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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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Development of Gel Techniques for in situ Measurement of Bioavailable Metals in Soils and Sediments
Kovaříková, Vladěna ; Sommer, Lumír (referee) ; Janoš, Pavel (referee) ; Dočekalová, Hana (advisor)
The doctoral thesis deals with usage of gel techniques for in situ measurement of bioavailable metals in soils and sediments. The DGT technique was applied to soil samples from the localities of Zlín, Tuřany and Chrlice for estimation of bioavailable metals in soils. These soils were amended by sewage sludges in years 1980-1987. The experiment using diffusive gels with different pore size, APA and RG gels, has shown that the DGT can be used for assessment of trace metal soil complexes - small inorganic and larger organic. The results obtained by DGT measurements were approximately up to two orders of magnitude lower than metal concentrations obtained by leaching with sodium nitrate. The leaching with sodium nitrate does not provide true reflection of metal availability to plant root system and soil microorganisms and the DGT technique seems to be a better predictor of metal bioavailability. Only small differences between undisturbed and homogenized soil samples were found out by application of DGT to soil samples from localities of Veverská Bítýška and Ostrovačice. The undisturbed soil is not homogenous and the DGT unit gives information only about the part of the soil which is in direct contact with the unit. The procedure with soil slurry can be recommended for the characterization of large soil areas and estimation of bioavailable metals in soils. Gel techniques were also used for the study of processes occuring in sediments. Mercury species and other metals were analysed in surface water, pore water and sediments collected from two sampling sites in the Dele River in northern France. This river had been polluted during the last century by the activity of Métaleurop factory, which dealt with metal ore treatment. The application of DGT technique using two specific ion-exchange resins, Chelex-100 and Duolite GT-73, provided assessment of mercury in sediment pore water. DGT and DET techniques together with centrifugation provided also high resolution depth profiles of Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cd in pore water. It is not possible to determine which sampling site was more contaminated. Only small differences in mercury species and metal content were observed between sampling sites. The Dele River can be classified as contaminated river according to total mercury content in sediments and as slightly contaminated river from the point of view of methylmercury content. Correlations between mercury species and sulphide content confirm that total mercury and sulphide content count among factors influencing the mercury release to pore water and controlling processes of methylation and demethylation. Only low toxicity of sediment slurries was found out by the bioluminiscence test with Vibrio fischeri. The results of doctoral thesis demonstrate gel techniques as a very good tool in environmental analysis.
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Stabilization of the base layers of roads by using secondary raw materials
Buřičová, Karolína ; Kulísek, Karel (referee) ; Drochytka, Rostislav (advisor)
The bachelor's thesis deals with the up-to-date subject of secondary raw material usage. The aim of this thesis is to suggest a potential way of these materials’ usage by stabilization of base courses of road or railway constructions. Parameters of individual primary and secondary commodities are evaluated and the acquired knowledge in the field of stabilization is presented. An optimal technology for stabilization is suggested and applicability of used materials and their subsequently prepared mixtures is experimentally verified in the experimental work of this thesis.
