Sapropel deposits are widely distributed around the globe. In the Americas area they are adjacent to the Great Lakes region, in Europe sapropel deposits can be spotted in the territory of Scandinavia, France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and in the northern regions of Ukraine. Use of sapropel as a fertilizer can enhance high and stable yields of crops. However, despite the proven effectiveness of long-term practical researches in this area, nowadays sapropel is almost not used. One of the reasons - lack of developed processing methods of extraction and processing, including dehydration. Material properties as an object of interaction with the working bodies, change of their settings in the processing are crucial in the choice of technologies, development, bringing up to the necessary parameters and subsequent use. Sapropel high humidity (95-98%) is one of the main factor that determines the quality of its properties after the interaction with working bodies. However, in the process of decreasing, in interaction with oxygen, there are significant changes in physical and mechanical properties of sapropel. Decisive in the direction selection process of lake sapropels’ use in the economic sector is their moisture exchange and thermodynamic parameters. The complexity of setting the water apart, if freshly extracted sapropels possess only 15-20% of it, shows their strong water-retaining capacity. The above mentioned phenomenon proves the need for their use as an organic fertilizer during the crops growing, as superficial loss of moisture in the soil creates a new global problem. On the basis of deep analysis of the sapropels’ properties, the authors suggest three areas of freshly extracted lake sapropel application in mixtures with leafy part of the crops: in biogas production with its further use as an organic fertilizer; making a compost mixture of organic origin which physical and mechanical properties are approximate as that of the soil; alternative solid fuels in the form of briquettes.

Biology is a science on life. This definition, concise and most commonly used, is satisfactory for almost everybody. It is otherwise when one asks: What is life? Then it appears that no one feature can be indicated which distinguishes “the living” from “the non-living.” The author presents the sources of these difficulties and then gives his own attempt to solve the problem of definition of live—which is based on the idea of levels of the biological organization. In author’s view, to characterise the objects of research in biology we should apply not one concept of life (or of living organism) but three concepts: of organized biological matter (for the molecular and sub-cellular levels), of living organism (for the level of the specimen), and of life (for the sphere of phenomena which occur on the population-species-biocenotic level).

The presents paper determination of 16 PAHs in collected samples of soil or plants and investigation of sorption process dynamics. The investigation included plants growing on shoulder of road and on cultivated field. As accumulations of quality of environment cabbage, parsley, carrot, cucumber, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), plantain (Plantago major) and colfsfoot (Tussilago farfara) were used. The samples were collected at a defined distance to the main road E8 (Moscow - Berlin), near Siedlce. A total PAHs concentration in soil and cabbage samples collected in the distance 5 m to the road was 1.5 I μg/kg (total carcinogenic PAHs = 556.03 ng/kg) and 358.90 ng/kg (total carcinogenic = I 01.17 ng/kg) respectively. On the other hand, total PAHs in samples collected in 15 m distance to the road was 136.46 ng/kg for soil (total carcinogenic = 27.30 ng/kg) and 87.20 ng/kg for cabbage (total carcinogenic= 12.17 ng/kg).

The paper presents new data on the Miocene development within the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The Miocene succession of the study area is characterized by high thickness and highly variable lithology. In the Miocene sediments of the studied area, the presence of organic matter in the form of a coal layer, coal crumbs, and dispersed organic matter has been found. The research focused mainly on the analysis of organic matter in terms of its origin, degree of coalification, and depositional environment. The degree of coalification of organic matter was determined by the huminite/vitrinite reflectance. The hard brown coal layer with a thickness of about eight meters was identified within the Kłodnica Formation. Based on the textural properties and degree of coalification, brown coal was classified as dull brown coal and bright brown coal. Organic matter in the form of coal crumbs and dispersed organic matter were found within a package clastic sedimentary. On the basis of petrographic analysis, two types of allochthonous organic matter with different degrees of coalification were identified. The coal clasts are mainly of Carboniferous origin, while the Miocene redeposited brown coal grains dominate within the dispersed organic matter. Coal fragments and dispersed organic matter derived from the Miocene brown coal were also found within the black claystones. The study of organic matter of the Miocene sediments in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin showed both its autochthonous and allochthonous origins.

