A total of 281 guano samples were collected from caves (N = 181) in eight European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and attics in the Czech R. (N = 100). The correlation of detection of mycobacteria between Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) microscopy and culture examination and qPCR was strong. ZN microscopy was positive in guano from caves (58.6%) more than double than positivity in guano from attics (21.0%; p < 0.01). From 89 mycobacterial isolates (73 isolates from cave guano and 16 isolates from attics’ guano), 68 (76.4%) isolates of 19 sp., ssp. and complex were identified as members of three Groups (M. fortuitum, M.chelonae, and M. mucogenicum) and four complexes (M. avium, M. terrae, M.vaccae, and M.smegmatis). A total of 20 isolates (22.5%) belonged to risk group 1 (environmental saprophytes), 48 isolates (53.9%) belonged to risk group 2 (potential pathogens), and none of the isolates belonged to risk group 3 (obligatory pathogens). When comparing bat guano collected from caves and attics, differences (p < 0.01; Mann–Whitney test) were observed for the electrical conductivity, total carbon, total organic, and total inorganic carbon. No difference (p > 0.05; Mann–Whitney test) was found for pH and oxidation-reduction potential parameters.

A total of 152 aerosol and spider web samples were collected: 96 spider’s webs in karst areas in 4 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Slovakia), specifically from the surface environment (n = 44), photic zones of caves (n = 26), and inside (aphotic zones) of caves (n = 26), 56 Particulate Matter (PM) samples from the Sloupsko-Sosuvsky Cave System (speleotherapy facility; n = 21) and from aerosol collected from the nearby city of Brno (n = 35) in the Czech Republic. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were isolated from 13 (13.5%) spider’s webs: 5 isolates of saprophytic NTM (Mycobacterium gordonae, M. kumamotonense, M. terrae, and M. terrae complex) and 6 isolates of potentially pathogenic NTM (M. avium ssp. hominissuis, M. fortuitum, M. intracellulare, M. peregrinum and M. triplex). NTM were not isolated from PM collected from cave with the speleotherapy facility although mycobacterial DNA was detected in 8 (14.3%) samples. Temperature (8.2 °C, range 8.0–8.4 °C) and relative humidity (94.7%, range 93.6–96.6%) of air in this cave were relatively constant. The average PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ mass concentration was 5.49 µg m⁻³ and 11.1 µg m⁻³. Analysed anions (i.e., F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₂⁻, SO₄²⁻, PO₄³⁻ and NO₃⁻) originating largely from the burning of wood and coal for residential heating in nearby villages in the surrounding area. The air in the caves with speleotherapy facilities should be monitored with respect to NTM, PM and anions to ensure a safe environment.

In the field of electric power industry, renewable energy sources, fertilisers, reclamation, and waste management, biomass is widely studied and used. Minerals are present in every step of biogas transformation, but their forms, occurrence, and composition have not been studied yet. However, there is no comprehensive study research that would address the presence of mineral phases in the process of biogas production. This aim of the study is determination of the amount and composition of the mineral phases present in fermentation residues resulting from different production technologies. Digestate mineral composition was analysed using 46 samples from agricultural biogas plants and university testing biogas reactor. The majority of samples contained the amorphous phase. Minority phases consisted of quartz, albite, orthoclase, muscovite, and amphibole. Opal-CT was found in eleven samples (1.26 to 12.1% wt.). The elements present in gas-liquid fluids or in liquids, gases and aerosols within the biogas technology system may create mineral phases, namely the amorphous phase or the crystalline phase under certain conditions. Opal-CT may enter the fermenter as part of plant tissues referred to as phytoliths, or as an unwanted admixture of different origin. It may also originate from the present amorphous SiO₂.

In the field of energetics and renewable energy sources, fertilizers, remediation and recultivation, waste management and other, biomass is widely studied and used these days. Determining the mineral phases present in the biomass is essential for determining the binding of chemical elements from which further derives its availability or unavailability for soil processes, plant nutrition or behaviour in technological processes. Semiquantitative phase analyses were carried out by the X-ray powder diffraction method (XRD).

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, the scientific journal of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic