The article presents the current state of the CNG market used as an alternative fuel for car engines. Attention was paid to European Union directives requirements and the current state of the directives’ fulfillment. The economic aspect of CNG usage was analyzed and the approximate costs of driving 10,000 km on different fuels in the last four years were presented. The PtG process which uses electric energy (hydrogen production) and carbon dioxide captured from the flue gas for the production of synthetic methane were discussed. The scheme of the SNG plant with the indication of its most important components was presented, and attention was paid to the mutual complementation of PtG technologies with carbon dioxide capture technology. The benefits of synthetic methane production are presented and the use of compressed natural gas to power engines in vehicles has been described. First, the focus was on the single-fuel use of CNG in bus and truck engines, paying particular attention to the ecological aspect of the implemented solutions. It has been shown that the use of compressed natural gas will reduce almost 100% of the particulates emission from the combustion process. The advantages and disadvantages of the alternative fuel supply are given. Next, the aspect of dual-fuel use in diesel engines was analyzed on the example of a smaller engine. The degree of reduction of harmful compounds emission from the combustion process is shown. Finally, attention was paid to the possible scale effect, referring to the number of motor vehicles in Poland.

Environmental applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have recently attracted worldwide attentiondue to their excellent adsorption capacities and promising physical, chemical and mechanical properties, as well asthe preparation of novel membranes with attractive features for water purification. This paper critically reviews therecent progress on the preparation and applications of CNT based membranes in water and wastewater treatment. Various synthesis techniques for the preparation of CNT based membranes are discussed. The functionalization ofCNTs, which involves chemical/physical modification of pristine CNTs with different types of functional groups,improves the capabilities of CNT for water and wastewater treatment and/or removal of waterborne contaminants.The CNT-based membrane applications are found to possess a variety of advantages, including improving waterpermeability, high selectivity and antifouling capability. However, their applications at full scale are still limitedby their high cost. Finally, we highlight that CNT membranes with promising removal efficiencies for respectivecontaminants can be considered for commercialization and to achieve holistic performance for the purpose ofwater treatment and desalination. This paper may provide an insight for the development of CNT based membranesfor water purification in the future. With their tremendous separation performance, low biofouling potential andultra-high water flux, CNT membranes have the potential to be a leading technology in water treatment, especiallydesalination.

The article presents research results of the introduction of powdery activated carbon to the existing technological system of the groundwater treatment stations in a laboratory, pilot plant and technical scale. The aim of the research was to reduce the content of organic compounds found in the treated water, which create toxic organic chlorine compounds (THM) after disinfection with chlorine. Nine types of powdery active carbons were tested in laboratory scale. The top two were selected for further study. Pilot plant scale research was carried out for the filter model using CWZ-30 and Norit Sa Super carbon. Reduction of the organic matter in relation to the existing content in the treated water reached about 30%. Research in technical scale using CWZ-30 carbon showed a lesser efficiency with respect to laboratory and pilot-plant scale studies. The organic matter decreased by 15%. Since filtration is the last process before the individual disinfection, an alternative solution is proposed, i.e. the second stage of filtration with a granular activated carbon bed, operating in combined sorption and biodegradation processes. The results of tests carried out in pilot scale were fully satisfactory with the effectiveness of 70–100%.

The removal of benzene (B) and toluene (T) from aqueous solution by multi walled, single walled, and hybrid carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, SWCNTs, and HCNTs) was evaluated for a nanomaterial dose of 1 g/l, concentration of 10-100 mg/l, and pH 7. The equilibrium amount removed by SWCNTs (B: 9.98 mg/g and T: 9.96 mg/g) was higher than for MWCNTs and HCNTs. Toluene has a higher adsorption tendency on CNTs than benzene, which is related to the increasing water solubility and the decreasing molecular weight of the compounds. The SWCNTs performed better for B and T sorption than the MWCNTs and HCNTs. Isotherms study based on isofit program indicate that the Generalized Langmuir-Freundlich (GLF) isotherm expression provides the best fit for benzene sorption, and that Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm is the best fit for toluene adsorption by SWCNT. SWCNTs are efficient B and T adsorbents and possess good potential applications to water and wastewater treatment and maintain water of high quality that could be used for cleaning up environmental pollution.

