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May 2007 - July 2015
Publications
Publications (78)
Energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) is known for its ability to grow in contaminated soils, high biomass production as well as for the possibility to be transformed to various biobased products.
A two years pot experiment (2019 – 2020) was set to determine impact of diesel pollution on Mxg growth and impact of Mxg on degradation of diesel pol...
Second generation biofuel crop Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) was studied as a candidate for petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) contaminated soil phytomanagement. The soil was polluted by diesel in wide concentration gradient up to 50 g⋅kg-1 in an ex-situ pot experiment. The contaminated soil/plant interactions were investigated using plant biometric and p...
The second-generation energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) demonstrated ability to produce adequate biomass yield even in marginal or contaminated soils. This renewable biomass can be utilized energetically or transformed into various biobased products and thus contribute to decrease of primary resources and fossil fuel use. To evaluate potenti...
The need to achieve the sustainability goals and to reduce the continuous exploitation of the limited urban areas increases requests for the regeneration of brownfields. The current study aims to review the state of brownfields in the Northern Czech Region and neighboring German (Saxony) and Polish (Silesian) Regions which share a common geological...
Nanoscale cerium-bismuth oxides/oxynitrates were prepared by a scalable low-temperature method at ambient pressure using water as the sole solvent. Solid solutions were formed up to a 1:1 Ce/Bi molar ratio, while at higher doping levels, bismuth oxynitrate photocatalysts with a pronounced layered structure were formed. Bismuth caused significant ch...
Biochar is known to be a promising material for the treatment of contaminants in wastewater and soil. In this research, wastewater samples collected at the tertiary stage from a WWTP located in the North Bohemia region of Czechia and containing 20 pharmaceutical contaminants were treated with the same biochar (wood and maize cob feedstocks, pyrolys...
The second generation energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus is considered as one of the most perspective crops for biomass production in marginal sites with undesirable soil parameters. An experiment in large pots was established to compare the effect of cultivation in sandy soil with nutrients deficiency and soil contaminated by multiple risk element...
The phytoremediation of industrial crops is becoming popular for the revitalization of land contaminated by trace elements (TEs). This approach combines biomass production with the improvement of soil health. To implement phytoremediation and derive sufficient dry biomass, crop production must be adequately supported by agricultural practices, incl...
During the last couple of years, the traditionally mild climate of central Europe changed to very hot and dry (including the spring season). Local plants and crops need to deal with this stressful change causing a yield decrease. Primary aims were to explore simple ways of "hardening" Miscanthus x giganteus J.M.Greef, Deuter ex Hodk., Renvoize ener...
Biota play major roles in soil function and are highly sensitive to any disturbances including land degradations. However, it is not fully understood which organisms and what parameters can be useful in assessing soil quality. To fill this research gap we searched for good indicators of changes in environmental quality and to assess land degradatio...
The second generation energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) was cultivated in pots with mixtures of clean and petroleum industry contaminated soil affected by petroleum, Pb, Zn contamination and high salinity. The survival rate reached 100%, nevertheless the biomass parameters were negatively affected even in the lowest proportion of contaminate...
Miscanthus × giganteus proved good phytostabilization potentials in heavy metals-contaminated soils. However, the coexistence of multiple pollutants (heavy metals and organic) in soil is very common and renders remediation more complicated. The aim of the current work was to investigate the impacts of miscanthus crop on enhancing the health and qua...
Military activities can contaminate productive land with potentially toxic substances. The most common trace metal contaminant on military bases is lead (Pb). A field experiment was begun in 2016 at Fort Riley, KS, in an area with total soil Pb concentrations ranging from 900 to 1,500 mg kg-1 and near-neutral pH. The main objectives were to test th...
Microorganisms are important partners with plants in phytotechnology applications. Plant–microbe relationships in phytoremediation include those of rhizobacteria which colonize root surfaces and biodegrade organic contaminants and other organic matter; endophytic bacteria that colonize the inner surface of plant stems and biodegrade organic compoun...
Biota play major roles in soil function and are highly sensitive to any disturbances including land degradations. The objective of research was to evaluate the effectiveness of different methods used to determine soil quality in sandy soil, in particular to compare the microarthropod and vegetation indices. The following soil fauna indices were use...
Second-generation biofuel crop miscanthus is one of the most promising plants tested for phytomanagement of contaminated sites. In this preliminary pot case study, the most used hybrid Miscanthus x giganteus was cultivated in three different real contaminated soils: agricultural soil contaminated with Cd; post-military soil slightly contaminated wi...
