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Physicochemical characterization of soil humic substances isolated from modal brown soil
Churina, Iuliia ; Doskočil, Leoš (referee) ; Enev, Vojtěch (advisor)
This bachelor thesis deals with the physicochemical characterization of soil humic substances isolated from brown earth modal based on the international IHSS procedure. Humic substances are organic compounds occurring in soil and have a significant influence on soil processes and properties. The aim of this work is to obtain detailed information on the physical and chemical properties of humic substances such as mean molecular weight (Mr), spectral characteristics, elemental composition and thermal stability. Soil humic substances samples were characterized by thermal techniques such as thermogravimetric (TGA) and elemental analysis (EA). Different instrumental methods such as UV/Vis spectrometry, infrared spectrometry and fluorescence spectrometry were used to analyze the samples. The results of this work can contribute to a better understanding of soil processes and properties, which can lead to improved agricultural production and environmental protection.
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Enzymatic Degradation of Biochar
Zmijová, Marie ; Enev, Vojtěch (referee) ; Kalina, Michal (advisor)
Human prosperity is inextricably linked to healthy soil. It turns out that the application of biochar improves soil properties and, as a result, also the growth and yield of plants. The presence and activity of soil biota contributes to soil quality, but it also excretes compounds that can degrade biochar. Experiments simulating the action of enzymes and root exudates were carried out in order to find out whether there are physico-chemical changes in biochar. Three biochars, which were chosen for this purpose were degraded using an H2O2 solution, simulating enzymatic action. Samples were subsequently analyzed using TGA, FTIR, SEM and contact angle measurement. It was found that the amount and type of degraded biochar matter depends on the parameters of its production. The amount of functional groups containing oxygen on the surface of biochar rises due to enzymatic oxidation and the surface’s hydrophobicity decreases as a result. An extraction test using citric acid, a root exudate representative, showed that the sample had been washed more effectively, leading to a higher proportion of organic matter in the biochars. In the obtained leachates, the amount of elements released from the biochar was monitored using ICP-OES. The initial washing led to the release of the largest amount of micro and macro elements, which caused a decrease in the pH value of the solution and an increase in conductivity. The pH value of the solution had a major influence on the amount of released multivalent elements (Ca, Mg). The combination of these changes that may occur in the soil system probably does not change the desired effect of biochar and its use may be beneficial in the long term.
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Program-controlled freeze drying for the preparation of the delivery system based on hyaluronan and real drugs
Řihák, Marek ; Sedláček, Petr (referee) ; Enev, Vojtěch (advisor)
The aim of this thesis was to prepare native hyaluronan-based carrier systems using the lyophilisation as a suitable method to ensure an interaction between certain drugs and the polymeric structure which would lead to an increased solubility of hydrophobic drugs. For the preparation of such a system the tert-butyl alcohol was used as a co-solvent with the ability to support hydrophobic effect between the drug and a hydrophobic domain of hyaluronan. Since all polar domains of hyaluronan are located in the equatorial position, the axial position is occupied by hydrogens and therefore the molecule gains the amphiphilic character. Previous studies have confirmed that freeze-drying is a useful method for a carrier system preparation. However, this study focuses on the preparation of such systems with samples of real drugs, which were previously replaced by fluorescence sondes. Since all drug samples have good fluorescence characteristics, the fluorescence spectroscopy was used as the main method to determine the success of the preparation. Other methods included a thermogravimetric analysis and the infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformation. All the mentioned methods have confirmed that lyophilisation is a useful method for the preparation of the carrier systems with real drugs. Great results have been achieved in the terms of the solubility of freeze-dried systems. In the last step, the co-solvent residues were determined by head-space solid phase microextraction. This method also provided some valuable information and confirmed that tert-butyl alcohol could be found in the lyophilised systems only on very low levels.
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The long-term stability and properties of a skin cream with addition of liposomes
Müllerová, Kristýna ; Pekař, Miloslav (referee) ; Enev, Vojtěch (advisor)
The aim of the thesis was to design a formulation and subsequently prepare a native skin cream and skin creams enriched with liposomal particles with encapsulated vitamin E. After preparation of the skin creams, their stability and rheological properties were studied at given time intervals during storage for 12 weeks. The stability of the prepared samples was determined using a LUMiSizer analytical centrifuge with STEP-Technology. Among the rheological properties, changes in the rate of structure recovery of the formulations were monitored, as well as changes in zero and infinite viscosity, which can be presented as changes in viscosity during product storage and changes in viscosity during application and spreading on the skin. All stability and rheological tests were performed for a temperature of 25 °C, which also corresponded to the storage temperature, and for a temperature of 37 °C, which approximately corresponds to the human body temperature. According to the results, the sample without the addition of liposomes showed the highest stability and the skin cream with the addition of 10 wt.% liposomes at 1 week of age showed the best spreadability. Next, the characterization of liposomal particles was performed. Finally, a sensory analysis was performed where the evaluators compared the fresh native skin cream, the native skin cream at 12 weeks of age, the fresh skin cream with the highest liposome content and the skin cream with the highest liposomal particle content at 12 weeks of age.
