The current study is on the the use of macro-algae as feedstock for biogas production. Three types of macro-algae, Cladophora glomerata (CG), Chara fragilis (CF), and Spirogyra neglecta (SN), were chosen for this research. The experimental studies on biogas production were carried out with these algae in a batch bioreactor. In the bioreactor was maintained 35 ± 1°C temperature. The results showed that the most appropriate macro-algae for biogas production are Spirogyra neglecta (SN) and Cladophora glomerata (CG). The average amount of biogas obtained from the processing of SN – 0.23 m3/m3d, CG – 0.20 m3/m3d, and CF – 0.12 m3/m3d. Considering the concentration of methane obtained during the processing of SN and CG, which after eight days and until the end of the experiment exceeded 60%, it can be claimed that biogas produced using these algae is valuable. When processing CF, the concentration of methane reached the level of 50% only by the final day of the experiment, which indicates that this alga is less suitable for biogas production.

The biological air treatment method is based on the biological destruction of organic compounds using certain cultures of microorganisms. This method is simple and may be applied in many branches of industry. The main element of biological air treatment devices is a filter charge. Tests were carried out using a new-generation laboratory air purifier with a plate structure. This purifier is called biofilter. The biofilter has a special system for packing material humidification which does not require additional energy inputs. In order to extend the packing material's durability, it was composed of thermally treated birch fibre. Pollutant (acetone) biodegradation occurred on thermally treated wood fibre in this research. According to the performed tests and the received results, the process of biodestruction was highly efficient. When acetone was passed through biofilter's packing material at 0.08 m s−1 rate, the efficiency of the biofiltration process was from 70% up to 90%. The species of bacteria capable of removing acetone vapour from the air, i.e. Bacillus (B. cereus, B. subtilis), Pseudomonas (P. aeruginosa, P. putida), Stapylococcus (S. aureus) and Rhodococcus sp., was identified in this study during the process of biofiltration. Their amount in the biological packing material changed from 1.6 × 107 to 3.7 × 1011 CFU g−1.