Bioenergy crops such as Miscanthus x giganteus are foreseeable as an alternative source to replace fossil fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They are also assessed as an environment-friendly solution for polluted, marginal and low-quality agricultural soils. Several studies had been launched on soil organic carbon sequestration potentials of...
Glucose belongs among the most important substances in both physiology and industry. Current food and biotechnology praxis emphasizes its on-line continuous monitoring and regulation. These provoke increasing demand for systems, which enable fast detection and regulation of deviations from desired glucose concentration. We demonstrated control of g...
Use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) for cultivation of the biofuel crop Miscanthus × giganteus (Mxg) in post-military and post-mining sites is a promising approach for the bioremediation of soils contaminated by metals. In the present study, PGPB were isolated from contaminated soil and screened for tolerance against abiotic stresses caus...
The second-generation energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus (M. xgiganteus) is a perspective plant for phytor-emediation of contaminated lands and the production of biomass. The excellent quality biomass can be ensured by adding soil amendments or inoculation of the plant by plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). The main goal of the current study wa...
In this study, we show the repetitive detection of toluene on a tapered optical fiber element (OFE) with an attached layer of Pseudomonas putida TVA8 bioluminescent bioreporters. The bioluminescent cell layer was attached on polished quartz modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The repeatability of the preparation of the optical pro...
Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant of dominantly anthropogenic origin. A critical concern for human health is the introduction of mercury to the food chain; therefore, monitoring of mercury levels in agricultural soil is essential. Unfortunately, the total mercury content is not sufficiently informative as mercury can be present in dif...
Growing population and industrialization have resulted in a significant contamination of freshwater by a variety of micropollutants including endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Wastewater treatment plants cannot completely remove EDC yet, which then end up in wastewater effluents, and they are discharged directly into the environment. Rising co...
Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) is a promising second-generation biofuel crop with high production of energetic biomass. Our aim was to determine the level of plant stress of Mxg grown in poor quality soils using non-invasive physiological parameters and to test whether the stress could be reduced by application of plant growth regulators (PGRs). Plan...
Miscanthus x giganteus is a second-generation biofuel crop with C4-photosynthesis, efficient water usage and high resilience to environmental conditions. From sustainability point of view is promising its cultivation on marginal soils, such as brownfields or contaminated sites. These soils however provide suboptimal cultivation conditions which can...
Background: To determine the level of plant stress of second-generation biofuel crop Miscanthus x giganteus ( Mxg ) grown in poor quality post-military soils using physiological parameters; to identify impact of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the stress reduction and to select the fluorescence indicators most suitable for quantification of stres...
A whole-cell optical fiber sensor of toluene was prepared by the adsorption of Pseudomonas putida TVA8, the bacterial strain producing light in contact with toluene, in the form of biofilm. Bioreporter immobilization was facilitated by (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) treatment on the wider end of tapered quartz optical fiber element (OFE). R...
The impact of plant growth regulators (PGRs) “Stimpo” and “Regoplant” on Miscanthus x giganteus ( Mxg ) biomass parameters was investigated when the plant was grown in military soils with different properties from Dolyna, Ukraine and Hradcany, Czech Republic. The results showed that PGRs positively influenced the biomass parameters when the plant w...
Fertilization is a key factor for sustaining productivity in agroecosystems. A long-term experiment in cambisol following periodical application of several types of fertilization has been running at the experimental site since 1954. In this study, we determined the impact of applied inorganic and/or organic fertilizers on the activity of soil enzym...
Surfaces of solid polymer foils were modified by chemical methods. Surfaces were firstly activated by Piranha solution and then grafted with selected amino‐compounds (cysteamine, ethylenediamine and chitosan). Next step was established of cobaltacarborane compound. Selected surface properties were studied using various available methods to characte...
This article presents the development of selected heavy metals contained in river sediments at selected sites along the Bílina River. It describes the situation before the large flood in 2013, the situation just after that flood, the situation approximately 1 year after the flood, and 4 years after the flood. The contents of selected heavy metals f...
This study aims to summarize results on potential phytomanagement of two metal(loid)-polluted military soils using Miscanthus x giganteus. Such an option was tested during 2-year pot experiments with soils taken from former military sites in Sliač Slovakia and Kamenetz-Podilsky, Ukraine. The following elements were considered: As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, S...
Growing a second generation energetic plant Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) in former military sites appears to be a promising way to use such areas with synergic phytoremediation of contaminants (organic pollutants, potential toxic metals). Effect of Mxg growth on soil microbial communities during a two-year pot experiment with real post-military soi...