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Polarity-based sequential extraction method for the study of organic matter isolated from biochar
Vojáčková, Beáta ; Doskočil, Leoš (referee) ; Enev, Vojtěch (advisor)
This master’s thesis completely charakterizes the organic matter of biochar from a physicochemical point of view. The theoretical part is focused mainly on the use of biochar in technology industry, substance content, extraction and instrumental techniques used for its study. A Soxhlet apparatus and the method of sequential fractionation by a series of six organic solvents, which were ranked based on their increasing polarity, were used to extract the matter. The experimental part discusses the analysis of the obtained samples using thermal methods such as thermogravimetric (TGA) and elemental analysis (EA). In our case optical methods were used also; spectrometry with Fourier transform (FTIR-ATR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) and fluorescence spectrometry. Thanks to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were obtained images of the biochar surface. Continuous characterization including the results of the biogenic element content, individual functional groups and the values of established indices, allowed us to define the organic parts of biochar and contributed to the implementation of better methodology regarding the investigated issue.
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Involvement of vibrational spectroscopy in the study on interactions of natural organic matter with model environmental pollutants.
Stehlíková, Kristína ; Enev, Vojtěch (referee) ; Sedláček, Petr (advisor)
The main objective of this diploma thesis was to verify the potential of using advanced infrared spectra processing techniques – specifically the principal component analysis (PCA) – in order to monitor the interaction of natural organic matter with organic pollutants. Natural organic matter was represented by standard IHSS Leonardite humic acid, while the aromatic dyes methylene blue and Rhodamine 6G and the aliphatic substance Septonex were chosen as representatives of organic ions. Their interactions were monitored using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the use of which for this purpose was verified in my bachelor's thesis. Principal component analysis was finally applied to the obtained infrared spectra of the formed complexes and prepared blank samples, which helped to reveal spectral changes at first glance unrecognizable in the spectra themselves. It was found out that the most likely mechanism of humic acid interaction with aromatic pollutants is a - interaction, while the electrostatic nature of the interaction is assumed for the binding of aliphatic substances.
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Study of plasma activated water application on the soil enzyme activity
Lungová, Tereza ; Enev, Vojtěch (referee) ; Krčma, František (advisor)
The aim of this thesis was the characterization of plasma activated water (PAW) prepared by dielectric barrier discharge under atmospheric pressure and the evaluation of its effect on soil enzymatic activity in a black soil sample, which contains chemically active substances so-called long life species. For this purpose, the pot experiment was chosen based on literature research. Dehydrogenase (DHA) enzyme activity was investigated to determine total soil microbial activity in soil samples watered with plasma activated water with different activation times. Dehydrogenase belongs to the group of oxidoreductases and its activity is a suitable indicator of active biological activity in the soil. In this work, the values of dehydrogenase activity were determined for PAW with 2 minute treatment 2,3 g/gh, for PAW with 5 minutes treatment 2,7 g/gh and for PAW treated with plasma discharge for 10 minutes 3,5 g/gh. In the comparative sample, which was watered with distilled water, the value of dehydrogenase activity was determined to be 2,5 g/gh. Based on the overall analysis, it was found that there is no negative influence on the enzymatic activity in the soil despite the wide range of confirmation of the antimicrobial effects of PAW.
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Characterization of microfludic chips
Vejrosta, Jakub ; Enev, Vojtěch (referee) ; Venerová, Tereza (advisor)
Nowadays, when we are moving to smaller and smaller scales, microfluidics is being used, which helps us to move from fluid devices to the dimensions of microfluidics, which may have a great application in the future. This work deals with the correct preparation and production of a microfluidic chip. Which consist of two parts. One part is the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) part of the chip, and the other is the coverslip. In this work, the production process of this chip is improved. The functionality of these chips and the time dependence of the age of the chip and the polydimethylsiloxane from which the chips are made were tested using fluorescence microscopy.
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Transport of pharmaceuticals in soil systems
Janebová, Denisa ; Enev, Vojtěch (referee) ; Klučáková, Martina (advisor)
Drugs have a negative effect on nature. If they do not degrade in wastewater treatment plants, they can contaminate lakes, rivers and even drinking water. However, the soil contains soil organic matter, which has chelating properties and can prevent the migration of the drug. The aim of this bachelor thesis was to map the transport of the selected drug in the soil column and try to determine its diffusivity. Sulfapyridine was chosen for transport. Sulfapyridine belongs to a group of sulfonamide antibiotics that are often detected in the environment. It is mainly used in veterinary medicine to treat various infections. The partial goal was to describe the basic properties of the soil depending on the depth of the soil layer. The drug concentration profile in the soil column was determined by UVVIS spectrometry in soil extracts. The following reagents were used for leaching: distilled water, as a pure solvent without the presence of other substances, tap water as a model reagent replacing the soil solution and magnesium chloride solution, which is used for soil extracts of freely moving and ionically bound substances in the soil.
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Use of Hofmeister series of ions for fractionation of soil humic acids
Kebabová, Mona ; Doskočil, Leoš (referee) ; Enev, Vojtěch (advisor)
The bachelor thesis deals with the study of the structure and behaviour of humic acids (HA) in the presence of salts of the Hofmeister series of ions. Haplic Luvisol and sodium humate extracted from it were characterized by elemental analysis (EA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to determine the percentage of elements and ash. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to determine the functional groups in the sample. UV-VIS was used to investigate the effect of the Hofmeister salts. From its results were calculated the absorption coefficients EET/EBZ, E2/E3, E2/E4 and E2/E6, and the specific absorbance values SUVA254 and SUVA280. Other methods like Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to better understand HA's structure. The main goal of this bachelor thesis was to find a simple experimental method based on which we would be able to study supramolecular associations of HK, which are preferentially linked to the formation of weak intra- and intermolecular interactions in aqueous solutions.
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