, the content of phenolic compounds, sterols and triterpenoids was determined in leaves of plants treated with spirodiclofen, orange oil and silicone polymers. The observed increase in the content of salicylic acid and changes in the content of triterpenoids in leaves may indicate a stimulating effect of the substances to the natural defense processes of plants.

The article analyzes soil organic carbon (SOC) content of in Poland from 2015 to 2021. The research aims to determine SOC levels and their dependence on soil agronomic categories and drought intensity. Soil samples from 1011 farms across 8 Polish voivodships were collected for analysis, all from the same agricultural plots. SOC determination was conducted using the Tiurin method. The results indicate a low SOC content nationwide (0.85-2.35%). Heavy soils exhibited higher SOC accumulation compared to light soils. Moreover, significant drought impact led to decreased SOC content in affected regions. Scientific evidence underscores a declining trend in organic carbon stock within agricultural soils, attributed to natural soil changes and unsustainable management practices. This decline is concerning given the crucial role of SOC in soil health, quality, and crop productivity. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor and address areas with low SOC levels to enhance SOC abundance. Furthermore, when used as a whole-cell biocatalyst in a low-cost upflow MFC, the Morganella morganii-rich SF11 consortium demonstrated the highest voltage and power density of 964.93±1.86 mV and 0.56±0.00 W/m3, respectively. These results suggest that the SF11 bacterial consortium has the potential for use in ceramic separator MFCs for the removal of penicillin and electricity generation.