Oak Ash Research Articles

Removal of Cefuroxime from Soils Amended with Pine Bark, Mussel Shell and Oak Ash

The global increase in antibiotics consumption has caused hazardous concentrations of these antimicrobials to be present in soils, mainly due to the spreading of sewage sludge (or manure or slurry) and wastewater, and they could enter the food chain, posing serious risks to the environment and human health. One of these substances of concern is cefuroxime (CFX). To face antibiotics-related environmental pollution, adsorption is one of the most widely used techniques, with cost-effective and environmentally friendly byproducts being of clear interest to retain pollutants and increase the adsorption capacity of soils. In light of this, in this work, three low-cost bioadsorbents (pine bark, oak ash, and mussel shell) were added to different soil samples (at doses of 12 and 48 t/ha) to study their effects on the adsorption of CFX. Specifically, batch experiments were carried out for mixtures of soils and bioadsorbents, adding a range of different antibiotic concentrations at a fixed ionic strength. The results showed that the addition of pine bark (with pH = 3.99) increased the adsorption to 100% in most cases, while oak ash (pH = 11.31) and mussel shell (pH = 9.39) caused a clearly lower increase in adsorption (which, in some cases, even decreased). The Freundlich and linear models showed rather good adjustment to the experimental data when the bioadsorbents were added at both doses, while the Langmuir model showed error values which were too high in many cases. Regarding desorption, it was lower than 6% for the soils without bioadsorbents, and there was no desorption when the soils received bioadsorbent amendments. These results show that the addition of appropriate low-cost bioadsorbents to soils can be effective for adsorbing CFX, helping in the prevention of environmental pollution due to this emerging contaminant, which is a result of clear relevance to environmental and human health.

Azithromycin removal using pine bark, oak ash and mussel shell

Adsorption is considered an interesting option for removing antibiotics from the environment because of its simple design, low cost, and potential efficiency. In this work we evaluated three by-products (pine bark, oak ash, and mussel shell) as bio-adsorbents for the antibiotic azithromycin (AZM). Furthermore, they were added at doses of 48 t ha−1 to four different soils, then comparing AZM removal for soils with and without bio-adsorbents. Batch-type experiments were used, adding AZM concentrations between 2.5 and 600 μmol L−1 to the different bio-adsorbents and soil + bio-adsorbent mixtures. Regarding the bio-adsorbents, oak ash showed the best adsorption scores (9600 μmol kg−1, meaning >80% retention), followed by pine bark (8280 μmol kg−1, 69%) and mussel shell (between 3000 and 6000 μmol kg−1, 25–50% retention). Adsorption data were adjusted to different models (Linear, Freundlich and Langmuir), showing that just mussel shell presented an acceptable fitting to the Freundlich equation, while pine bark and oak ash did not present a good adjustment to any of the three models. Regarding desorption, the values were always below the detection limit, indicating a rather irreversible adsorption of AZM onto these three by-products. Furthermore, the results showed that when the lowest concentrations of AZM were added to the not amended soils they adsorbed 100% of the antibiotic, whereas when the highest concentrations of AZM were spread, the adsorption decreased to 55%. However, when any of the three bio-adsorbents was added to the soils, AZM adsorption reached 100% for all the antibiotic concentrations used. Desorption was null in all cases for both soils with and without bio-adsorbents. These results, corresponding to an investigation carried out for the first time for the antibiotic AZM, can be seen as relevant in the search of low-cost alternative treatments to face environmental pollution caused by this emerging contaminant.

Fine-Tuning Grape Phytochemistry: Examining the Distinct Influence of Oak Ash and Potassium Carbonate Pre-Treatments on Essential Components

Understanding the impact of pre-treatment methods on the phytochemical composition of grapes is essential for optimizing grape quality and producing raisins with desirable characteristics. Therefore, this study meticulously analyzed the impact of two distinct pre-treatment methods, oak ash and potassium carbonate (K2CO3), on the composition of essential phytochemical components in grapes. This research encompassed phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and phytoalexins. This study investigates the impact of pre-treatment methods, oak ash and K2CO3, on the phytochemical composition of grapes. Significant differences were observed in anthocyanins, flavonoids, phytoalexins, and phenolic acids between the treatments. Oak ash exhibited advantages in preserving specific compounds, including higher levels of anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, catechins, resveratrol, pterostilbene, and viniferin, compared to K2CO3. Notably, the delphinidin-3-O-glycoside content was significantly higher in the oak ash treatment. An analysis of phenolic compounds revealed distinctions in hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetaldehyde. Additionally, gallic acid, vanillic acid, trans-caffeic acid, trans-p-coumaric acid, and (-)-epicatechin were significantly more prevalent in the K2CO3 treatment, while ferulic acid and quercetin were more prevalent in the oak ash treatment. These findings underscore the pivotal role of pre-treatment methods in shaping the phytochemical content of grapes, thus holding critical implications for grape-derived products’ quality and potential health benefits.

