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Evaluation of the effects of biodegradable microplastics on biota of freshwater ecosystem via ecotoxicity tests
Procházková, Petra ; Maršálek,, Blahoslav (referee) ; Beklová, Miroslava (referee) ; Zlámalová Gargošová, Helena (advisor)
Microplastics, which are ubiquitous contaminants of freshwater ecosystems, have raised concerns regarding their potential impact on the environment. For this reason, there is an effort to replace conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives that can easily degrade in the environment. However, the process of biodegradation of these materials requires specific conditions, such as temperature, humidity, pH, and the presence of microorganisms, which are not always met adequately. Consequently, they may fragment and form biodegradable microplastics that can affect the environment similarly to conventional microplastics. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of microplastics of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microplastics on freshwater organisms, specifically the alga Desmodesmus subspicatus, the plant Lemna minor and the crustacean Daphnia magna. Additionally, we aimed to develop a suitable analytical method for the direct detection of microplastics in the body of D. magna. Although the observed effects were not always significant, they highlighted certain secondary problems that may arise due to the presence of biodegradable microplastics in the environment These issues could be related to biodegradability and the formation of biofilm on the surface of biodegradable microplastics, leading to subsequent nutrient depletion in the surrounding environment. Therefore, the use of biodegradable plastics as a substitute for conventional materials must be approached critically.
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Influence of biodegradable polymers microplastics on properties of soil organic matter
Denková, Pavla ; Řezáčová, Veronika (referee) ; Kučerík, Jiří (advisor)
The microplastics contamination is an issue observed in all environmental compartments. Currently, the trend is to replace the synthetic polymers by biodegradable ones, which are expected to degrade faster due to omnipresent microorganisms. However, this assumption may not correspond with the reality. In nature, biodegradation can last long or not whatsoever and the microparticles of biodegradable polymers can remain in soil the same way as particles of synthetic polymers. The effect of microparticles of biodegradable polymers on soil´s biota has already been studied, but the effect on the properties of soil and water in the soil has not been elucidated yet. This thesis deals with the influence of microparticles of biodegradable plastics on the physico-chemical properties of soil organic matter, especially on the behavior of water in the soil system under arid and semiarid conditions. Microparticles of poly(R-3-hydroxybutyrate), abbreviated as P3HB, were used as a model biodegradable polymer and were introduced into the soil in various concentrations. To determine the evaporation enthalpy of water and stability of water bridges that affect (stabilize) the physical and chemical structure of soil organic matter Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used. Simultaneously was also measured their effect on water holding capacity of soil organic matter. Under experimental conditions, P3HB microplastics were found to reduce evaporation enthalpy, which facilitates drying of soil organic matter. Nevertheless, their effect on final water holding capacity was relatively low. Besides, we observed a negative effect on the stability of water molecule bridge that connect segments of soil´s organic components. Thus, P3HB microparticles in soil could pose a risk due to their influence on the water retention mechanism in soil under arid and semiarid conditions.
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Removal of micropollutants during drinking water treatment
Císařová, Monika ; Lukášová, Daniela (referee) ; Biela, Renata (advisor)
The diploma thesis deals with the issue of micropollutants removal during drinking water treatment. The theoretical part characterizes individual types of micropollutants, their occurrence and possibilities of their removal. It also presents the removal of micropollutants already implemented in practice. The practical part deals with the removal of a selected micropollutant, namely perfluorinated substances. This is a laboratory experiment on the removal of perfluorinated substances from a given flow by filtration through granular activated carbon Filtrasorb F400. Finally, the results and evaluation of the experiment are presented.
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Study of selected antibiotics sorption on polyhydroxybutyrate
Amrichová, Anna ; Doležalová Weissmannová, Helena (referee) ; Řezáčová, Veronika (advisor)
The bachelor thesis deals with the issue of sorption of antibiotics on microplastics. Antibiotics and microplastics are now a highly studied topic, due to the positive and negative properties. Antibiotics with groups of sulfonamides and quinolones were selected for the experiment. From sulfonamides, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim were selected, and from the quinolones, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, which have already been the impetus for some microplastic studies. Biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate was used as the microplastic. Two experiments were performed in the laboratory. The first aimed to monitor the time dependence of antibiotic sorption on polyhydroxybutyrate, the second the concentration. The concentration dependence was subsequently evaluated using the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The method of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry was used for analyzes.
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Microplastics removing from water
Ermis, Martin ; Himr, Daniel (referee) ; Štigler, Jaroslav (advisor)
This thesis deals with the occurrence of microplastics in water, the reasons for their potential elimination, and the possibilities leading to that. More specifically, it focuses on flotation as a process for removing microplastics from water. Flotation is further described from a theoretical point of view and its mathematical model is developed. The wettability of selected polymers is measured. The experiment performed to determine the efficiency of flotation as a process of treating water from microplastics is described. This efficiency is further compared to measured wettability.
