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dissertation (3)

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2020 (5)

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Dissertation
Effect of biocomposites and biofertilisers on soil quality as part of a new approach to the valorisation of agricultural and agri-food waste
Authors: --- --- --- ---
Year: 2020 Publisher: Liège Université de Liège (ULiège)

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The world's population growth has led to the intensification of agriculture worldwide, which is accompanied by an increase in the use of chemical fertilisers and plastics, but also by huge food losses and waste. AGRIMAX is a European project funded by the European Union and whose goal is to valorise organic waste from the agro-food sector into different high value-added products such as packaging, food ingredients, biofertilisers, and films and pots, in a perspective of circular economy. The objective of this work was to assess the effects of films, pots and biofertilisers, developed in the project, on soil quality in order to validate and demonstrate the use of these products in agricultural applications.
In order to meet this objective, laboratory incubation experiments were set up over a 12-week period to test the impact of five biocomposites and three composts on different soil biochemical parameters. Among the biocomposites tested, two consisted of natural fibres and fungal mycelium, while the other three were bioplastics formed by a polybutylene succinate matrix (PBS). Two of the composts were improved by the addition of plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) and the third was a reference compost. The biodegradation of the products was evaluated according to the evolution of carbon mineralisation and was monitored over the entire incubation period, as was the net release of mineral nitrogen. CaCl2 extractable phosphorus, soil microbial biomass (MBC), phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and the enzymatic activities of dehydrogenase, beta-glucosidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase were measured only after 12 weeks.
The majority of the biocomposites showed a significant degradation after 12 weeks of incorporation into the soil and a net immobilisation of nitrogen. They also demonstrated their capacity to improve the soil microflora and its activities during biodegradation. The only major concern caused by biocomposites in this study was their impacts on nutrient availability, which could be problematic for microbial and plant growth if no external sources are supplied to the soil. Compost mineralisation was relatively low and not significantly different between the composts tested, demonstrating their potential to sequester carbon. In general, composts had little influence on all the parameters tested, probably related to the absence of vegetation and the short duration of the experiment. The results of this study suggest that the biocomposites and composts tested have the potential to maintain or promote soil microbial activities and thus maintain soil quality. These new material formulations are therefore promising for the development of a more sustainable agriculture where yesterday's wastes are tomorrow's resources.


Dissertation
BioLitter Toilet as a valorisation and management strategy for human excreta: Practices, challenges and opportunities
Authors: --- --- --- ---
Year: 2020 Publisher: Liège Université de Liège (ULiège)

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Human excreta, i.e. faeces and urine, can both be a resource and a health hazard. Thus, a treatment to ensure health protection can combine with the objective of resource recovery. This statement respects the Ecological Sanitation principle, i.e. sustainable sanitation approach closing the loop between sanitation and agriculture. In BioLitter Toilets, excreta are mixed with carbon-rich substrate, then composted to be recycled. Composting is a well known process widely used to recycle organic matter. However, its seems that composting has not been studied yet for human faeces and urine regarding low-tech household-scale systems in Belgium. The first objective of this work is thus the identification of management practices regarding BLTs operators using the snowball sampling method. The second objective consists of characterization of raw feedstocks and composts of different ages and inputs to collect quantitative data and discuss them regarding (a) the practices and process, (b) the agronomic value, (c) the potential health hazards. These results highlighted a broad range of management practices regarding dry toilets, with or without resource recovery, treatment, and thermophilic composting as a treatment. While technical aspects concerning the process and the logistics are theoretically easier to spot and solve, social reluctance and inconsistent practices are the main barrier to the development of this sanitation technique. Furthermore, quantitative characterisation suggest that thermophilic stage was not reached in several of the sampled composts, which impacts its sanitation potential. This result is confirmed by Enterococci values. Neither Salmonella nor Listeria monocytogenes pathogenic load were found in any sample. Management practices suggested include temperature monitoring and associated turnings and co-composting to increase volumes and potentially heat insulation and thermophilic conditions. Moreover, risk management strategies are considered to dismiss health hazard. An overview of the current state of the management practices in Belgium is finally proposed using the SWOT approach.


Dissertation
Phytoextraction d'un sol de jardin potager contaminé en éléments traces et effets d'amendements organiques sur leur mobilité et leur disponibilité
Authors: --- --- --- ---
Year: 2020 Publisher: Liège Université de Liège (ULiège)

