In line with the requirements of the circular economy, the European Union’s waste management legislative changes also concern the treatment of sewage sludge. Although sewage sludge production cannot be prevented, its quantities may be reduced by the synergetic effect of energy recovery via choosing a proper technology. Sewage sludge is difficult to apply as fuel alone, because of its high moisture and ash content. However, its energy use will be increased by adding suitable waste materials (different types of plastics, waste tires and paper rejects). Most recently, the thermal utilization of sewage sludge via incineration or pyrolysis has grown in importance. This article describes the fuel parameters of particular waste materials and of their blends with sewage sludge in connection with laboratory-scale thermal decomposition in an inert atmosphere, for their potential use in a semi-pilot plant pyrolysis unit. For pyrolytic application, the results of thermogravimetric analysis are needed in order to know the maximal temperature of thermal decomposition in an inert atmosphere, maximal mass losses, and weight loss rates. The samples of different thermoplastics mixed with sewage sludge, and low-density polyethylene blends with sewage sludge, had the lowest residual masses (70–74%) and the highest weight loss rates (11–19%/min). On the other hand, the blend of polyester rejects from tire processing, paper rejects and sewage sludge had the second highest residual mass (60%) and the lowest weight loss rate (3%/min).

Each mining project goes through the same life-cycle, from prospecting and exploration to closure and post-closure periods. This prompts the question whether the closure of a mine constitutes the end of its life-cycle or whether the decommissioned mine can be employed for some other purpose. Best-practice references indicate that there are many viable options. In our opinion, the production of service water is one such option. Laboratory research was carried out on the water from a flooded underground coal mine in Ostrava-Karvina coal district, Czech Republic, concerning the production of service water from pumped mine-water. The research proved the practical feasibility of service or process water production. Given the effect of global climate change with regard to water resources, good prospects for this additional resource can be assumed since the water has to be pumped in any case for safety reasons.

This paper considers the demineralization of mine water using a lab-scale electrodialysis unit EDR-Z/10-1.0. Experiment were carried out on real mine water from Jeremenko water pit complex (DIAMO s.p., ODRA Ostrava branch, Czech Republic). These mine water greatly affect surface water quality, especially high concentration of dissolved solids, sulfates and chlorides. Aim of research was to treatment of mine water to quality corresponding with legislative limits for surface water. Electrodialysis tests were conducted in the batch and feed-and-bleed modes. It was demonstrated that electordialysis is good way for mine water treatment.

Wastewater contains resources, which can be recovered for secondary use if treated properly. Besides research in zero liquid discharge solutions, the aim of the study was a simultaneous recovery of products from a wastewater treatment plant’s dewatering liquor. To be specific, we investigated a simultaneous recovery of struvite and irrigation water using electrodialysis (ED) in laboratory experiments. Two products were obtained from ED—concentrate and diluate. The concentrate was precipitated to obtain struvite. On average, 11 g of wet precipitate (including 17.58% of dry solids) were obtained from 1 L of concentrate. Crystal phases were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), with showing 94–97% recovery of struvite, while the remaining 3–6% were identified as hazenite. The average yield of crystal struvite was 1.76 g. Both struvite and hazenite may further be used as a fertilizer. Next, we suggest using the second ED product, the diluate, as irrigation water if it meets the irrigation water requirements. Attention was paid to the concentrations of dissolved solids (DS) in diluate, which decreased by an average of 93% compared to the input values in the dewatering liquor. In line with the observed Czech or EU standards indicators, we can say that the diluate can be used in agriculture, namely as irrigation water (Category I—water suitable for irrigation).

This study assesses the water quality of the Sušanecké Ponds in the Czech Republic post-mining area. Four monitoring profiles were chosen: the Sušanka River inflow into the Sušanecké Ponds, two ponds and the outflow of the Sušanecké Ponds to the Sušanka River. The sampling took place in a 14-day interval from March to October 2022. The monitored parameters were temperature, O₂, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, nitrate nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, COD_Cr, BOD₅ and metals—Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Co, Cd, Cr. The results were evaluated in accordance with the Czech standard ČSN 75 7221 and Government Regulation No. 401/2015 Coll. Based on the evaluation data, it was found that the area of the Sušanecké Ponds does not meet the limits of the government regulation for three out of the twenty parameters. According to the standard, Sušanecké Ponds are mainly classified as highly polluted waters.

This study explores the effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, ozonation (O₃), granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption, and their combinations (UV/GAC, O₃/GAC) in removing selected pharmaceuticals and common wastewater micropollutants under controlled laboratory-scale conditions. Eight target compounds—candesartan, irbesartan, valsartan, metoprolol, diclofenac, metformin, sucralose, and caffeine—were identified and quantified in real wastewater samples collected from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Ozonation proved to be the most effective standalone method, achieving complete removal (100%) of five pharmaceuticals and partial removal of sucralose (~60%) and metformin (~17%). The combined O₃/GAC treatment further enhanced overall removal efficiency. In contrast, UV irradiation alone showed limited effectiveness. Importantly, all substances except metformin were fully removed by at least one of the tested methods. These findings underscore the potential of advanced and hybrid treatment technologies—validated here at the laboratory scale—for improving pharmaceutical removal from wastewater and mitigating their environmental impact.