Simultaneous adsorption of amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin on agricultural soils and by-products used as bio-adsorbents: Unraveling the interactions in complex systems

The presence of pharmaceuticals in agricultural soils, like amoxicillin (AMX) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), poses a significant environmental challenge with potential implications for ecosystems and human well-being. This study explores the simultaneous adsorption of AMX and CIP on crop soils and bio-adsorbents, focusing on competitive adsorption dynamics. Tests were conducted with varying pharmaceutical concentrations in six soils and three bio-adsorbents. CIP consistently exhibited higher adsorption than AMX, particularly at higher concentrations. In the binary system, AMX's adsorption exceeded the individual system at higher concentrations, implying a synergistic effect. Bio-adsorbents, especially pine bark and oak ash, displayed superior adsorption capacities compared to soils. Some soils exhibited enhanced adsorption and retention of both antibiotics simultaneously, aligning with the cooperative adsorption model. Freundlich's adsorption model described the competitive adsorption systems well. These findings have implications for addressing antibiotic contamination in agricultural ecosystems, offering insights into complex interactions in soil environments amid rising pharmaceutical concerns.

Laboratory evaluation of oak ash waste for use in hot mix asphalt modification

In this study, the effect of Oak Ash (OA), a biomass waste, on the mechanical properties of hot mix asphalt (HMA) was investigated and its usability in road engineering was evaluated. For this purpose, firstly, various physical and chemical properties of B70/100 penetration class pure asphalt, OA and crushed limestone aggregate were determined. Then, the optimum asphalt content (OAC) of the mixture was determined according to the Marshall mix design method using aggregate and pure asphalt. Based on this determined content, pure and OA added (1%, 2%, 4% and 6% by weight of asphalt) modified hot mix specimens were prepared. Pure and OA added modified mixture specimens were subjected to Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength (ITS), moisture damage, indirect tensile stiffness modulus (ITSM), static-dynamic creep and calorie tests. According to the results obtained, it has been determined that the OA additive has an improving effect on all mechanical properties of the mixtures, especially on the permanent deformation resistance at high temperatures. It is considered that the use of this additive at a rate of 2% in the hot mixture can increase the resistance of the pavement against deterioration and reduce the maintenance and repair costs of the road.

Adsorption of antibiotics on bio-adsorbents derived from the forestry and agro-food industries

Antibiotic consumption at high levels in both human and veterinary populations pose a risk to their eventual entry into the food chain and/or water bodies, which will adversely affect the health of living organisms. In this work, three materials from forestry and agro-food industries (pine bark, oak ash and mussel shell) were investigated as regards their potential use as bio-adsorbents in the retention of the antibiotics amoxicillin (AMX), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and trimethoprim (TMP). Batch adsorption/desorption tests were conducted, adding increasing concentrations of the pharmaceuticals individually (from 25 to 600 μmol L−1), reaching maximum adsorption capacities of ≈ 12000 μmol kg−1 for the three antibiotics, with removal percentages of ≈ 100% for CIP, 98–99% adsorption for TMP onto pine bark, and 98–100% adsorption for AMX onto oak ash. The presence of high calcium contents and alkaline conditions in the ash favored the formation of cationic bridges with AMX, whereas the predominance of hydrogen bonds between pine bark and TMP and CIP functional groups explain the strong affinity and retention of these antibiotics. The Freundlich's model provided the best prediction for AMX adsorption onto oak ash and mussel shell (heterogeneous adsorption), whereas the Langmuir's model described well AMX adsorption onto pine bark, as well as CIP adsorption onto oak ash (homogeneous and monolayer adsorption), while all three models provided satisfactory results for TMP. In the present study, the results obtained were crucial in terms of valorization of these adsorbents and their subsequent use to improve the retention of antibiotics of emerging concern in soils, thereby preventing contamination of waters and preserving environment quality.