Binary vapour-liquid equilibrium of thymoquinone and carbon dioxide at the isothermal conditions was carried out at temperature 323.15 K and pressures from 6 to 10 MPa. The experimental data were fitted to the Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation of state. Results could be used for selection of process parameters in separation of volatiles from raw oil or for evaluation of existing separation technologies.

Labile fractions of organic matter can rapidly respond to changes in soil and they have been suggested as sensitive indicators of soil organic matter. Two labile fractions of organic carbon in the soils amended with fresh municipal sewage sludge in two rates (equivalent of 60 kg P ha-1 and 120 kg P ha-1) were studied. Soils under studies were overgrown with Salix in Germany, Estonia and Poland. In Polish soils application of sewage sludge increased the content of both labile organic carbon fractions (KMnO4-C and HWC) for a period of one year. Estonian soils were stable and no distinct changes in labile organic carbon fractions occurred.

Twenty-eight two-, three-, four-, and five-component amine mixtures have been evaluated as possible activators of CO2 absorption into aqueous carbonate/bicarbonate solutions. Measurements were per- formed using a pressure autoclave with a sparger at conditions close to industrial ones. On the basis of these results, a formula for a new, more efficient amine activator named INS13 was developed. The activator was tested both in a pilot plant and on an industrial scale in an ammonia plant producing 300 tons/day of ammonia. Activator INS13 was applied in a number of ammonia plants in Poland and abroad.

In this study, the electrospray deposition (ESD) method was used to deposit carbon nanotubes (CNT) onto the surfaces of carbon fibers (CF) in order to produce hybrid carbon fiber-carbon nanotubes (CF-CNT) which is rarely reported in the past. Extreme high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (XHR-FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyse the hybrid carbon fiber-carbon nanotube (CF-CNT). The results demonstrated that CNT was successfully and homogenously distributed on the CF surface. Hybrid CF-CNT was then prepared and compared with CF without CNT deposition in terms of their tensile properties. Statistically, the tensile strength and the tensile modulus of the hybrid CF-CNT were increased by up to 3% and 25%, respectively, as compared to the CF without CNT deposition. The results indicated that the ESD method did not cause any reduction of tensile properties of hybrid CF-CNT. Based on this finding, it can be prominently identified some new and significant information of interest to researchers and industrialists working on CF based products.

“Soon we will be able to fit the contents of the Encyclopedia Britannica on a head of a pin,” the famous physicist Richard Feynman argued back in the 1960s. Perhaps even he would be amazed at the possibilities now offered by carbon nanotubes, several hundred thousand times tinier than a pin. Their amazing properties have been exploited in an integrated circuit developed at the Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie.

The process of carbon dioxide removal from monoethanolamine (MEA) - water solution was investigated on Poly Di Methyl Siloxane (PDMS) hydrophobic tubular membrane with a ceramic support. The effects of feed temperature, liquid flow rate and MEA concentration on CO2 mass transfer and selectivity were examined and found to be with a reasonable deviation (±25%) with predictions based on the multilayer film model. The membrane resistance was evaluated in separate experiments. The measured CO2 mass fluxes (0.17-0.45 kg/(m2h)) were found to be independent of the MEA concentration in the feed.

Balance, thermodynamic and mainly kinetic approaches using methods of process engineering enable to determine conditions under which iron technology can actually work in limiting technological states, at the lowest reachable fuel consumption (reducing factor) and the highest reachable productivity accordingly. Kinetic simulation can be also used for variant prognostic calculations. The paper deals with thermodynamics and kinetics of iron making process. It presents a kinetic model of iron oxide reduction in a low temperature area. In the experimental part it deals with testing of iron ore feedstock properties. The theoretical and practical limits determined by heat conditions, feedstock reducibility and kinetics of processes are calculated.

Measurements of the absorption rate of carbon dioxide into aqueous solutions of N-methyldiethanoloamine (MDEA) and 2-ethylaminoethanol (EAE) have been carried out. On this basis a mathematical model of the performance of an absorption column operated with aqueous solution of a blend of the above amines at elevated temperatures and pressures have been proposed. The results of simulations obtained by means of this model are described. The work is a part of a wider program, aimed at the development of a new process.

