The paper presents the results of anaerobic digestion and co-digestion under mesophilic conditions in the OxiTop system and in lab-scale fermentors. The goal of the study was to determine the effect of reaction-based oil waste on biogas production in co-fermentation with sewage sludge (mixture of thickened primary and excess sludge). The average water content in sewage sludge was 97 %, with 70 % of total volatile solids concentration (TVS) in total solids. Weight content of oil waste in the mixture of sewage sludge ranged from 15 to 45 % (w/w) and the increase in TVS to 83.7 % was observed. The primary investigations of gas productivity by manometrie method (OxiTop) showed that biogas production increased with increasing content of oil waste in the mixture with sewage sludge. The rate constant of the first-order kinetics for biogas production was determined. To determine the yield parameters of cofermentation, the experiment was performed in four continuously stirred anaerobic reactors with a working volume of IO drrr'. Organic loading rate (OLR) changed from 0.9 to 3.1 kg TVS/m3•d. High correlation between biogas flow rate and OLR was observed. Volumetric biogas production rate and the average methane content in the biogas increased from 0.79 to 1.98 m3/m3-d and from 52.3 to 62.3 %, respectively, as OLR increased. The results obtained in lab-scale fermentors are promising and open the possibilities of the implementation of co-fermentation of sewage sludge and oil waste.

The aim of this work was to determine contents of cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc in soils of 5 poviats in Łódzkie Voivodeship (Poviats: Łódź, Brzeziny, East Łódź, Pabianice and Zgierz). The objects of the investigation were over 500 samples of soils collected from cultivated fields, meadows, fallows and urban areas (lawns and city parks). The concentration of elements in all samples was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry after extraction with I rnol/drrr' HCl solution. The highest contents of heavy metals were detected in the City of Łódź area. The amounts of leachable metals in the samples under study were within the ranges: 0.3 - 48.4 ppm Cu, 1.7 - 162.9 ppm Pb; 0.9- 357.6 ppm Zn; below 2.1 ppm Cd and below 7.6 ppm Ni.

The present study aimed at a determination of the formula allowing water content to be calculated for model degraded soil enriched with Biona-312 ion exchange substrate. To this end a mixture of sand and Biona- 312 was prepared which was monitored for water content changes. Moisture was determined both gravimetrically and reflectometrically (TOR method). To improve the reliability of the TOR method individual calibration was made. The specific calibration formula as polynomial of the third degree was found for water content determination in sand supplemented with Biona-312. The results confirmed the high potential of the TOR method in moisture monitoring, especially when individual calibration is done.

The impact of mechanical pre-treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) on its biogas production potential was examined. Mechanical separation allowed the following size-fractions to be obtained: fine fraction - mineral fraction of municipal solid waste (MFMSW) (cf> < 20 mm), middle fraction - organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) (20 mm< cf>< 80 mm), and coarse fraction (cf>> 80 mm). The most suitable fraction for biological treatment was OFMSW, containing about 76 % of high rate biodegradable organic fraction (HRBOF). The rate constant of degradation for organic compounds in OFMSW was 0.23 d·1• It was shown that total gas production (TGP) during 10 years may achieve 550 m3/Mg OFMSW. Mechanical pre-treatment may allow an 45 % decrease of the amount of landfilled MSW resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of up to 70 m3/Mg over 10 years of landfilling (in contrast to MSW landfilling - 213 m3/Mg). The experimental results revealed that gas production potential should be determined on the basis of HRBOF content and measurements of the biogas production.

The work is a continuation of previous studies on the effect of thiuram on the mobility of heavy metals in soils. The introductory part of the work involved the analysis of properties of the soils used for the examination i.e.: the content of organic matter, acidity and mechanical properties. The content of lead, copper, manganese and zinc was determined in soils (IM HCI extracts) free from additives and soils sprayed with thiuram after 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks. The content of total metals was determined in mineralizates (soils without thiuram) obtained by a conventional method according to the ISO standards. The analysis showed that the soils used for the examination were not contaminated with any of the determined elements. The contents of Pb, Cu, Mn and Zn in soils with thiuram were different depending on metals and the time of contact of the soils with thiuram.

The accumulation and removal of the heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) by fibrous ion exchangers at different stages of a typical biological wastewater treatment system, have been studied. In particular, the chelating ion exchanger FIBAN X- I allows rapid and efficient sorption of the heavy metals from primary treated effluents. The degree of removal of Cu ion wa, about 17%; for both Cd and Pb the removal efficiency wa, >40%. Applied in batch process mode FIBAN X-1 should diminish the content of heavy metals in sewage and treated effluent.