Effect of debittering process by the lye instead of NaOH on phenolic components and sensory properties of pickled olive fruits

In this study, the effect of debittering methods (normal water, brine, oak ash and NaOH) on the phenolic compounds and sensory properties of olives in the production of pickled olives was investigated. The hydroxytyrosol contents of the control group olives of Ayvalık and Gemlik olives were determined as 92.37 and 67.73 mg/100 g, respectively. The hydroxytyrosol contents of scratched fermented “Ayvalık” olives debittered in normal water, brine, oak ash and NaOH were detected between 30.49 (0.day) to 58.0 mg/100 g (30.day), 24.41 (10.day) to 80.43 mg/100 g (0.day), 37.75 (45.day) to 94.51 mg/100 g (60.day) and 17.52 810.day) to 27.49 mg/100 g (30.day). In addition, hydroxytyrosol amounts of crushed fermented “Ayvalık” olives according to the same bitterness removal order were identified between 45.53 (60.day) to 89.15 mg/100 g (30.day), 41.85 (10.day) to 117.71 mg/100 g (45.day), 33.15 (10.day) to 71.30 mg/100 g (45.day) and 17.36 (0.day) to 25.90 mg/100 g (10.day), respectively. The oleuropein contents of the control groups of “Ayvalık” and “Gemlik” olive cultivars were determined as 108.33 mg/100 g and 81.81 mg/100 g, respectively. In addition, oleuropein contents of whole fermented “Ayvalık” olives changed between 54.61 (60.day) and 55.42 mg/100 g (45.day), 55.35 (30.day) and 55.67 mg/100 g (60.day), 55.07 (10.day). and 55.59 mg/100 g (30.day) and 14.97 (0.day) to 18.14 mg/100 g (10.day). The highest decreasing components were hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, caffeic acid and oleuropein. In general, the phenolic content of olives on the 0th day of fermentation was slightly higher than the other days of fermentation. In general, the sensory properties of whole, scratched and crushed "Ayvalı" and "Gemlik" olives on the 45th day of fermentation were most appreciated by the panelists. In addition, the sensory values of all olives treated with NaOH were not appreciated by the panelists.

Cu and As(V) Adsorption and Desorption on/from Different Soils and Bio-Adsorbents.

This research is concerned with the adsorption and desorption of Cu and As(V) on/from different soils and by-products. Both contaminants may reach soils by the spreading of manure/slurries, wastewater, sewage sludge, or pesticides, and also due to pollution caused by mining and industrial activities. Different crop soils were sampled in A Limia (AL) and Sarria (S) (Galicia, NW Spain). Three low-cost by-products were selected to evaluate their bio-adsorbent potential: pine bark, oak ash, and mussel shell. The adsorption/desorption studies were carried out by means of batch-type experiments, adding increasing and individual concentrations of Cu and As(V). The fit of the adsorption data to the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models was assessed, with good results in some cases, but with high estimation errors in others. Cu retention was higher in soils with high organic matter and/or pH, reaching almost 100%, while the desorption was less than 15%. The As(V) adsorption percentage clearly decreased for higher As doses, especially in S soils, from 60–100% to 10–40%. The As(V) desorption was closely related to soil acidity, being higher for soils with higher pH values (S soils), in which up to 66% of the As(V) previously adsorbed can be desorbed. The three by-products showed high Cu adsorption, especially oak ash, which adsorbed all the Cu added in a rather irreversible manner. Oak ash also adsorbed a high amount of As(V) (>80%) in a rather non-reversible way, while mussel shell adsorbed between 7 and 33% of the added As(V), and pine bark adsorbed less than 12%, with both by-products reaching 35% desorption. Based on the adsorption and desorption data, oak ash performed as an excellent adsorbent for both Cu and As(V), a fact favored by its high pH and the presence of non-crystalline minerals and different oxides and carbonates. Overall, the results of this research can be relevant when designing strategies to prevent Cu and As(V) pollution affecting soils, waterbodies, and plants, and therefore have repercussions on public health and the environment.