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Contexte Les sols de potagers urbains et périurbains sont des systèmes complexes encore peu étudiés jusqu’à aujourd’hui et sont souvent le reflet des activités industrielles actuelles et passées. La présence d’éléments traces dans les sols n’est pas un problème à minimiser compte tenu des transferts sol - plante possibles, mettant à mal à la sécurité de la chaîne alimentaire. En réponse à cette problématique, la phytoextraction gagne en succès comme perspective de décontamination plus respectueuse de l’environnement et moins impactante sur le plan économique.
Objectifs Les objectifs de ce travail sont : i) étudier l’effet de la présence d’une plante extractrice, Helianthus annuus L. ou Brassica juncea (L.) Czern, sur la capacité de Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris, en culture associée, à extraire les formes mobiles des éléments traces présents dans un sol multi-contaminé urbain, ii) identifier le potentiel stabilisateur ou mobilisateur de l’ajout de compost de déchets verts et de biochar sur les formes mobiles ou facilement disponibles des éléments traces présents dans le sol, iii) évaluer les impacts de l’ajout de compost de déchets verts et de biochar sur la capacité des végétaux cultivés à extraire les éléments traces.
Méthodes Une expérience en pots et en champ a été mise en place sur une période de 14 semaines. L’expérience in situ a pris place dans un jardin potager, le Potager Saint – Germain, situé à Soiron (Province de Liège, Belgique) sur cinq zones dont l’horizon cultivé (0 – 20 cm) présente des niveaux de contamination différents en Zn, Cd et Pb. Le sol utilisé dans les pots provenait d’une de ces dernières. Les expérimentations consistent en une culture associée entre du tournesol ou de la moutarde et des bettes, sur un sol préalablement amendé avec du compost de déchets verts ou du biochar. La fraction soluble, disponible et pseudo-totale en éléments traces dans le sol ainsi que le pH et le COT ont été quantifiés. Les teneurs retrouvées dans la biomasse aérienne des plantes récoltées ont également été mesurées.
Résultats De manière générale, la présence d’une plante extractrice n’a pas permis de diminuer les teneurs accumulées par les bettes en deçà des valeurs seuils pour la commercialisation de ces dernières. Aucun des deux amendements organiques n’a conduit à une diminution systématique des teneurs solubles en Zn, Cd et Pb dans les sols. Cependant, le compost de déchets verts a limité les teneurs en Zn et Cd accumulées par les bettes. La culture associée a conduit à une importante disparité de biomasse produite par ces dernières à laquelle s’ajoute, en pots, un faible développement global des plantes dû à l’espace limité disponible.
Conclusions La variabilité visible dans les résultats ainsi que les divergences existantes entre l’essai en pots et en champ nécessitent l’établissement de nouvelles expérimentations pour mieux comprendre le comportement des interactions entre les contaminants, le sol et les plantes. La capacité extractrice de la moutarde brune ainsi que les effets bénéfiques des amendements organiques n’ont pas pu être mis systématiquement en évidence. Le caractère dynamique et évolutif des sols montre le besoin d’essais sur le long terme de manière à pouvoir mettre en évidence des tendances générales. L’urbanisation croissante combinée à la part d’autoconsommation grandissante de produits cultivés en ville poussent à continuer d’investiguer la présence d’éléments traces dans les sols et les techniques de remédiation.


Book
Biology of Composts
Authors: --- ---
ISBN: 3030391736 3030391728 Year: 2020 Publisher: Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer,

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This book highlights the latest findings on fundamental aspects of composting, the interaction of various microorganisms, and the underlying mechanisms. In addition to addressing modern tools and techniques used for composting research, it provides an overview of potential composting applications in both agriculture and environmental reclamation. Composting is the process of organic waste decomposition, mediated by microorganisms. The end-product is called ‘compost’ and can be used as a supplement to improve soil fertility. As the municipal waste generated in most developing countries contains a substantial amount of organic matter suitable for composting, this technology offers a win-win opportunity for stakeholders in terms of disposing of organic waste and providing organic fertilizers for agriculture. In addition, using compost reduces the dependency on harmful chemical fertilizers, and represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative.

Keywords

Microbiology. --- Microbial ecology. --- Plant science. --- Botany. --- Biotechnology. --- Waste management. --- Geoecology. --- Environmental geology. --- Microbial Ecology. --- Plant Sciences. --- Waste Management/Waste Technology. --- Geoecology/Natural Processes. --- Geoecology --- Environmental protection --- Physical geology --- Chemical engineering --- Genetic engineering --- Botanical science --- Phytobiology --- Phytography --- Phytology --- Plant biology --- Plant science --- Biology --- Natural history --- Plants --- Environmental microbiology --- Microorganisms --- Ecology --- Microbiology --- Microbial biology --- Microbial ecology --- Automation. --- Health aspects. --- Floristic botany --- Microbiologia --- Compostatge --- Geologia ambiental --- Agricultura --- Agronomia --- Ciències de la vida --- Agricultura biològica --- Agricultura de muntanya --- Agricultura de precisió --- Agricultura de subsistència --- Agricultura sostenible --- Agricultura urbana --- Agrosilvicultura --- Aqüicultura --- Arbres --- Boscos --- Climatologia agrícola --- Conreu --- Conreus de regadiu --- Conreus extensius --- Dones en l'agricultura --- Extensió agrària --- Floricultura --- Indústria agrícola --- Indústria ramadera --- Investigació agrícola --- Jardineria --- Millorament selectiu de plantes --- Pagesia --- Pastures --- Productes agrícoles --- Protecció de les plantes --- Revolució verda --- Silvicultura --- Zootècnia --- Història de l'agricultura --- Pagesos --- Ramaderia --- Geoecologia --- Geologia del medi ambient --- Geofísica --- Catàstrofes naturals --- Medi ambient --- Preparació del compost --- Reciclatge de residus --- Compost --- Recuperació de residus --- Biologia --- Bacteriologia --- Ecologia microbiana --- Genètica microbiana --- Microbiologia agrícola --- Microbiologia aquàtica --- Microbiologia dels sòls --- Microbiologia mèdica --- Microbiologia molecular --- Protozous --- Química microbiològica --- Virologia --- Microorganismes --- Microscòpia


