In this study, the effectiveness of a rhodamine B (RhB) dye degradation process at a concentration of 20 mg/L in different advanced oxidation processes—H₂O₂/UV, O₃/UV and PDS/UV—has been studied. The use of UV in a photo-assisted ozonation process (O₃/UV) proved to be the most effective method of RhB decolorization (90% after 30 min at dye concentration of 100 mg/L). The addition of sulfate radical precursors (sodium persulfate, PDS) to the reaction environment did not give satisfactory effects (17% after 30 min), compared to the PDS/UV system (70% after 30 min). No rhodamine B decolorization was observed using hydrogen peroxide as a sole reagent, whereas an effect on the degree of RhB degradation was observed when UV rays strike the sample with H₂O₂ (33% after 30 min). The rhodamine B degradation process followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The combined PDS/O₃/UV process has shown 60% color removal after 30 min of reaction time at an initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L. A similar effectiveness was obtained by only applying ozone or UV-activated persulfate, but at a concentration 2–5 times lower (20 mg/L). The results indicated that the combined PDS/O₃/UV process is a promising method for high RhB concentrations (50–100 mg/L) comparing to other alternative advanced oxidation processes.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) include both oxygen free radicals and highly reactive oxygen compounds (such as ozone, singlet oxygen). They are formed in many metabolic processes, as well as under the influence of various environmental factors. Their impact on cells depends on their concentration...

This preliminary studies concerns preparation of biopolymer carriers for immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor, based on sodium alginate, chitosan and on a combined alginate-chitosan biopolymers as well as the evaluation of their potential use in the decolourization process. The...

Coatings are often applied in the materials industry to impart hydrophobic properties to the produced materials. Commonly used coatings contain plastics as well as perfluorinated compounds, which pose challenges for environmental sustainability due to their persistence and end-of-life impacts. Coatings based on natural wax, such as rapeseed, soy, palm or beeswax, constitute a key bio-based and more sustainable alternative. These waxes exhibit high hydrophobicity while also being biodegradable, offering opportunities to replace fossil-derived coatings within circular-economy material systems. Wax coating constitutes a protective layer that undergoes biodegradation after a certain amount of time. This paper presents the results of studies concerning the development of a wax coating characterized by a coarse microstructure that increases water resistance, and an appropriate susceptibility to biodegradation. It was revealed that all the analysed coatings were susceptible to biodegradation, although their rates varied markedly depending on wax type and form. The biodegradation of palm wax in bulk form and as a thick layer was 17% and 80%, respectively, after 180 days. Palm wax exhibited a pronounced ability to bind inorganic and organic matter deposits, which reduced the degradation rate. When applied as a thin coating, palm wax did not form such a barrier. Palm wax significantly influences coating durability because its surface undergoes morphic changes induced by bio-surfactants secreted by microorganisms. These changes the adhesion of organic and inorganic matter particles, and the layer thus established limits the diffusion of oxygen, enzymes and microorganisms to the wax coating. The tests demonstrated that the addition of palm wax to wax mixtures allows the degradation rate to be controlled, and that its inhibitory effect is strongly dependent on the geometry of the material.

Municipal sewage sludge is a problematic waste that needs to be managed. Modern wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) generate stabilized sewage sludge with good chemical and biological parameters. The Central Mining Institute (CMI, Poland) has developed a proprietary technology (patent PL233754) for production of a granulated organo-mineral fertilizer from the stabilized sewage sludge. It is a mixture of municipal WWTP-collected, dewatered sewage sludge, dolomite, lime, gypsum, ammonium carbonate, and microcrystalline cellulose. The sewage sludge contained heavy metals at levels lower than: Cr, 100 mg; Cd, 5 mg; Ni, 60 mg; Pb, 140 mg; Hg, 2 mg, and was free from live eggs of intestinal parasites of the genera Ascaria, Trichuris, and Toxacara as well as from Salmonella bacteria. Micro-field tests were conducted at WWTP in Żory (Poland) on five 5 m² fields. The effectiveness of plant growth was evaluated based on drone photos showing field coverage upon vegetation, and post-harvest determination of the plant dry mass. The analyses showed significant changes in biomass chemical composition: the N concentration was 289.6% of the control and 98.2% of commercial fertilizer, whereas the respective P content was 145.1% and 300%. The results prove that the innovative fertilizer is highly competitive with other available commercial products.

One of the main challenges for modern agriculture is to seek methods for improvement of crop growth and quality which based on the sustainable agriculture to provide the growing population with access to high-quality food. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) and slow-release fertilizers (SRF)...