Underwater steel structures require periodic maintenance. In the case of vessels, anti-corrosion works are carried out in the shipyard, where very good conditions for applying organic protective coatings can be provided. Very good surface preparation can be obtained by the use of abrasive blasting. The well-prepared metal surface is free from impurities (particularly inorganic salts). Suitable conditions for the application and renovation of coatings are also ensured (creating appropriate climatic conditions, drying the air, setting the appropriate air temperature). However, there are underwater constructions that cannot be transferred above the water level and, therefore, their conservation against corrosion can take place only under the surface of the water, which significantly hinders the execution of renovation works. In this work, protective coatings for underwater application were tested. The application of coatings on selected steel surfaces over and under the water was carried out. Physico-mechanical and electrochemical tests were carried out in order to assess the quality of the obtained corrosion protection. The possible difficulties faced when applying coatings in marine conditions were discussed.

In 2018 we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Jędrzej Śniadecki’s birth. This work aims to show the importance of his thoughts for the development of natural sciences. He studied at some of the largest universities in Europe, where he met great scientists of the Enlightenment. The effects can be seen in his works. He was remembered as a founder of Polish biochemistry, anthropology and pathology, also as the author of chemical terminology and language. The essence of his thoughts is Theory of organic being, which is an attempt to answer the question: „what is life?”. Jędrzej Śniadecki introduced a new definition of life based on the term „organic power”. This work shows how import are the thoughts of Jędrzej Śniadecki in the context of the times in which he lived, as well as the following development of natural sciences, what makes him and his theories worth memory.

The aim of the study was to recognise the accumulation of organic carbon (SOC) in the soils of Polish grasslands (GL) and to consider the possibility of increasing its sequestration in these soils. The Tiurin method (mineral soils) and the mass loss method (soil of organic origin) were used. It was found that: (i) the average SOC content of mineral soils is 2.44% and of organic soils – 10.42%; (ii) according to the Polish criteria, approximately 84% of GL mineral soils are classified as classes with high and very high SOC content, and over 15% and 1% – in classes with medium and low SOC content, respectively; more than 99% of organic soils belong to two classes with the highest SOC content and less than 1% to the class with an average content; (iii) according to the European Soil Bureau, the share of GL mineral soils with a high SOC content is slightly over 4%, medium – slightly over 47%, and low and very low – around 50%; for organic soils they are 67, 29, and 4%, respectively; (iv) the reserves of organic carbon in the 0–30 cm layer on the entire surface of GL soils amount to 412.7 Tg of SOC. There is considerable scope for increasing the SOC stock in meadow-pasture soils.

This paper presents an outline of the relationship between the categories of living individual, organism and life. I argue that although these categories are related with each other and often treated as the same, we should strive for their separation. The main argument for the distinction between the individual and life is of a methodological character: the definitions of life are mainly interested for astrobiologists and scientists working in the field of origin of life or artificial life, while the individual is important, among others, in standard evolutionary biology and ecology. Among the concepts of living individual various forms of evolutionary definition (individual as a unit of selection) currently dominate. The living individual understood in this way is not identical with a structurally limited and functionally integrated self-sustained entity, which is usually called “organism.” Moreover, the explanatory success of the evolutionary concept of individual, in my opinion, implies the adoption of some version of the evolutionary definition of life. In the last part of this paper I propose a process-evolutionary definition of life, which also indicates a relationship between the three aforementioned categories.

The subject discussed in this paper is the evolution of the ideas of organic development in urban planning, focused on the waterfront areas. The paper also aims to analyze and interpret current trends in urban water waterfront planning, which are infl uenced by the contemporary ideas related to environmental issues, landscape planning, new technologies in the fi eld of building design and civil- and hydroengineering or application of the renewable energy sources.

Job crafting is an employees activity aimed to change and improve own work which serves to find the meaning in job. Activities related to job crafting usually occur beyond the superiors’ knowledge so the feeling of autonomy of a worker may hinder or encourage them to craft job. The study aimed to determine the correlations between organizational rank and job crafting with respect to a mediating role of autonomy and organizational tenure as a moderator. Study 1 (N = 102) showed that people having managerial positions undertake task crafting more often than non-managers. Managers and non-managers are no different with regards to cognitive and relational crafting. Autonomy mediated the relationship between organizational rank and task crafting. Most of the results in study 2 (N = 99) was a replication of the results of study 1. The differences are probably related to a various length of organizational tenure for a current organization. The results of the presented studies indicate the role of autonomy in undertaking job crafting, what is being discussed in the literature worldwide and Polish studies.

