In recent decades, the pollution of water with micropollutants has become an increasing environmental concern. Since 2019, increased stormwater pollution from chlorine-based disinfectants has been recorded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Runoff from disinfected areas and the residual chlorine present in stormwater are transported to surface water bodies, posing a risk to aquatic flora and fauna. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the efficiency of different low-cost and recyclable filter materials in removing residual chlorine, and (2) to test plants’ ability to reduce residual chlorine concentrations through phytoremediation. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory (column and batch) and in the field (raised garden bed) to assess the efficiency of various filter materials (peat, wood chips, sawdust and the lightweight aggregates) in retaining residual chlorine to be implemented in green infrastructure. The best retainers of chlorine were sawdust (96%) and the LWA Leca (76%). No harmful effects of residual chlorine (changes in growth, color, leaf size, etc.) on plants (Tagetes patula or Pisum savitum) were observed and the residual chlorine in the leachate samples was below the equipment’s detection limit. Our research results will contribute to future studies aiming to remove various micropollutants from stormwater using remediation technologies.

This research investigates how sorbents made from recycled waste materials affect the properties of water used to remove residues flushed from oil tanks transported by rail. The mineral sorbent was added to water following the flushing process. Water temperatures were maintained at 21 °C and 70 °C for a contact period of 30 min. The experiments demonstrated that: when the sorbent is active, turbidity removal efficiency was about 64%; color removal efficiency of 56% was obtained; and total iron concentration removal was approximately 68%. The effect of the characteristics of the materials on the adsorption capacity was evaluated using the removed amount of oil per one gram of every sorbent. It was found that straw sorbent oil adsorption capacity was up to 33 mg/g, peat sorbent 37 mg/g, and mineral sorbent 1.83 mg/g. The following were also measured during the experiment: temperature, pH, chemical oxygen usage, total iron concentrations, suspended matter, and oil concentrations. The findings show that recycled sorbents obtained from waste materials are environmentally sustainable and can be reused to treat water that has been used to flush oil transported in rail tanks.

When exposed to temperatures that are progressively and rapidly raised, large dimension fibre cement boards tend to crack. This occurrence is analysed and explained for a specific issue of asymmetric growth of a curvilinear crack in high temperatures. This phenomenon occurred while performing Single Burning Item (SBI) experiments at fire loads which are higher than those used in countries of the European Union, which better reflect fire events that may occur in high-rise buildings. In such conditions, fibre cement boards crack, allowing the fire to reach the thermal insulating material which then combusts, thereby helping to spread the conflagration to upper floors. This experiment investigated the temperatures at which fibre cement boards crack, and why. Thermal analysis methods and thermogravimetric experiments were conducted on the fibre boards, followed by X-ray phase analysis investigations. During this phase, X-ray structural analysis was performed while the fibre cement was exposed to temperatures of 1000 °C. The article also presents ongoing change results when heating only composite fibre-cement board materials; phase changes that take place in high temperatures are discussed.