Дистанционный мониторинг государственных защитных лесных полос степной зоны европейской части России

State forest shelterbelts are not only one of the components of the ecological framework of sparsely forested steppe territories, but also represent a unique object of steppe afforestation. Age-related changes and a long-term absence of forestry impact negatively affected the sanitary condition of plantations of the state forest shelterbelts. The research is aimed at assessing the current state of the plantations that form the shelterbelts in different soil and climatic conditions in the steppe zone of the European part of Russia. The plantations of the coastal state forest shelterbelts “Voronezh – Rostov-on-Don”, “Belgorod – Don River” and watershed “Volgograd – Elista – Cherkessk” were the research object. The expediency of using the method of remote sensing of the Earth is due to the significant extent and differences in the state of the research object in different soil and climatic conditions. An analysis of the natural conditions of the research region made it possible to determine the boundaries of 5 forestry regions on the main subtypes of zonal soils: ordinary chernozems, southern chernozems and dark chestnut soils; chestnut soils; light chestnut soils with the presence of solonetz and sometimes solonchak soils; and also on azonal sandy soils. Based on the data of our own field surveys of artificial plantations, the interpretation of space images of state forest shelterbelts was carried out using the learning algorithm and spectral indices in the ENVI 5.2 software package. As a result of interpretation, it was found that the safety of state forest shelterbelts decreases as forest conditions become more severe from ordinary chernozems to light chestnut soils from 92.3 to 36.5 %. Oak forests, ash forests, and elm forests predominate in the species composition on zonal soils, and pine forests predominate on azonal soils. With the deterioration of forest site conditions, the share of oak in plantations decreases, it is replaced by elm, the density of plantations decreases. Forest strips on chernozems, dark chestnut and sandy soils are also the most prosperous in sanitary terms. Plantations growing on chestnut and light chestnut soils are characterized by digression increasing with age or complete decay of the forest environment. The conducted research allows to identify the location of plantations in the stage of degression or decay within the state forest shelterbelts, and to recommend for them the nature and volume of forestry impact for the conservation and restoration of the forest.

Growth and Development Dynamics of Young Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex L.) Stands after Shelterwood Cutting in Open Forest Road Conditions

The Mediterranean forest region has been exposed to anthropogenic impacts for centuries, and the constant biotic and abiotic factors, together with increasing climate change, have hindered the proper management of forest ecosystems. This study presents the results of multiyear, systematic, specific and practical monitoring of the conversion of holm oak coppices using the principles of the shelterwood system. It also presents the growth and development dynamics of the stand on a permanent experimental plot from 1997 to 2017. The research was performed in the Eumediterranean vegetation zone of coniferous forest (Forest Management, Buzet branch, Pula Forestry Office, Magran Cuf management unit, compartment 83a). The plot has all the properties of a holm oak and manna ash forests (Orno-Quercetum ilicis H-ić/1956/1958). The basic elements of stand structure were monitored: diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, horizontal crown projection, crown ground shading (light) and the appearance and abundance of all woody vegetation, with special emphasis on the growth and development of young generations of holm oak from seed. The paper also describes the threats limiting growth, development and survival of holm oak from seed (strong shooting tendencies of coppiced holm oak and bay laurel trees, excessive presence of shrubs). Forest management requires effective, timely and repeated tending to thin stands (already under the canopy), while also protecting young trees from wild game. The statistical method of interpolation determined the trends of stand development; trend equation with coefficient of determination (R2) is very high. This indicates the growth and development of the stand in the direction of renewal of holm oak stands. Shelterwood cutting, with regular and timely tending of young generations of trees through a seven-year regeneration period, resulted in a high quality young high forest of holm oak, the first of its kind in the broader Mediterranean area. The indigenous stands of holm oak, as the fundamental climatogenic coniferous species of the Mediterranean species, have multiple roles such as protection from erosion, resilience to biotic and abiotic factors and forest fires, tourism and landscape functions, and other general forest functions, and therefore deserve intensive and ongoing research. Holm oak stands also play a part in conserving genetic and biological diversity, the potential and persistence of forest ecosystems, improving stand structure, stability and resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change, and in the long-term increase the commercial value of forest stands in the Croatian Mediterranean.