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Soil and hydrological degradation of wetlands
Panocha, Tomáš ; Vlček, Lukáš (advisor) ; Šefrna, Luděk (referee)
The thesis researches the knowledge about soil degradation and the most important soil degradation processes, including desertification, erosion, the impact of agriculture on soils and soil sealing. It also deals with wetlands as ecosystems at the transition between aquatic and terrestrial systems, their definition and delineation, as well as their decline and recovery, which is very important in climate change projections. The chapter on wetlands also includes a section on international conventions and organisations. The work then focuses on wetland types in the Czech Republic and the soil types most commonly found on them, together with their soil-forming processes and water regimes. Last but not least, the thesis tries to find a link between the degradation of wetland ecosystems in relation to changes in the hydrological regime of the surrounding area and the surrounding soils. Keywords: soil degradation, wetland, wetland definition, wetland restoration, wetlands of the Czech Republic
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The golden rule of morality in practice
PRÁŠKOVÁ, Tereza
The golden rule of morality is a universal pattern of human behavior that requires us not to do to others what we do not want others to do to us. This bachelor thesis deals with a view of morality, ethics, and their application in everyday life. At the same time, it maps some complex ethical and moral decisions, for example in the field of human conscience and honor. Furthermore, this work deals with man and his self-reflection and the issue of perception of good and evil. In this work, it is also possible to find related information about, norms and law and also a summary of current moral norms, morality in religion, and information about the categorical imperative, as the law of morality is called. The aim of this bachelor's thesis is to map the arguments that informants most often use for their moral behavior and what role the golden rule of morality plays in their decision-making. These goals and conclusions are then summarized in the final part of this work. Qualitative research, the method of questioning, and the technique of semi-structured interview were chosen for the practical part. The results were processed using the method of creating tufts, which is used to connect certain statements into groups according to common features. From the results of the research, it is clear that informants follow the golden rule of morality in most cases, although they are not aware of it in theory. The motivation for their moral behavior is mostly their conscience or internal principles. This work can be beneficial in social work as a probe into people's thinking.
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Lead isotopes distribution in selected podzol profiles
Václavková, Anna ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Strnad, Ladislav (referee)
Lead (Pb) as one of toxic elements occurs naturally in nature. Its use in metalurgical activities, mining and combustion of coal, waste incineration and use as a additive to gasoline in the past has endangered environment and health of oranisms. We determined the Pb isotopic composition in two podzol profiles, in a forest and nearby a road, using ICP MS. Based on the 206 Pb/207 Pb vs 208 Pb/206 Pb ratios we assesed the main source of Pb in O, Ah, Bhf, and Bf horizonts in both soil profiles and Ep horizont from profile P2 to be coal combustion. The source in eluvial Ep horizont from profile P1 and C horizonts originated in lithogenic Pb with values 206 Pb/207 Pb 1,126; 1,198 and 1,193. From Pb isotopic ratios we can conclude that during podzolization antropogenic Pb move to the deeper parts of soil profiles.
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Lead isotopic ratio determination in soils
Kotrč, Vlastislav ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Strnad, Ladislav (referee)
This barchelor thesis deals with the issue of lead in the environment, with its main focus being on describing the right analytical method for determining the isotopic composition of lead in soil. First part this thesis summarizes the most important characteristics and properties of lead. Next part is concerned with the methodology of collection and preparation of soil samples for the analysis itself. The thesis then contains detailed description of the analytical method, which is being currently the most used for determining the isotopic composition of soil - mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Since this is not a research thesis, in the fifth part, results of studies from the Příbram region are presented, alongside other possible uses of this method. Key words: lead isotopic composition, soils
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Thalium in soils
Fisher, Meir ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Vaněk, Aleš (referee)
SUMMARY: Thallium is a nonessential element, more toxic than mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc or copper. It exists in the two oxidation states Tl+ and Tl3+ . Thallium is toxic to all organisms in both monovalent and trivalent form. In biological processes it can substitute K+ due to their similar ionic radii. In the past it was extensively used for medicinal purposes and as a rodenticide. In the present there are over 150 uses and potential applications for thallium and its compounds. Thallium is generally present in very low concentrations (less than 1 mg.kg-1 ), however, in artificially polluted areas (in the vicinity of power plants, cement factories, smelting works, sulphide ore wastes from mining activity and others) it may exceed much higher levels. The amount of thallium of natural origin strongly depends on the lithology of the parent rock on which soil was derived. Detection of thallium in soils is usually performed by ICP-MS. The total intake of thallium should be less than 5µg per day, but no recommended maximum values are available in the present time in most countries. Different soil properties can influence the behavior of thallium. Through uptake by plants thallium is entering the food chain. Plant varieties and plant parts differ in the degree of uptake and accumulation of thallium, thus, in...
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