Waste is undesirable matter, which is most frequently generated by human activity. It is one of the sources of environmental pollution. In the contemporary world, with growing population, the amounts of generated waste are increasing as well. Unsorted municipal waste, including biodegradable waste, is transported to operated landfills. A negative impact of landfills on the environment is determined by waste as well as gas emissions and polluted sewage. Annual increase in amounts of waste is one of the most urgent problems of today, and therefore effective measures have to be employed to address it. In order to apply anaerobic organic waste treatment technologies and minimise the harmful effect on the environment, waste has to be sorted. The article presents the results of experimental investigations performed with fruit, vegetable and meat waste and its mixtures. The concentrations of methane, hydrogen sulphide and oxygen under mesophilic operation of a bioreactor were observed during the experiments. As determined experimentally, meat waste is mostly suitable for the production of biogas while mixtures of other biodegradable municipal wastes with meat also produce good results. Anaerobic digestion of meat waste produces the maximum amount of biogas, which averages to 0.8 m3/m3d. In this case, the methane content amounts to about 30%. Volume of biogas generated from digestion of meat and fruit mixture of waste was approximately 0.68 m3/m3d. Methane content in the mixture amounts to 25%. Meat and vegetable waste mixture has an average amount of biogas amounting to 0.54 m3/m3d, with 25% of methane content. Santrauka Atliekos – nepageidaujamos medžiagos, kurios dažniausiai susidaro dėl žmogaus veiklos. Jos yra vienos iš aplinkos teršimo šaltinių. Šiuolaikiniame pasaulyje didėjant žmoniu skaičiui, dideja ir susidarančių atliekų kiekiai. Nerūšiuotos komunalinės atliekos, tarp jų ir biologiškai skaidžios, patenka į eksploatuojamus sąvartynus. Sąvartyno neigiamą poveikį aplinkai lemia ne tik pačios atliekos, bet ir iš jų sklindančios dujos, užterštos nuotekos. Kasmet didėjantys atliekų kiekiai yra viena iš svarbiausių šių dienų problemų, todėl reikia imtis efektyvių priemonių šiai problemai spręsti. Norint pritaikyti anaerobinio organinių atliekų apdorojimo technologijas ir kuo labiau sumažinti kenksmingą poveikį aplinkai, atliekas būtina rūšiuoti. Straipsnyje pateikiami eksperimentinių tyrimų su vaisių, daržovių bei mėsos atliekomis ir jų mišiniais rezultatai. Eksperimentų metu stebėtos metano, sieros vandenilio ir deguonies koncentracijos bioreaktoriui veikiant mezofiliniu režimu. Tyrimų metu nustatyta, kad geriausiai biodujų gamybai tinka mėsos atliekos. Šias atliekas anaerobiškai perdirbant gaunamas didžiausias biodujų kiekis. Vidutiniškai 0,8 m3/m3d, o metano kiekis siekia apie 30%. Taip pat kitas biologiškai skaidžias komunalines atliekas maišant su mesos atliekomis gaunami geresni rezultatai. Skaidant mesos ir vaisių atliekų mišinį biodujų kiekis siekė vidutiniškai 0,68 m3/m3d, metano kiekis 25%, skaidant mėsos ir daržovių atliekų mišinį biodujų kiekis buvo vidutiniškai 0,54 m3/m3d, metano – 25%. Резюме Отходы – нежелательные материалы, являющиеся в основном результатом деятельности человека. Это один из источников загрязнения окружающей среды. В современном мире с увеличением числа людей увеличивается и количество отходов. Неотсортированные муниципальные отходы, в том числе и биоразлагаемые, попадают на эксплуатируемые свалки. Негативное воздействие на окружающую среду оказывают не только сами отходы, но и выделяющиеся из них газы, загрязненные сточные воды. Ежегодное увеличение количества отходов является одной из основных проблем в наше время, требующих принятия эффективных мер для их решения. Для того, чтобы применить анаэробную технологию для обработки органических отходов и свести к минимуму неблагоприятное воздействие на окружающую среду, отходы необходимо сортировать. В работе представлены экспериментальные исследования, касающиеся отходов фруктов, овощей и мяса, а также их смесей, и их результаты. Во время эксперимента наблюдались концентрации метана, сероводорода и кислорода в мезофильном режиме работы биореактора. Исследования показали, что наиболее приемлемыми для производства биогаза являются мясные отходы. Благодаря анаэробной переработке мясных отходов можно получить максимальное количество биогаза (в среднем 0,8 м3/м3д) и около 30 % метана. Хорошие результаты были получены также при переработке смесей из других биоразлагаемых муниципальных отходов и мясных отходов. От переработки смеси из мясных и фруктовых отходов получено среднее количество биогаза (0.68 м3/м3д) с содержанием 25 % метана, а от переработки смеси из мясных и овощных отходов – в среднем 0.54 м3/м3д биогаза с содержанием 25 % метана.

Changes in the number and species diversity of cultivable microorganisms in a newly developed plate-type biofilter during filtration of various volatile pollutants were studied. The novelty of the investigation is the monitoring of microorganism succession in different parts of biofilter plates with original packing material consisting of birch fibre and needle-punched non-woven fabric. It was shown that the largest number of fungi and yeasts develop on the top and middle, while bacteria develop on the bottom and middle parts of plates. The number of microorganisms depends on the origin of the pollutant, the pH and temperature inside the biofilter and the moisture of the porous plates. The statistically significant correlation between the number of microorganisms and inlet concentration of acetone was estimated, while ammonia showed a negative influence on yeast distribution. Paecilomyces variotii, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Bacillus subtilis were the most common organisms found during filtration of all examined volatiles; however, some differences of microbial communities in different parts of the biofilter plates and filtrated volatile compounds were obtained.

Abstract. Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a commonly used explosive for military and industrial applications, can cause serious environmental pollution. 28-day laboratory pot experiment was carried out applying bioaugmentation using laboratory selected bacterial strains as inoculum, biostimulation with molasses and cabbage leaf extract, and phytoremediation using rye and blue fenugreek to study the effect of these treatments on TNT removal and changes in soil microbial community responsible for contaminant degradation. Chemical analyses revealed significant decreases in TNT concentrations, including reduction of some of the TNT to its amino derivates during the 28-day tests. The combination of bioaugmentation-biostimulation approach coupled with rye cultivation had the most profound effect on TNT degradation. Although plants enhanced the total microbial community abundance, blue fenugreek cultivation did not significantly affect the TNT degradation rate. The results from molecular analyses suggested the survival and elevation of the introduced bacterial strains throughout the experiment. Keywords: TNT, bioaugmentation, biostimulation, phytoremediation, microbial community.