Magdalena Zborowska

• Professor
• Professor at University of Life Sciences in Poznań

Forest biomass is a renewable source of environmentally friendly material—wood. However, wood processing generates large amounts of by-products, including branches. These byproducts are often used as firewood; however, they can be used much more effectively. In this study, the pyrolysis of two woods, namely birch and pine, was proposed. The liquid...

This work focuses on the changes in the chemical composition of wood caused by impregnation with fire retardants such as guanidine carbonate (GC), urea (U), diammonium phosphate (DAP) and their mixtures. The treated wood was tested using the oxygen index (LOI), Py–GC/MS analysis and FTIR Spectroscopy. The wood was vacuum treated at a pressure of 0....

The COST EU-PoTaRCh Action establishes a network focused on the past, present, and future significance, production, and use of major forest by-products in Europe and beyond. The Action centers around forest by-products—primarily potash, tar, resin, and charcoal (PoTaRCh), along with plant extracts—which have been produced and utilized for over 100,...

Archaeological wooden objects can be preserved for millennia in waterlogged environments where the action of primary biodegradation agents is limited. When wooden artifacts are removed from the waterlogged environment specific stabilization or consolidation treatments are needed to prevent damage during drying.The consolidant fills the gaps of cell...

In view of the concept of circular economy and the zero waste approach agricultural residues can be viewed as sustainable and viable biomass resources for nanocellulose production. Therefore, this paper presents a method of obtaining cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from non-invasive and fast-growing grass genera, Miscanthus (M. sacchariflorus and M. s...

Environmental conditions present in mines generally are very favourable to decay; high temperature, high humidity, variable oxygen content, numerous metal-wood connections and the presence of a high content of inorganic compounds typical of mines have a significant impact on the biotic and abiotic degradation factors. The state of conservation of w...

The research aimed to obtain empirical data for modeling the initial desorption in reaction wood from the cross-section of the green beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) log. Firstly, we analyzed the chemical composition, macro and microscopic structure of tension wood tension and opposite wood tissue. Then, the Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) was measure...

Tilia cordata Mill. is a favourite tree used in urban spaces. For this reason, it is important to know its sensitivity to environmental stress, which is particularly burdensome for vegetation in urban spaces. The aim of the study was to investigate the properties necessary to control the growth of these trees and their subsequent use, i.e., chemica...

StAr project - Development of Storage and assessment methods suited for organic archaeological artefacts – started in 2020 within the framework of Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPI-CH) Conservation, Protection and Use. The project arises from the need for chemical-physical stabilization strategies of archaeolo...

With the depletion of fossil fuel feedstocks, the lignocellulosic biomass, including the agro-wastes, can serve as the best alternative source to produce activated carbons (ACs). Corn biomass (corn leaves, stalks, cobs without kernels, silk, and kernels) were used to produce ACs in a two-step process. Crushed plant material was carbonized at 600 °C...

The aim of the study was to determine the quantitative and qualitative changes taking place in biomass components actively participating in methane fermentation, i.e., in carbohydrates, as a result of chemical pretreatment. Analyses were conducted on agricultural waste (corn stover, also called corn straw, and corncobs) as materials most commonly u...

Miscanthus species are characterized by high yield of photosynthesis and biomass production, even under low-temperature conditions - in contrast to typical C4 plants from tropical and subtropical regions. This feature has made Miscanthus biomass one of the most promising feedstock for biofuel and bioproduct industry. In addition, unique features of...

In the described study, the relationships between the percentage and structure of selected lignocellulosic components and the efficiency of their anaerobic digestion and the quality of the produced biogas were analyzed. This research included various lignocellulosic raw materials. The biogas efficiency and quality tests were carried out according t...

Residues obtained after wood biomass liquefaction were used as precursors for the synthesis of two activated biochars. The source of biomass liquefaction constituted of industrial wood processing by‐products, including bark and wood sawdust. The liquefied residues were analyzed in terms of chemical components and structure. Carbonization under nitr...