It was found that the addition of carbon fibers (CFs) does not affect the crosslinking process in the microwave radiation (800 W, 2.45

GHz) of the BioCo2 binder, which is a water solution of poly(acrylic acid) and dextrin (PAA/D). It has influence on BioCo2 thermal

properties. The CFs addition improves the thermostability of a binder and leads to the reduction of gas products quantity generated in the

temperature range of 300-1100°C (TG-DTG, Py-GC/MS). Moreover, it causes the emission of harmful decomposition products such as

benzene, toluene, xylene and styrene to be registered in a higher temperatures (above 700°C). BioCo2 binder without CFs addition is

characterized by the emission of these substances in the lower temperature range. This indicates the positive effect of carbon fibers

presence on the amount of released harmful products.

The selected technological tests (permeability, friability, bending strength, tensile strength) have shown that the moulding sand with the

0.3 parts by weight carbon fibers addition displays the worst properties. The addition of 0.1 parts by weight of CFs is sufficient to obtain a

beneficial effect on the analyzed moulding sands properties. The reduction of harmful substances at the higher temperatures can also be

observed.

Extremely intense development of civilization requires from foundry casting technologies very high quality and not expensive castings. In

the foundries, there are many treatments that allow increasing of the final properties of produced castings such as refining, modification,

heat treatment, etc. One of the methods of increasing the quality of the casting by removing inclusions from the liquid alloy is filtration.

The use of ceramic-carbon foam filters in filtration process is still analysed phenomenon that allows improving the final properties of

castings. A modern method of research, testing and synthesis of innovative chemical compositions allows improving the properties of such

filters. In the paper the evaluation of application properties of developed ceramic-carbon bonded foam filters is presented. The quality of

the foam filters is evaluated by Computer Tomography and foundry trials in pouring of liquid metal in test molds. Additionally computer

simulations were made to visualize the flow characteristics in the foam filter. The analysed filters are the result of the research work of

Foundry Research Institute and the Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials, Refractory Materials Department in Gliwice.

A number of micromechanical investigations have been performed to predict behaviour of composite interfaces, showing that the detailed behaviour of the material at these interfaces frequently dominates the behaviour of the composite as a whole. The interfacial interaction is an extremely complex process due to continuous evolution of interfacial zones during deformation and this is particularly true for carbon nanotubes since the interfacial interaction is confined to the discrete molecular level. The atomic strain concept based upon Voronoi tessellation allows analyzing the molecular structure atom by atom, which may give a unique insight into deformation phenomena operative at molecular level such as interface behaviour in nanocomposites.

Aiming to create more sustainable cities it is necessary to understand and manage different ecological factors which influence human health. One of such factors is black carbon (BC) in atmosphere, which currently is not commonly monitored by environmental monitoring systems. The aim of this research was to estimate by indirect approach the relation between eBC (equivalent of black carbon) concentration and other air pollutants in order to define approximate level of eBC in more efficient approach. The study was conducted in Wrocław (Poland) in October 2021, and combined data on eBC concentration (measured by microaethalometer), air quality (from national environmental monitoring system) and traffic (from municipal traffic management system). Quantile regression was used to assess the relationship between the concentrations of pollutants. The obtained results show that for rise 1 mg∙m^–3 of carbon monoxide, eBC concentration rise between 4.2 and 8.0 μg∙m^–3, depending on the period of a day. Precision of eBC concentration evaluation is influenced by sun light which results in higher precision of defining a scaling factor for night hours. Outcomes of this study constitute an added value to understanding of interconnections between different factors describing environmental conditions in cities and might be helpful for more effective environmental assessment of human habitats.