During the process of ,,enhanced coagulation" except for colloids and suspensions removal, the removal of associated organic compounds including DPD (Disinfection By-Products) precursors is crucial. It is often necessary to decrease color and turbidity of treated water to values which arc significantly lower than accepted for drinking water. On the basis of presented results of the research it was found out that under strict technological conditions coagulation of low mineralization waters ensures effective treatment, including significant THMs precursors removal, even when water is of low temperature. However, it is necessary to apply two different methods of coagulation (volumetric coagulation and direct filtration) dependently of water temperature with the usage of the same equipment (a flocculation chamber, a vertical sedimentation tank and a pressure rapid filter) including the same point of a coagulant dosing. During the periods of ,,high temperature" the treatment should be based on volumetric coagulation and during the periods of ,,low temperature" of water direct filtration should be applied.

Water supply of Riga City uses water from the river Daugava, lakes Baltezers as well as deep well groundwater as drinking water. Due to chlorination of drinking water before use, inhabitants health may be at risk due to trihalornethanes and some organic pollutants. The objective of this study was to determine the level of pollution of drinking water and possible health risk. Pollutants were determined with previous solid phase microextraction (on fibre coated with polidirnethylsilox ane) or pentane extraction of chemical substances by use of gas chromatography and for benzo(a)pyrene by spectrofluorimetry The summary concentration of thrihalornethanes (bromoform, chloroform, bromodichlorornethane, dibromochloromethane) ranged from 3.4 ug/drn' to 304.4 etg/dm3 (maximum allowable concentration - MAC 100 μg/dm-' according to water standards in Latvia), summary lrichloroethene and tetrachloroethene occurred in the concentration from I .O ug/drn' to 13.4 ug/dm' (MAC = I O ug/drri') The level of aromatic hydrocarbons benzene and toluene was below 0.2 ug/drrr' (MAC = I μg/dm'). The concentration of benzo(a)pyrenc was below 0.002 ug/drrr' (MAC= O.Ol ug/drrr'). Fluctuations of concentration were found to depend on the season and place of sampling. The results confirmed an occurrence of risk due lo the impact of trihalomethanes to health. Therefore, water ozonation has been planed to replace chlorination with ozonation in Riga City.

The paper presents results of a study concerning ammonium and nitratc(V) fixation by soil irrigated with municipal wastcwatcrs ( 1 - 60 mm and 2 doses - 120 mm) and estimation or the possibility or using organic soil and grass-mixture for the wastewater treatment. It was found that the studied soil and the plant applied showed a very high capacity or binding ammonium ions (up to 96%), and lower in the case ofnitrates(V) (up to 71 %). It was also demonstrated that the single irrigation dose was better utilized compared to the double dose.

Field research was conducted at Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in 2019–2021. The objective was to determine the effects of bacterial formulations and cover crops on the biomass, number and species composition of dominating weeds prior to spring barley harvest. The field trial involved two factors: A – bacterial formulations: I – control, II – nitrogen-fixing bacteria ( Azospirillum lipoferum Br17, Azotobacter chroococcum), III – nitrogen-fixing bacteria ( Azospirillum lipoferum Br17, Azotobacter chroococcum) + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria ( Bacillus megaterium var, phosphaticum, Arthrobacter agilis), IV – nitrogen-fixing bacteria ( Azotobacter chroococcum) + plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) ( Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Pseudomonas fluorescens); B – cover crops: control without a cover crop, red clover, red clover + Italian ryegrass, Italian ryegrass. Spring barley was harvested in late July. Weed samples were collected just before harvest to determine the fresh and dry matter of weeds as well as their number and species composition. The research demonstrated conclusively that an application of bacterial products combined with cover crops contributed to a significant reduction in the weight and number of weeds including dominating species such as Chenopodium album, Sinapis arvensis, Tripleurospermum inodorum and Elymus repens. Superior weed control was achieved in spring barley grown in combination with Azotobacter chroococcum + PGPR and a mixture of red clover and Italian ryegrass as a cover crop.