Key message Studied organic molecules in Pinus sylvestris L. seem to have acted as a safety net for metal transport, chelation and sequestration, allowing adaptation and growth under highly polluted conditions. Abstract Pinus sylvestris L. is known for its ability to survive in areas of highly elevated metal pollution, such as flotation tailings....

Low-intensity drying is widely believed to protect waterlogged archeological wood against the adverse effects of dimensional alteration and cracking. However, slow drying generates substantial costs for the conservation process. This study compares the effects on conservation of highly-degraded sapwood (SW) and slightly-degraded heartwood (HW) from...

The external and internal factors in the tree development process affect wooden structures and properties. They depend on, for example, a plant species, its age, part and growth conditions. The present study investigated the chemical structure and physical properties of the common urban tree species: small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.). The pro...

Aqueous ammonia vapors were found to affect the color and structure of oak (Quercus L.) and Robinia pseudoacacia L. woods. The modification process was performed using 5% or 10% ammonia concentration at a temperature of 120 °C, 130 °C, or 140 °C. Wood mass and volume change coefficients were determined. The degree of wood discoloration was determin...

The open-air Archaeological Museum in Biskupin (Poland) preserves and shows to the public a prehistoric settlement of Lusatian culture dating back to Early Iron Age (eighth century BC). The monitoring of the environment and dynamics of the wood degradation in the burial conditions at the site is fundamental for the in situ preservation of archaeolo...

A study was made of the decomposition of oak wood samples deposited in different environments on the Lusatian culture site in Biskupin, Poland. Waterlogged archaeological wood samples were examined after 10 years of deposition in peat, sand or mineral soil or in a water-filled trench. Wood decay was evaluated on the basis of wood mass loss, sample...

Changes in chemical composition and structure of corncob lignocellulosic biomass were investigated relative to pretreatment and anaerobic digestion. The pretreatment involved 1% and 3% sodium hydroxide, 3% and 7% sulphuric acid, as well as medium and high temperature extrusion (in 110 °C and in the range from 140 °C to 160 °C). The chemical compone...

The article describes a pilot study on a wastewater treatment plant operating a biogas plant (2.793 MW). The authors of the experiment used organic waste material, including: chicken fat with feathers (FF), molasses (M), glycerol (GL), raw sewage sludge (SS) and digested sewage sludge as an inoculum. The parameters of raw and digested sludge were c...

A study was made of the degradation of archaeological Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at the Iron Age archaeological site of Biskupin, Poland. Wood degradation was evaluated after 10 years of deposition of samples in different burial conditions (mineral soil, peat and water) and at different depths (25, 50 and 100 cm) at the location of the origin...

The aim of this study was to examine some properties of heat-treated (200 °C) and densified (treated) bamboo. Density (ρ), equilibrium moisture content (EMC), sorption hysteresis (H), swelling (S), and Brinell hardness (HB) were examined and compared with untreated bamboo (Phyllostachys sp.) and common oak (Quercus robur L.). The density of heat-tr...

Production of bioethanol from Miscanthus biomass has been studied for years, yet many important aspects still remain to be evaluated and optimised. It may be assumed that the three-year yield-building phase of Miscanthus growth would be sufficient for stabilisation of biomass composition to provide suitable biomass as a bioethanol feedstock. Such e...

A study was made on the degradation of contemporary heartwood of oak (Quercus sp.) buried in waterlogged peat on the archaeological site at Biskupin (Poland). The state of wood preservation was evaluated after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years of deposition of samples in conditions similar to anaerobic. The changes that occurred in the wood were assessed on...

The chemical composition of wood depends on many factors, including plant growth conditions. Among the many dangerous elements it was decided in this study to select arsenic in various forms: As(III), As(V) and cacodylic acid (DMAA), as well as various concentrations and mutual combinations. The experiment was conducted on 1-year old elm seedlings...