Methane is an atmospheric trace gas, which is estimated to contribute about 20% to global warming. Coal mining used to be regarded as attributing considerably to the anthropogenic emissions of that potent greenhouse gas. Recently discovered methanotrophic abilities of coalbed rocks brought a new argument to the discussion about the environmental impact of the mining industry. In the present work, we determined the methanotrophic activity and maximum capacity (Vmaxl of methane oxidation originating from rocks surrounding seam 385/2 of the "Bogdanka" coal mine. Methane oxidation rates ranged from 0.23lμM CH4 g "day ·1 in the rock from the middle of the seam to 0.619 μM CH4 g "day ·1 in the bottom rock (4.4 m depth). Methanotrophic activity and Ymax increased with the distance to the coal body and with decreasing TOC content. Initial and terminal redox conditions (Eh>320 mV, pH 7.60-8.62) confirmed the oxic character of the methane oxidation process.

Pathways of PCDTs and PCTAs in the environment are discussed. Data on levels of these compounds in various pan of the environment and their possible sources are presented. Finally, the data on biological effects of PCDTs and PCT As based on some preliminary toxicological investigations are given.

This paper discusses the results of a study on the impact of nitrogen stress on the accumulation of various N forms in young pines and in needles of mature pine trees. With the increase in N content in the growth environment (fertilization), a several fold increase in total N in plants was found while N-NH4 increased tens of times as compared to the treatment without fertilization. At a decreased biomass yield by ca. 50 % the proportion of N-NH4 in the total N pool fluctuated from IO to 15 %, or even more. The share of N-NO3 in the total N amount was several fold lower than that of N-NH4. In needles of trees growing under the impact of N deposition, the observed share of N-NH4 in the total N pool was at a level of ca. 3 %. but the total amount of soluble non-protein N compounds constituted ca. 26 %. In needles of trees under low N deposition only trace amounts of mineral N were detected. Thus it can be suggested that the ratio of total N to soluble non-protein N compounds as well as the total N to mineral N ratio may be used as indices of N stress for pine.

The paper deals with the study upon the possibility to reduce migration of deposited pesticide wastes by using natural and waste sorption agents that would make a screen against plant protection means penetration into the hydrosphere. Sewage sludge from dairy treatment plant "Mlekovita" in Wysokie Mazowieckie as well as the same sludge with sawdust composted under natural conditions in Rudka Forestry Inspectorate was applied as natural sorption agents. Freundlich's and Langmuir's isotherms revealed that raw (no composting) sewage sludge showed better sorption features towards chloroorganic pesticides.

Data sets gathered continuously in air monitoring systems are never entirely complete. The problem of missing data in monitoring measure series often has to be solved by modeling. A new method of air monitoring data modelling was tested in the paper. Regional diurnal concentration courses (RDCCs) were used as the main source of knowledge of predicted time series during specified days. The paper presents a comparison of predicted and measured diurnal concentration patterns of two frequently used parameters in air monitoring (PM10 and NO2). The analysis was based on hourly time series of these air pollutants collected in a 3-year period at nine monitoring stations in the Lodz Region. It was shown that well determined regional diurnal concentration patterns could be useful to missing data modelling at the specified monitoring site. Improvement of modelling accuracy is possible after modification of modelling results by adding local difference vectors (LDVs), describing the specificity of the monitoring station.

The contents of total P and its bioavailable forms. as well as of Fe, Al, Mn, Ca, and OM in the bottom sediments of the Solina-Myczkowce (S-E Poland) cascade of reservoirs, are presented. Notwithstanding a relatively low calcium content, it is the apatite fraction that accounts for the largest share of total phosphorus in the shallower parts of the Solina and Myczkowce Reservoirs. In turn, while contents of iron and aluminium (and manganese in the Solina Reservoir) are high, the fraction containing non-apatite inorganic phosphorus accounts for the smallest portion of the total phosphorus in the bottom sediments of both reservoirs. Bottom sediments of the Solina Reservoir are also characterised by significant correlations between total phosphorus content and aluminium content. Otherwise, significant correlations are reported for only some of the stations at each of the reservoirs.

The fertilizing value of rye, potato and molasses decoctions was evaluated in a microplot experiment, in which maize and turnip were used as testing plants. Based on the analysis of chemical composition of decoctions it was found that these decoctions used as fertilizing material were unbalanced with respect to their N, Pand K contents. The potato decoction is characterized by the most favourable N:K ratio from the point of view of the nutritional requirements of plants. The rye decoction contains too little potassium and that from molasses - too much of this element in relation to N content. The use of the molasses decoction in fertilizing is possible after its correction with phosphorus. The rye decoction requires correction with potassium for appropriate use in fertilization. In addition, application of the decoctions studied caused an increase in the organic C and total N contents in soil and improvements in the sorption properties of soil. The molasses decoction caused a decrease in the available forms of P in soil. The decoctions applied in experiments considerably increased yields and nutrient content in plants studied, both in the direct and after- effect.