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Fate of microplastics in soil
Kameníková, Eliška ; Řezáčová, Veronika (referee) ; Kučerík, Jiří (advisor)
The problems with microplastics, small plastic particles contaminating the environment, is a subject of heated discussions today. It has been recognized that the microplastics are not inert, but instead they have an impact on all enviromnental compartments. There are studies describing the negative effects of microplastics, for example on fauna and flora or on human health, but the effects on soil quality have not been sufficiently described. The aim of this thesis was to assess the short and medium term effects that microplastics could have on the soil. In this work, a series of experiments were performed to elucidate the fate of microplastics in the soil. Changes in soil organic matter thermal properties, soil respiration, amount of water and soil aggregation depending on the incubation time were monitored. Three types of agricultural land (chernozem, cambisol and phaeozem), which were contaminated with different concentrations od PET and tyre rubber, were tested. The results confirmed the specific effects of microplastics on soil properties, which were observed in non-incubated samples (i.e. at the time of incubation 0 months), microplastics did not behave inertly in the soil and affected, for example, soil properties, texture and respiration.
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Study of microplastic sorption properties
Hlaváčková, Hana ; Kučerík, Jiří (referee) ; Řezáčová, Veronika (advisor)
There is currently an effort to replace conventional plastics with biodegradable products that will have the ability to replace these substances. One of the possible biodegradable felt, which is currently being studied in detail, is also poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), which is produced by bacteria. This bachelor thesis deals with the sorption of selected substances on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microparticles. Substances whose contamination of water sources is a significant problem today have been selected for this work. Specifically, the sorption of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substance ibuprofen, the triazole fungicide tebuconazole and the most common drug caffeine on PHB particles, which fall in the size of the microplastic group, were studied. The method of liquid chromatography with mass detection was used for analyzes.
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Interactions between microplastics and heavy metals in the aquatic environment
Ottová, Michaela ; Pavlovský, Jiří (referee) ; Doležalová Weissmannová, Helena (advisor)
This diploma thesis deals with the adsorption of heavy metal ions on the microplastic. Specifically, lead, chromium, zinc, copper, mercury and polyethylene terephthalate was chosen as the plastic representative. Atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS, AMA) and FTIR with method ATR were used for the analysis. The aim of this work was to perform selected adsorption experiments, to determine the adsorption kinetics and the maximum amount adsorbed. Subsequently, the most suitable kinetic and isothermal model was determined for each element and the characteristic parameters were calculated.
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Microplastics in soil
Dvořáková, Alena ; Kučerík, Jiří (referee) ; Doležalová Weissmannová, Helena (advisor)
This bachelor thesis deals with the appraisal of the suitability of infrared spectroscopy for the identification of plastics and microplastics in soils. Available techniques were DRIFT (diffuse reflectance) and ATR (attenuated total reflectance). Mixtures of model soil and pure PET were prepared for analysis in various concentrations. Furthermore, a total of 21 samples of soil and 3 samples of compost were evaluated. The obtained data were used for interpretation of infrared spectra, creation of calibrations of PET using ATR and DRIFT methods. Part of the work was the evaluation of validation models using spectra and basic soil parameters.
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The development of a TGA-MS based method for determination of microplastics in soils
Šilhánková, Lenka ; Mravcová, Ludmila (referee) ; Kučerík, Jiří (advisor)
Plasty, pronikající do životního prostředí ať už neúmyslně či záměrně, mohou být fragmentovány za vzniku částic v řádu mikrometrů (tzv. mikroplastů) a znečišťovat tak půdní systémy. Doposud vyvinuté analýzy pro stanovení mikroplastů v půdách jsou především zaměřeny na kvalitativní stanovení, nicméně i jejich provedení se zatím stále potýká s různými úskalími. Navíc, téměř všechny tyto analýzy vyžadují časově náročnou předúpravu vzorku. V této studii jsme se zaměřili na vývoj nové analytické metody pro kvantitativní stanovení mikroplastů polyvinylchloridu (PVC) a polystyrenu (PS) v půdách bez předchozí úpravy vzorku pomocí termogravimetrické analýzy spojené s hmotnostní spektrometrií (TGA-MS). Pro analýzu byly použity vzorky modelové půdy s nízkým obsahem organického uhlíku, které byly spikovány na výslednou koncentraci 0,23–7 hm% PVC či PS. Vzorky byly pyrolyzovány s teplotním krokem 5 K min–1 až na teplotu 1000 °C. Pyrolýzní plynné produkty byly následně analyzovány s využitím hmotnostního spektrometru. Získaná data byla normalizována pomocí externího standardu (šťavelan vápenatý). Limity detekce se pohybovaly v rozmezí 0,08–5,3 hm% pro PVC a 0,005–0,7 hm% pro PS v závislosti na zvoleném m/z. Limity kvantifikace pak byly 0,3–17,7 hm% pro PVC a 0,002–2,2 hm% pro PS. Výsledky dokazují, že spojení TGA-MS může být konkurující semikvantitativní metodou pro stanovení mikro-PVC a mikro-PS v půdě s nízkým obsahem organického uhlíku.
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