It can be found that reaction mechanisms and interactions between wood and organosilicone compounds have not been sufficiently explored. The aim of the study was to determine bonds formed between either cellulose or lignin and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMOS) during a catalytic silanization reaction. Silanization was performed in the presence of two...

The aim of the research is to identify the changes which occur in lignin from miscanthus and sorghum, one of the main biomass components, as a result of an anaerobic digestion (AD) process. The percentage content and structure of lignin before and after the fermentation process were analysed using biomass harvested in two growing periods—before and...

Maize residues were disintegrated and (i) treated with dild. H 2 SO 4 and NaOH to hydrolyze the cellulose and heated in aq. suspension at 100°C for 3 h or (ii) extruded at 110°C and 140-160°C. The raw material prepd. was fermented by using MeH bacteria without any prodn. of biogas. The fermentation process resulted in changes in the chem. structure...

Pinus sylvestris L. is the most popular wood material used in building construction and pulp technology. However, it can be also applied for other, more economically beneficial purposes like ethanol, commercial quantities of xylose or glucose as well as substrates for chemical synthesis. The selection of an optimal conversion path of wood should be...

The aim of the study was to compare specimens of Salix viminalis L. able to grow in polluted mining sludge (A1) with specimens of the same willow clone growing in two unpolluted areas (A2 and A3). Plants from the polluted area were characterized by the highest accumulation of the majority of elements in their organs with a clear limitation of their...

An analysis was performed on samples from a series of well-preserved tree trunks and in situ stumps of Allerød/Younger Dryas age found in Koźmin and Kwiatków, Kolska Basin, Central Poland. Five different types of wood preparation methods were investigated in three Polish radiocarbon laboratories (Gliwice, Poznań and Krakow) in order to find the mos...

Trees of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) are known for their effective phytoextraction capabilities. The results obtained in this study point to the significant role of substrate composition and chemical characteristics in the phytoextraction potential of this species. A multi-elemental (53 elements) analysis of pines from unpolluted (soil) and po...

The study concerns the conservation problem of large scale elements of irregularly degraded archaeological wood being characterized by different susceptibility to agents responsible for wood consolidation and bulking. The conservation effectiveness was established for processes carried out with PEG solutions of different molecular weight with respe...

The archaeological site of Biskupin (Poland) is a prehistoric settlement dating to the 8th century BC, situated on a marshy island. Excavations started in 1934 and a considerable number of wooden artifacts were found in the lake water. Unfortunately, during many years of archaeological excavations, wooden remains deposited in the trenches were expo...

A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation of pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) and oak ( Quercus sp.) wood samples exposed to various types of natural degradation is presented with the aim of discussing the correct identification of multiple degradation signs in waterlogged wood. This is part of an experiment performed at the archeological site of...

The purpose of the paper is designation of the changes in the structure of cellulose after the methane fermentation process of Miscanthus and Sorghum harvested during the growing season and afterwards. The percentage and structure of cellulose before and after fermentation were studied. Investigations into changes of the cellulose structure were co...

Willow (Salix sp.) is one of the most common hardwood species suitable for short-rotation coppice. It can be converted to different products, including chemicals, fuels, fibers or furniture. It may also be used in agriculture and environmental engineering. Molecular composition of biomass and its physical properties highly influence effectiveness o...

Cellulosic pulp was analysed after two and five years of natural ageing in two different burial environments - lake water and peat soil - in order to investigate the chemical and structural changes undergone by the material. This research is part of a monitoring program developed in the archaeological site of Biskupin, whose final aim is to estimat...

This paper describes a pilot-scale study for a wastewater treatment plant, operating a biogas plant (2.793 MW). In the experiment, the authors used organic waste material, including: chicken fat with feathers (FF), molasses (M), glycerol (GL), raw sewage sludge (SS) and a digested sewage sludge as inoculum. The parameters of the raw sludge and the...