Stable antimicrobial nanofibrous membrane for air filtration based on polyamide 6 (hereafter PA6) modified by 1-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) has been prepared by electrospinning using one-step technology, i.e. with modifying antimicrobial agent dissolved in spinning solution. Stability of antibacterial membrane function has been tested b...
At present, there is great demand for new resistant and metabolically active strains of biodegrading bacteria capable of degrading high concentrations of petroleum pollutants. In this study, we undertook a series of pot-based biodegradation experiments on soil from a petroleum refinery lagoon heavily polluted with aliphatic hydrocarbons (81.6 ± 2.5...
Peculiarities of metals uptake by the biofuel crop Miscanthus x giganteus were explored during plant growth at soil from the military site (Sliač, Slovakia). The experiment was carried out in greenhouse during two vegetation seasons. Research soil was predominantly elevated in Fe and Ti, while other metals (As, Cu, Mn, Sr, Zn and Zr) were presented...
In the Protected Landscape Area “Labské pískovce” (Czech Republic), there are many sandstone caves accessible by permission only and where climbing equipment is commonly required. The tradition of visiting the caves dates back to turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and visitors traditionally record their visits in log-books. We have gathered atten...
Antimicrobial polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane modified by dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) has been electrospun using simple one-step technology, where the modifying agent DTAB is dissolved in spinning solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrokinetic analysis confirm reliably the presence of DTAB on the nanofibers surfa...
Activated sludge biocenoses were compared on waste-water treatment plants in the city of Kazan, Russian Federation and the city of Teplice, Czech Republic. Based on Palia-Kovnatski index, Acanthamoeba in Kazan, Epistylis in Teplice, and Acanthamoeba and Centropyxis were dominant genera in both plants. The major subdominant generas identified were A...
Chemical oxidations by hydrogen peroxide and/or persulfate represent promising pretreatment step foregoing bioremediation for removal of hydrophobic contaminants. The feasibility of hydrogen peroxide-based and sodium persulfate-based oxidation treatments on the real contaminated soil collected from petroleum lagoon deposit were evaluated. The resul...
Living cells of the lux-based bioluminescent bioreporter Pseudomonas putida TVA8 were encapsulated in a silica hydrogel attached to the distal wider end of a tapered quartz fiber. Bioluminescence of immobilized cells was induced with toluene at high (26.5 mg/L) and low (5.3 mg/L) concentrations. Initial bioluminescence maxima were achieved after >...
The semi-field research on using second-generation biofuel crop Miscanthus x giganteus for restoration of former military site in Kamenetz-Podilsky, Ukraine was carried out during two vegetation seasons. Despite high metal pollution of soil, in particular, by Fe, Mn, Ti, and Zr, no growth inhibition was observed. The concentrations followed pattern...
Soil is a key part of a biotope and microorganisms are dominant components contributing to soil functions. Conversely, established methods for valuation of biotopes according to Natura 2000 rely predominantly on the communities living on the surface. Here, we aimed to assess soil microbial biomass and community structure on five localities with ran...
This review summarizes principles and current stage of development of fiber-optic chemical sensors (FOCS) and biosensors (FOBS). Fiber optic sensor (FOS) systems use the ability of optical fibers (OF) to guide the light in the spectral range from ultraviolet (UV) (180 nm) up to middle infrared (IR) (10 μm) and modulation of guided light by the para...
The phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) content was determined in samples of Paracoccus denitrificans encapsulated in silica hydrogel films prepared from prepolymerized tetramethoxysilane (TMOS). Immediately after encapsulation the total PLFA concentration was linearly proportional to the optical density (600 nm) of the input microbial suspension (R2 =...
A few non-conventional humate sorbents, i.e. iron humate (FeH), aluminium humate (AlH), calcium humate (CaH), magnesium humate (MgH), and zinc humate (ZnH), were prepared from a commercial product Fortehum L/K (Humatex, Bílina, Czech Republic). The metal content in humates was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis, the organic elements (C, H, N...
The roles of indigenous and augmented microorganisms in the process of biodégradation of spilled diesel fuel (∼2 years old contamination, ∼2500 C10-C40 mg/kg initial concentration) were assessed in ∼2-month pot experiment as supporting information for selection of an applicable bioremediation method. Non-sterile soil and semi-sterile autoclaved soi...
Possible enhancement of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in agricultural soil after tank truck accident (
~
5000 mg/kg dry soil initial concentration) by bioaugmentation of diesel degrading Pseudomonas fluorescens strain and addition of abiotic additives (humates, zeolite) was studied in a 9-month pot experiment. The biodegradation process...