Studied was a small (4.6 ha) meromictic lake situated in a deep land hollow surrounded by a highinclination slope. The lake was made shallower two times (from 20 to 18 m) by collapsed shores. It is fed by underground waters and has relatively constant outflow. Limited water dynamics reduced the epilimnion thickness (from 4 to 2 m) and influenced the monimolimnion setting below 13 m depth with a characteristic small (0.2°C) temperature increase in the vertical profile and a permanent deoxygenation of the water below 7-11 m depth. The relationship between the organic matter parameters BOD; and COD-Mn before the shore collapse revealed the dominance of matter produced in the reservoir. In the final period the situation was opposite. In the monimolimnion allochthonous matter accumulated which due to anaerobic decomposition generated large amounts of ammonium. Observed in the same water layer was also a decrease of the conductivity.

The paper presents the preliminary study of n-butanol removal in the adsorption process. The main objective of the research was to asess whether and to what extent biochars produced from selected organic waste materials are suitable for odor removal. Biochars produced from dried sewage sludge and beekeeping waste were tested in the adsorption process. At first, raw materials were pyrolyzed and then modified with a 25% ZnCl2 solution or a 30% H2O2 solution. The adsorption process was conducted using a model gas – the European reference odorant – n-butanol. The output parameter was odor concentration Cod [ouE/m3]. Odor concentration Cod values were obtained using a dynamic olfactometry method on T08 olfactometer. The solid byproducts of pyrolysis of digested sewage sludge and beekeeping waste may be used as adsorbents for the removal of n-butanol in the adsorption process. Adsorption performance of biochar from sewage sludge is better than biochar from beekeeping waste. Additional modification with H2O2 or ZnCl2 increases the efficiency of the process, thus decreasing the required bed height for the elimination of odorant. The results of the studies confirm the findings of other authors that biochars derived from sewage sludge and other organic waste materials may be efficient sorbents in the removal of various substances from water or the air. Other biochars and methods of their activation should be tested. For practical reasons, the next stage of the research should be the determination of the adsorption front height and its migration rate.

Biodegradation of organic matter by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) isolated from soil from military testing ground and petroleum plants were investigated. The isolated microorganisms utilized low molecular weight compounds and participation of SRB in biodegradation of these compounds was similar in marine sediments and in soil (40-55%).

Plastics are one of the most widely used materials, and, in most cases, they are designed to have long life spans. Since plastic and packaging waste pollute the environment for many years, their disposal is of great importance for the environment and human health. In this paper, a system was developed to store liquid fuel from plastic and organic waste mixes without solidification, which then can be used as fuel in motor vehicles and construction machinery. For this purpose, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and organic wastes and clay, zeolite, and MCS23-code materials (50% magnetite- %25 calcium oxide- %25 sodium chloride) were heated in a closed medium at temperatures ranging from 300 to400 oC and subsequently re-condensed. The study conducted twenty tests, involving various types and rates of plastic and organic materials, as well as different rates of catalysts. Among these tests, the highest liquid fuel yield (67.47%) was achieved in Test 9, where 50% PVC-50% PET waste, 75 g of clinoptilolite, and 500 g of MCS23 waste were collectively used. Notably, Test 12 exhibited the highest density value (79.8 kg/m3), while the best viscosity value (2.794 mm2/s) was observed in Test 2. Across all samples, flash point values were found to be below 40oC. The most favorable yield point value was recorded in Test 2 (-6oC). The samples displayed ash content within the range of 0 to0.01% (m/m)] and combustion heat values of 35.000> J/g which fall within the standard range. The incorporation of MCS23 with clinoptilolite additives is believed to have a significant impact on obtaining high-yield products with improved fuel properties.