This paper describes a pilot-scale study for a wastewater treatment plant, operating a biogas plant (2.793 MW). In the experiment, the authors used organic waste material, including: chicken fat with feathers (FF), molasses (M), glycerol (GL), raw sewage sludge (SS) and a digested sewage sludge as inoculum. The parameters of the raw sludge and the...

This paper describes a pilot-scale study for a wastewater treatment plant, operating a biogas plant (2.793 MW). In the experiment, the authors used organic waste material, including: chicken fat with feathers (FF), molasses (M), glycerol (GL), raw sewage sludge (SS) and a digested sewage sludge as inoculum. The parameters of the raw sludge and the...

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the quality of habitat and the quality of Scots pine wood. We focused on the wood from mature stands growing on poor habitats on inland dunes in the Notecka Forest and on former farmlands (central and western Poland). We selected 12 trees, from which we took wood samples for tree ring i...

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the quality of habitat and the quality of Scots pine wood. We focused on the wood from mature stands growing on poor habitats on inland dunes in the Notecka Forest and on former farmlands (central and western Poland). We selected 12 trees, from which we took wood samples for tree ring i...

The results of anaerobic digestion (AD) of buttermilk (BM) and cheese whey (CW) with a digested sewage sludge as inoculum is described. The substrate/inoculum mixtures were prepared using 10% buttermilk and 15% cheese whey. The essential parameters of the materials were described, including: total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), pH, conductivity...

The objective of the study was to characterize the UV light resistance of one of the exotic wood species -ipe (Tabebuia sp) - commonly used in the furniture industry, using the colorimetric and infrared spectroscopy analyses. A softwood species, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), was also studied for comparison purposes. Based on the results obtaine...

The archaeological wood from the rampart of the Poznań stronghold built in the 10th century was subjected to the investigations. The material was obtained during the excavations and conservation works of the earthen and wooden relicts. The archaeological wood, both untreated and treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), was characterized by determini...

Eight samples of ca. 3000 year old oak wood from the Biskupin site and a piece of sound oak (Quercus sp.) wood were analysed. The degradation state of archaeological oak wood was investigated using two analytical approaches: classical wet chemical analysis and analytical pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) wit...

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of acid and alkaline treatment of pine wood on photodegradation. The work presented here deals with changes in the wood colour and infrared spectrum caused by UV light. The colour changes were monitored with a reflectance spectrophotometer. The analysis of the colour changes in wood surfa...

This study presents results of studies on emissions of volatile organic compounds from lacquer products containing nanoparticles of inorganic metal compounds (SiO2, TiO2, and Ag). The lacquers selected for analyses were applied on the surface of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood. Tests were conducted by gas chromatography coupled with mass spec...

Estimation of the degradation state is a first and fundamental phase for proper maintenance and conservation of wooden artefacts. Wood is exposed to various degrading agents during its service life. Significant changes of physical, mechanical and chemical properties occur to wood as a consequence of such degradation. The goal of this work was to un...

At the Koźmin Las site, in Central Poland, in the middle section of the Warta River valley, a series of well-preserved tree trunks and in situ stumps, as well as organic deposits, have been found. The tree remains are dated back to the period between 13,000–12,600 cal BP, i.e. to the Alleröd/Younger Dryas transition. The forest con-sisted predomina...

Lignocellulosic biomass is a natural, renewable and highly versatile resource. In recent years, woody biomass produced in short rotation coppices has become increasingly popular. Hence, this research was undertaken to assess the thermophysical and chemical properties of willow, poplar and black locust stems in relation to a soil fertilization regim...

The macromolecular complexity of wood limits the possibility of obtaining complete chemical information on its alteration in archaeological objects. This paper compares the results obtained in the characterisation of the components of archaeological wood by a classical wet chemical method and by an instrumental method based on pyrolysis in presence...

A combination of analytical pyrolysis with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was used to study the chemical composition and level of decay of wood objects from the historical site of the Wieliczka salt mine (Poland). The site has been on UNESCO's First World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage since 1978. The wood is located und...