Book
Microbial Technology for Health and Environment
Author:
ISBN: 9811526796 9811526788 Year: 2020 Publisher: Singapore : Springer Singapore : Imprint: Springer,

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Rampant industrialization has caused high levels of contamination by various toxic chemicals in our water bodies, which is a matter of concern in terms of ecosystems, as well as human and animal health. Polluted wastewater can contaminate drinking water and is also is a causal factor for bio-magnification of heavy metals into our food cycle. In the last decade, several methodologies have been adopted to clean the wastewaters, and among these, microbial remediation has emerged as an effective technology. Several variants of microbial technologies have been developed for wastewater treatment and biodegradation specific to the industry, type of waste and toxicity of the chemicals. This book describes the recent advances in microbial degradation and microbial remediation of various xenobiotic compounds in soil and wastewater. It also explains various modern microbial technologies for biodegradation and wastewater treatment. It covers various microbial technologies for wastewater treatment, biodegradation, bioremediation and solid waste management. Gathering contributions from leading international it focuses on the status quo in industrial wastewater treatment and its biodegradation. The book is intended for researchers in the field of industrial wastewater, students of environmental sciences and practitioners in water pollution abatement.

Keywords

Microbiology. --- Water pollution. --- Pollution prevention. --- Environmental engineering. --- Biotechnology. --- Environmental chemistry. --- Waste Water Technology / Water Pollution Control / Water Management / Aquatic Pollution. --- Industrial Pollution Prevention. --- Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology. --- Environmental Chemistry. --- Chemistry, Environmental --- Chemistry --- Ecology --- Chemical engineering --- Genetic engineering --- Environmental control --- Environmental effects --- Environmental stresses --- Engineering --- Environmental health --- Environmental protection --- Pollution --- Sustainable engineering --- Prevention of pollution --- Aquatic pollution --- Fresh water --- Fresh water pollution --- Freshwater pollution --- Inland water pollution --- Lake pollution --- Lakes --- Reservoirs --- River pollution --- Rivers --- Stream pollution --- Water contamination --- Water pollutants --- Water pollution --- Waste disposal in rivers, lakes, etc. --- Microbial biology --- Biology --- Microorganisms --- Control --- Prevention and control --- Microbial biotechnology. --- Microbiota. --- Biotechnology --- Industrial microbiology --- Biotechnological microorganisms --- Biotechnologies --- Microbial Community --- Microbial Community Composition --- Microbial Community Structure --- Human Microbiome --- Microbiome --- Microbiome, Human --- Community Composition, Microbial --- Community Structure, Microbial --- Community, Microbial --- Composition, Microbial Community --- Human Microbiomes --- Microbial Communities --- Microbial Community Compositions --- Microbial Community Structures --- Microbiomes --- Microbiotas --- Metagenome --- Microorganismos y Agricultura (70745215) |x Bibliografía recomendada --- Biotecnologia microbiana --- Contaminants --- Sòls --- Depuració d'aigües residuals --- Desinfecció d'aigües residuals --- Purificació d'aigües residuals --- Tractament d'aigües residuals --- Bacteriologia --- Plantes de tractament d'aigües residuals --- Reutilització de l'aigua --- Tractament biològic de depuració d'aigües residuals --- Aigües residuals --- Geomaterials --- Compost --- Drenatge --- Humus --- Laterita --- Partícules (Matèria) --- Recuperació de terres --- Regatge --- Rizosfera --- Sòls àcids --- Sòls agrícoles --- Sòls àrids --- Sòls forestals --- Sòls gelats --- Sòls volcànics --- Subsòls --- Aeració dels sòls --- Química agrícola --- Agents contaminants --- Contaminants ambientals --- Contaminants químics --- Productes contaminants --- Substàncies contaminants --- Productes químics --- Contaminants orgànics de l'aigua --- Contaminants persistents --- Lixiviats --- Contaminació --- Biotecnologia de microorganismes --- Biotecnologia --- Microbiologia industrial --- Conversió de la biomassa

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