The aim of the present study was to determine the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in relation to the intensity and type of soil management. Two types of soil were selected for the present studies, i.e.: Haplic Phaeozem developed from loess and Eutric Fluvisol originating from silty formations. Five objects were chosen in cach of the soils included in the present study, i.e.: apple orchards, hop gardens, arabic fields, grassland and natural forest ecosystems. Samples were collected from the depth of 0-1 O, I 0- 20 and below 35 cm. In the study material obtained, the content of 16 PAHs was determined by means of the HPLC-UV method. The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons clearly depended both on the soil type and soil management method. Only in the case of two objects (hop garden and grassland plot) both the Haplic Phaeozem and the Eutric Fluvisol were characterized by the highest PAH content. The influence of soil management method on both the PAH sum and the content of individual compounds was more clearly marked in the Haplic Phaeozem than in the Eutric Fluvisol. PAH migration deeper into the soil profile similarly to their content depended on the soil type and soil management method. However, both in the Eutric Fluvisol and in the Haplic Phaeozem, an increase in naphthalene share was observed with a decrease in depth. Nevertheless, the effect of pollutant leaching deeper into the soil profile was more clearly marked in the case of Eutric Fluvisol.

The landfill gas (LFG), produced during decomposition of the organic fraction of waste is a major source of air pollutants. It consists mainly of methane and carbon dioxide, but also contains additional gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, and a large number of trace components. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, terpenes and siloxanes belong to this group. This work presents the results of field studies concerning the concentration of over fifty non-methane organic compounds in municipal solid waste landfill gas. The sites examined were located in the Middle East macroregion of Poland. The landfills were different in the respect to size, morphology, and age of stored waste. The results reveal that the highest concentrations of the majority of the examined compounds were observed in gas released from the largest landfill at which the waste was not pre-treated prior to deposition. Concentrations often exceeded those found in the literature data. Deposition of waste after separation of biofraction and recyclable materials significantly decreased concentrations of the majority of NMOCs in the LFG.

The article presents the research into hygienizing process of chicken manure using calcium peroxide (CaO₂) as an environmentally friendly biological deactivation agent. The influence of the addition of CaO₂ to chicken manure on the bioavailability of phosphorus was also analyzed. The process of biological deactivation using CaO₂, CaO and Ca(OH)₂ agents was analyzed applying the disk diffusion method. To optimize the effect of the hygienizing parameters, (CaO₂ concentration, pH, temperature and time) on the reduction of Enterobacteriaceae count the Taguchi method was applied. The content of bioavailable phosphorus was measured with the Egner-Riehm method and determined with spectrophotometry. The reduction in bacterial count followed an increase in the concentration of CaO₂ in a sample. The optimal experimental conditions (CaO₂=10.5 wt.%, pH=9.5, T=40°C, t=180 h) enabled a significant decrease in the Enterobacteriaceae count, from 10⁷ cfu/g to 10² cfu/g. Analysis of the samples with Egner-Riehm method showed that the phosphorus content decreased with the addition of biocide CaO₂: from 26.6 mg/l (for 3.5 wt.%) to 3.5 mg/l (for 10.5 wt.%). These values were slightly higher than the content of phosphorus deactivated with Ca(OH)₂ i.e., from 11.25 mg/l (for 3.5 wt.%) to 4.49 mg/l (for 10.5 wt.%). The application of CaO₂ for hygienizing chicken manure enables effective reduction of Enterobacteriaceae count to an acceptable level (below 1000 cfu/g). In comparison with the traditional techniques of hygienization, the application of CaO₂ has a positive effect on the recovery of bioavailable phosphorus.

The fumigant pesticide methyl bromide (MB) is no longer used in most countries due to its carcinogenic effects. It is followed by carbon bisulfide and chloropicrin which are the most effective liquid synthetic chemicals in pesticide formulations. They are converted to gas to penetrate soil particles and eliminate plant pests such as insects, weeds, and causal plant diseases of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes under greenhouse, field and storage conditions. These fumigants are non specific pesticides and highly hazardous to humans, environmental resources, and deplete the ozone layers. Furthermore, increasing the cost of crop production by inceasing the amount of pesticides treatments was increased the cost of research on the alternatives of green pesticides from eco-friendly agents, natural organic soil amendments of organic wastes, green manure, biofumigation crops, compost, and essential oils, as well as formulations, are examples of this. Organic fumigants that are non toxic, non-residual, highly degradable and decomposable are available as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides to manage soil borne pests and diseases of plants. This article summarizes the development of applicable eco-friendly formulations which use natural organic materials to disinfest soil in order to reduce plant diseases caused by soil- -borne pathogens.