A set of 69 concentration-response (CR) curves from five acute ecotoxicity assays was fitted with a two-parameter logistic equation. High correlation between values of regression parameters suggested similar slopes of the curves. This enabled derivation of the empirical single-parameter logistic equation with the sole EC50 parameter. Such equation...
Initially described in 1990, Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44 served as the first whole-cell bioreporter genetically endowed with a bioluminescent (luxCDABE) phenotype directly linked to a catabolic (naphthalene degradative) pathway. HK44 was the first genetically engineered microorganism to be released in the field to monitor bioremediation potential....
The content of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) was determined in samples of polyvinyl alcohol lenses (Lentikats Biocatalyst, LB) with encapsulated Paracoccus denitrificans withdrawn during long-term denitrification experiments. The total PLFA content correlated highly with specific denitrification activities of LB as well as biomass estimation base...
Successful elimination of high concentrations of N–NO
x− (up to 250 mg/L) from high salinity wastewaters (up to 35 g/L Cl− + 17 g/L SO42−) originating from desulphurization process within coal power stations was achieved using pure cultures of denitrifying bacteria encapsulated in porous polyvinyl alcohol lenses (so called Lentikats Biocatalyst, LB...
Denitrifying Bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol matrix (so called Lentikats Biocatalyst; LB) was applied for the removal of nitrates from simulated ion-exchange brines (12.14 g.L-1 Cl-, 1.35 g.L-1 SO42-, and 2.26 g.L-1 N-NO3-). The effect of brines dilution on the denitrification activity of fresh Lentikats Biocata...
The hybrid biocatalysts comprising of living microbial cells encapsulated in inorganic or organic- inorganic matrices can be utilized in synthesis of pharmaceuticals, remediation technologies and biosensor construction. Silica, due to its biocompatibility, is a promising host for the purpose. The topic is reviewed starting from first experiments in...
The hybrid biocatalysts comprising of living microbial cells encapsulated in inorganic or organic- inorganic
matrices can be utilized in synthesis of pharmaceuticals, remediation technologies and biosensor construction. Silica, due to its biocompatibility, is a promising host for the purpose. The topic is reviewed starting from first experiments in...
The acute ecotoxicity of a set of mixture samples (washing powders, wastes, fuel extracts etc.) was assessed using four acute ecotoxicity assays with aquatic organisms (Daphnia magna, Poecilia reticulata, Artemia salina and Desmodesmus subspicatus). The experimental concentration-response curves were fitted by seven two-parameter sigmoid equations...
A series of batch tests was carried out in order to optimize denitrification of brines from the regeneration of ion-exchange columns (12.14g.L−1 Cl−, 1.35g.L−1 SO42−, up to 2.86g.L−1 N-NO3−) using Paracoccus denitrificans encapsulated in polyvinylalcohol matrix (Lentikats Biocatalyst, further LB). The elimination of nitrates followed zero-order kin...
The bioluminescence (BLM) and colony-forming units (CFU) of Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44 were monitored during encapsulation into pre-polymerized Si(OMe)₄. The non-induced BLM of free cells was increased in the presence of 0.5-2.5 % MeOH. After mixing silica sol with the cell suspension, both BLM and CFU dropped to 1-3 and 8-18 %, respectively; bot...
Seven hypotheses on relationships between the structure of naphthalene analogs and bioluminescence response of bioreporter Pseudomonas fluorescens were formulated using GUHA (General Unary Hypotheses Automaton) on a training set of 37 compounds. Prediction of bioluminescence response of 12 new naphthalene analogs was successful in 69 % cases and re...
In the last decade cell encapsulation/entrapment into inorganic matrices were reviewed but most of the emphasis and discussions have been focused on the development of inorganicorganic composite materials. Much less attention has been devoted to physiological state of immobilized cells, immobilization process itself, and operational stability of li...
Changes in the activity of extracellular enzymes (cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, chitinase, arylsulfatase and phosphatases) and the changes in microbial community and abiotic properties in the topsoil layer, as well as soil abiotic properties during primary succession were investigated in a brown coal mine deposit area near Sokolov...
Pseudomonasfluorescens HK44 is a lux-based bioluminescent bioreporter capable of selective luminescence in the presence of naphthalene and/or salicylic acid intermediate of its metabolism. We attempted to induce bioluminescence (BL) in this strain with 72 compounds, viz. substituted naphthalenes, naphthalene-like compounds (e.g., quinoline), substi...
Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44, a whole-cell bacterial bioreporter that responds to naphthalene and salicylate exposure by production of visible light, was immobilized to thick (1 mm) silica films prepared from pre-polymerized tetramethoxysilane. Bioluminescence was first detected 50 min after induction; maximum was reached after 4.5 h and followed s...