Carbonic anhydrase is an important enzyme that can play a significant role in the processes of lowering carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. The aim of the work was to investigate the extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA) production by the bacteria Pseudomonas fragi. In the research, we focused on the evaluation of the phase of bacterial growth correlated with carbonic anhydrase production and on the evaluation of induction of CA production by calcium carbonate concentration in the nutrient medium. Presented data indicated that calcium carbonate can serve as the only carbon source for Pseudomonas fragi, inducing carbonic anhydrase secretion to culture broth. The enzyme was produced mainly in the adaptation growth phase reaching the maximal activity at the end of this phase or at the beginning of the growth phase. The maximal enzyme activity detected in all batches was at a similar level. The enzyme activity was constant but lower in the exponential phase growth. Therefore, the enzyme production is not growth-dependent, but it is correlated with bacteria adaptation to cultivation conditions.

In this study, the synthesis of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) powder was conducted by a carbonation process using carbon dioxide gas (CO2) from waste acidic sludge based on sulfuric acid (H2SO4) containing around 2 wt.% lithium content. Lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) powder as a raw material was reacted with CO2 gas using a thermogravimetric apparatus to measure carbonation conditions such as temperature, time and CO2 content. It was noted that carbonation occurred at a temperature range of 800℃ to 900℃ within 2 hours. To prevent further oxidation during carbonation, calcium sulfate (CaO4S) was first introduced to mixing gases with CO2 and Ar and then led to meet in the chamber. The lithium carbonate obtained was examined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and it was found that of lithium carbonate with a purity above 99% was recovered.

Phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) is highly stable, and constitutes an important source of long-term C storage in agrosystems. This stored carbon is resistant to the processes of oxidation of carbon compounds. In our research phytolith content in barley (Estonia) and oat (Poland) grain and straw was assessed at field trials, with Si as a liquid immune stimulant OPTYSIL and compost fertilisation. We showed that cereals can produce relatively high amounts of phytoliths. PhytOC plays a key role in carbon sequestration, particularly for poor, sandy Polish and Estonian soils. The phytolith content was always higher in straw than in grain regardless of the type of cereals. The phytolith content in oat grains varied from 18.46 to 21.28 mg∙g−1 DM, and in straw 27.89–38.97 mg∙g−1 DM. The phytolith content in barley grain ranged from 17.24 to 19.86 mg∙g−1 DM, and in straw from 22.06 to 49.08 mg∙g−1 DM. Our results suggest that oat ecosystems can absorb from 14.94 to 41.73 kg e-CO2∙ha−1 and barley absorb from 0.32 to 1.60 kg e-CO2∙ha−1. The accumulation rate of PhytOC can be increased 3-fold in Polish conditions through foliar application of silicon, and 5-fold in Estonian conditions. In parallel, the compost fertilisation increased the phytolith content in cereals.

Samples for the study were collected from, known from the literature, outcrop profiles in Zarzecze, Radymno, Dybawka, Tarnawce and Pikulice-Nehrybka, situated at the Carpathian border, in the vicinity of the Przemyśl town, close to the San River valley (SE Poland). They represent the Vistulian loess-palaeosol sequences. Carbonates occur mainly in the loesses representing OIS 2 and 3. Pollen analysis, carried out for two profiles (Tarnawce, Radymno), throws light on palaeoecological conditions of loess cover formation and transformation.Isotopic analysis of authigenic carbonates was carried out on carbonate cemented bodies dispersed throughout the loess in forms of nodule, rhizolith and rhizocretion and on bioclasts, mainly snail shells, ostracod valves, and sparse globules (probably the internal shells of the naked snails).In the successions studied, the upper Vistulian loess deposited in environment with poor vegetation, contains rhizo- liths and rhizocretions mainly, while in the middle and lower Vistulian loess with well developed soils, gley horizons, and intercalations of subaqueous sediments, remains of snail shells and ostracod valves prevail. The two main forms of carbonates differ markedly in isotopic composition from one another. These differences seem to be more important than those between samples of one form of carbonates along particular sections. That is the result of numerous factors affecting the fractionation of carbon and, in particular, oxygen stable isotopes in the environment of precipitation of authigenic calcite. The isotopic composition of carbonates cementing sediments is controlled mainly by biominerali- zation of organic matter and local climatic parameters which were rather slightly differentiated during the formation of the studied sediments. The d13C values for bioclasts vary in a broader range than for calcitic cements. Usually the snail shell carbonate is more enriched with heavier carbon isotope than that from ostracod valves, resulting from the isotopic equilibrium with precipitation and with surface waters, respectively. Basing on our study we can conclude that fluctuations of isotope composition of authigenic carbonates make it hard to apply as a paleoclimatic indicator. However, the general trend of d18O variation in analysed carbonate fractions from leoss-palaeosol sequences displays some connections with climatic fluctuations.