In case of a fire, the flame can spread from the building through the outer openings to the outside. In such cases, the fire temperature thermal effect determines the façade fibrocement tile thermal destruction, while the flammable thermo-insulating systems used for building energy effectiveness ensures it sets on fire. The spread of such a fire becomes uncontrollable and raises an immediate danger to the people inside the building, while such event dynamics delay and make it harder to put out the fire. Extra additive usage in façade fibrocement tiles can raise its resistance to fire temperature effect. Carbon fiber is widely known as a material resistant to the high temperature destructive effect. An investigation was conducted on the influence that carbon fiber has on the properties of autoclaved fiber cement samples. The autoclaved fiber cement samples were made from the raw materials, typical for façade fiber cement plates, produced in an industrial way (using the same proportions). In the samples, carbon fiber was used instead of mix cellulose fiber in 0.5%, 0.75%, 1% proportions. After completing the density research, it was determined that the carbon fiber effect had no general effect on the sample density. Ultrasound speed spreading research showed that the carbon fiber insignificantly makes sample structure denser; however, after the fire temperature effect, sample structure is less dense when using carbon fiber. The results of both these investigations could be within the margin of error. Insignificant sample structure density rise was confirmed with water absorption research, which during the 1% carbon fiber usage case was lower by 4.3%. It was found that up to 1% carbon fiber usage instead of mix cellulose fiber creates a dense structure of autoclaved fiber cement samples, and the carbon fiber in the microstructure influences the mechanical properties of the autoclaved fiber cement samples. After using carbon fiber in ambient temperature, the sample compressive strength and bending strength increased. However, the results of mechanical properties were completely different after experiencing fire temperature effect. Scanning electron microscopy research showed that the bond between the carbon fiber and the cement matrix was not resistant to high temperature effect, due to which the structure of the samples with carbon fiber weakened. Research showed that carbon fiber lowers the mechanical properties of the autoclaved fiber cement samples after high temperature effect. After analyzing the density, ultrasound speed spreading, water absorption, microstructure and macrostructure, compressive strength, and bending strength, the authors determined the main CF usage for AFK dependencies: 1. CF usage up to 1% replacing MCF makes the AFK structure more dense up to 1.5%, and lowers the water absorption up to 4.3%; 2. CF incorporates itself densely into the AFC microstructure; 3. CF usage up to replacing MCF improves the AFK strength properties up to until the fire temperature effect. Compression strength increases up 7.3% while bending strength increases up to 14.9%. 4. AFK hydrate amount on CF surface is lower than on MCF; 5. Fire temperature effect on AFK with CF causes dehydration by removing water vapor from the microstructure, resulting in a lot of microcracks due to stress; 6. The CF and cement matrix contact zone is not resistant to fire temperature effect. SEM experiments were used to determine the CF “self-removing” effect; 7. Due to complex changes happening in the AFK during fire temperature effect, CF usage does not improve strength properties in the microstructure. Compression strength decreases to 66.7% while bending strength decreases to 20% when compared with E samples.

Fluoride removal from aqueous solutions was studied using nanofiltration and sorption techniques which have always been best key ways to deal with water contaminated by fluoride. In this presented work, we were firstly interested on fluoridated rejected water overcoming the drawback of RO membrane process of groundwater treatment plant in Baltic region (Kretinga, Lithuania). Opoka sorbent has shown effective results of fluoride sorption with efficiency higher than 77 %. In order to understand the sorption phenomenon and to validate the results obtained, we have applied experimental data on Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms which allow us to determine isotherms parameters (K_F; 1/n and K_L; q_max) and to confirm the experiment. Because of the unacceptable tariff of drinking water treated by RO, defluoridation with nanofiltration method is proposed in this study as a solution which can replace reverse osmosis technique. For that, tests of nanofiltration for fluoride removal were carried out at laboratory scale by using nanofiltration flat sheet membranes (NF270 and NF90).

In the last few years, ceramic tiles and tiles from natural rock with higher measurements were used. A huge amount of tile glue is used for high-measurement tile gluing due to a special gluing technology, which is characterized by a thicker glue layer. Due to this, a higher and higher amount of tile glue is used up during decorating. Regular tile glue mixture uses up to about 50–60% cement (according to mixture mass). In carried-out experiments, a lower amount of cement was used in tile glue mixture production (30%). Additionally, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of sand was replaced with small foam glass granules. These granules are made from glass waste. By using foam glass granules, lighter tile glue mixtures were produced, while reducing the cement amount can lower energy usage and CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere. The main properties of tile glue were investigated as follows: flow of mixture, density, compressive strength, bending strength, tensile-adhesive strength, slip and water absorption. The properties obtained during the research prove that newly produced tile glue mixtures fulfill all requirements given to these types of mixtures. A total of 25% of foam glass granule from filler mass can be used in tile glue production.