This paper presents the results of the first phase of a research on changes in strength properties in cellulose naturally degrading (for two years) in peat soil and in water. The examined cellulose material manifested significant mass losses as well as changes in its chemical properties. Strength properties of the investigated material were found d...

Experiments were performed to study dimensional stability of well-preserved 2700-year old oak wood from Biskupin excavations after its treatment with polyethylen glycol (PEG) 300 and PEG 4000 solutions, freeze-drying and seasoning at air relative humidity of 52 %. The following parameters were determined: polyglycol uptake, water content, wood shri...

Archaeological wood, as most of natural materials, is slowly decomposing on the archaeological site due to various biological factors. Rapid and accurate estimation of the degradation level is extremely important for optimal restoration and conservation. The goal of this research was to verify the effectiveness of Fourier transform near infrared (F...

This study made an attempt to determine the impact of the concentration and duration of treatment with a solution of NaOH on two fast-growing wood species: willow (Salix viminalis) and poplar (Populus alba). The contents of the following structural constituents were determined: cellulose, pentosans and lignin. The duration of treatment with NaOH di...

In this study was to determine the impact of sodium hydroxide concentrations and duration of treatment on the non-structural constituents of two fast growing wood species: willow (Salix viminalis) and poplar. Alkalisation of willow and poplar wood with sodium hydroxide solutions of 10 to 20 % concentrations resulted in the removal of significant qu...

Archeological wood, as most of natural materials, is slowly decomposing on the archeological site due to various biological factors. In a consequence of such degradation significant changes within physical, mechanical and chemical properties are occurring. Rapid and accurate estimation of the degradation level is extremely important as it influence...

SYNOPSIS. The goal of this research was to exploit the potential of near infrared spectroscopy to measure and characterise various types of surfaces common in the wood/related products and to present their capabilities for application into wood re-search and industry. Wooden blocks originated from different countries, of various wood species and di...

SYNOPSIS. The goal of this research was to exploit the potential of near infrared spectroscopy to measure and characterise various types of surfaces common in the wood/related products and to present their capabilities for application into wood research and industry. Wooden blocks originated from different countries, of various wood species and dif...

The authors of this article made an attempt to evaluate some physical and mechanical properties and to determine chemical and element contents of Santos rosewood (Macbaerium scleroxylon Tul.) species. The wood was found to contain a very high content of extractive substances reaching 15.55%, the proportion of mineral compounds much higher than in o...

Investigations were carried out on the contemporary wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) recovered following a two-year period of deposition in conditions of a wet archaeological site in Biskupin. The impact of the natural environment on the ex-amined wood was assessed on the basis of: its infestation by microorganisms, mass loss, selected phys...

The article compares changes taking place within the cellulose systems of four wooden archaeological objects differing with regard to the conditions and length of deposition in the natural environment. In order to characterise the changes concerning the analysed component, its percentage proportion as well as mean weight and number molecular mass,...

The article presents results of current investigations carried out on archaeological oak wood recovered during excavation works conducted in Biskupin in a Lusatian culture settlement from the 8th century BC. The performed investigations comprised the determination of physical (maximum water content, conventional density and loss of wood mass) and c...

The authors investigated changes which occurred in the heartwood of the contemporary oak wood (Quercus sp.) left for two years in wet peat – in conditions in which the remains of the Lusatian culture fortified settlement in Biskupin are deposited. The degree of the degradation of the wood tissue was determined on the basis of the mass loss, some se...

In ca. 700-year-old woods, pine and fir, dug out from a 2-m deep soil layer, pH 7.75, wood losses were 55.8 and 26.4%, holocellulose losses 74.35 and 24.2%, hemicellulose losses 90.4 and 44.8%, cellulose rises in holocellulose 36.7 and 9.70/6, cellulose left 34.9 and 83.2%, lignin lost 24.7 and 21.4%, max. moisture 473 and 318%, mineral content tri...