A sediment core (LS-1) collected from Long Lake in King George Island, South Shetland Islands (West Antarctica) was analyzed for a variety of textural, geochemical, isotopic and paleontological properties together with 14C age dates. These data combined with published records of other studies provide a detailed history of local/regional postglacial paleoproductivity variation with respect to terrestrial paleoclimate change. The lithologic contrast of a lower diamicton and an upper fine-grained sediment demonstrates glacial recession and subsequent lake formation. The upper fine-grained deposit, intercalated by mid-Holocene tephra-fallout followed by a tephra gravity flow, was formed in a lacustrine environment. Low total organic carbon (TOC) and biogenic silica (Sibio) contents with high C/N ratios characterize the diamicton, whereas an increase of TOC and Sibio contents characterize the postglacial lacustrine fine-grained sediments, which are dated at c. 4000 yrBP. More notable are the distinct TOC maxima, which may imply enhanced primary productivity during warm periods. Changes in Sibio content and δ13C values, which support the increasing paleoproductivity, are in sympathy with these organic matter variations. The uniform and low TOC contents that are decoupled by Sibio contents are attributed to the tephra gravity flows during the evolution of the lake rather than a reduced paleoproductivity. A very recent TOC maximum is also characterized by high Sibio content and δ13C values, clearly indicating increased paleoproductivity consequent upon gradual warming across King George Island . Comparable with changes in sediment geochemistry, the occurrence and abundance of several diatom species corroborate the paleoproductivity variations together with the lithologic development. However, the paleoclimatic signature in local terrestrial lake environment during the postglacial period (for example the Long Lake) seems to be less distinct, as compared to the marine environment.

The reports of Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change indicate that the growing emission of greenhouse gases, produced from the combustion of fossil fuels, mainly carbon dioxide, leads to negative climate changes. Therefore, the methods of mitigating the greenhouse gases emission to the atmosphere, especially of carbon dioxide, are being sought. Numerous studies are focused on so-called geological sequestration, i.e. injecting carbon dioxide to appropriate geological strata or ocean waters. One of the methods, which are not fully utilized, is the application of appropriate techniques in agriculture. The plant production in agriculture is based on the absorption of carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis process. Increasing the plant production directly leads to the absorption of carbon dioxide. Therefore, investigation of carbon dioxide absorption by particular crops is a key issue. In Poland, ca. 7.6 mln ha of cereals is cultivated, including: rye, wheat, triticale, oat and barley. These plants absorb approximately 23.8 mln t C annually, including 9.8 mln t C/yr in grains, 9.4 mln t C/yr in straw and 4.7 mln t C/yr in roots. The China, these cereals are cultivated on the area over 24 mln ha and absorb 98.9 mln t C/yr, including 55 mln tC/yr in grains, 36 in straw, and 7.9 mln t C/yr in roots. The second direction for mitigating the carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere involves substituting fossil fuels with renewable energy sources to deliver primary energy. Cultivation of winter cereals as cover crops may lead to the enhancement of carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere in the course of their growth. Moreover, the produced biomass can be used for energy generation.

The paper presents the application of similarity theory to investigations of transient heat transfer in materials with complex structure. It describes the theoretical-experimental method for identification and design of the structure of two-component composite walls based on the research of the thermal diffusivity for the composite and its matrix separately. The thermal diffusivity was measured by means of the modified flash method. The method was tested on two samples of double-layer ‘epoxy resin – polyamide’. All the investigated samples had the same diameter of 12 mm and thickness ranging from 1.39–2.60 mm and their equivalent value of thermal diffusivity ranging from (1.21–1.98)×10-7m2/s. Testing the method and research on carbon/epoxy composites was carried out at temperatures close to room temperature.