Drying Grapes after the Application of Different Dipping Solutions: Effects on Hormones, Minerals, Vitamins, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Gök Üzüm (Vitis vinifera L.) Raisins

(1) Background: Raisins contain a wide range of hormones, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant enzymes that may contribute to the health benefits of consumers. (2) Methods: The aim of this research was to compare the hormone, mineral, vitamin, and antioxidant capacities of Gök Üzüm (Vitis vinifera L.) raisins immersed in oak ash (OA) and potassium carbonate (PC) dipping solutions before drying. (3) Results: Abscisic acid (ABA) (5751.18–11,868.40 ng g−1) and riboflavin (95.17–135.54 mg 100 g−1) were the most abundant hormone and vitamin quantified in Gök Üzüm raisins. Glutathione S-transferase (540.07–744.85 EU gr berry−1), 6-glucose phosphate dehydrogenase (214.50–317.43 EU gr berry−1), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (208.25–241.86 EU gr berry−1) enzymes presented the highest antioxidant activity in the samples. Raisins obtained after drying by immersion in OA presented higher indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), ABA, salicylic acid (SA), cytokinins (CK), and zeatin contents; glutathione reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), 6 glucose phosphate dehydrogenase (6GPD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymatic activity; vitamin B1, B2, B6, C, and A contents; and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), potassium (K), iron (Fe), sodium (Na), and magnesium (Mg) levels compared to the grapes dried after PC applications. (4) Conclusions: Drying Gök Üzüm grapes after the application of OA dipping solution promotes a higher content of hormones, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant enzymes compared to PC treatments. These results could help raisin producers to make decisions when using a dipping solution to dry grapes.

ЛЕСОПАТОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ МОНИТОРИНГ ЛЕСОВ ГОРОДА СТАВРОПОЛЯ

The main purpose of the research is to determine the sanitary and forest pathological state of the entire tree stand of the main forest areas located on the territory of the municipal formation of the city of Stavropol, located in the forest-steppe zone. The relevance for the ecology of a large city of forests, both natural and artifi cial origin, is considered. The characteristics of the forest, its origin and qualitative condition are given. The studies used standard methods of forest taxation and forest pathology survey with appropriate cameral treatment, namely, selective ground observations. An accelerated fall off of petiole oak, Caucasian hornbeam, and common ash was revealed. The main conclusion of the study is that in order to improve the tree stand, it is necessary to carry out sanitary and recreational measures in the form of selective sanitary cutting and harvesting of illiquid wood, as well as detailed observations of the pest population.

Sulfur Removal from Coal with The Basic Extraction Liquid of Oak Ash

Desulfurized coal produces high amounts of SOX during combustion. Therefore, many negative environmental impacts such as air pollution and acid rain occur. Coal desulfurization research is very important for environmental and socio-economic development. In this study; it was aimed to desulfurization of coal with oak ash extraction liquid. In this way, sulfur compounds that are harmful to the environment were removed with a waste in nature. Sorgun coal was chosen due to its high sulfur content. Extraction liquids were obtained from different weights of oak ash. Total sulfur and pyritic sulfur values were measured after desulfurization process. In addition, KOH + oak ash liquid mixtures were used for desulfurization to determine the effect of chemicals. For Sorgun coal, the highest total sulfur and pyritic sulfur removal with oak ash were obtained as 28.7% and 57.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the highest pyritic sulfur removal with oak ash + KOH mixtures was obtained as 61.9%. As a result of the study, it was observed that the oak ash extraction liquid was effective to remove total sulfur and pyritic sulfur from coal. It is clear that this study will light on further studies for desulfurization.

Desulfurization of Coal with Oak Ash Extraction

ABSTRACT Desulfurization is an essential method to eliminate the harmful environmental effects of coal. Various physical, chemical and biological desulfurization methods are available in the literature. In this study about with the desulfurization of coal by a basic extraction liquid of oak ash. Burdur, Ermenek and Tunçbilek coals were selected due to their high sulfur content. Before and after the desulfurization process; total sulfur, pyritic sulfur, carbon content and calorific value were measured. The highest removal efficiencies of total sulfur and pyritic sulfur for Burdur coal obtained as 41 and 67%, for Tunçbilek coal obtained as 41 and 35%, and for Ermenek coal obtained as 47 and 41%, respectively. Furthermore, the carbon and calorific value of these coals were analyzed and it seen that these values were not affected negatively. These findings confirmed that the desulfurization with oak ash of Burdur, Tunçbilek and Ermenek coals could help as a reference for further optimizing the coal desulfurization process.

Sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine and sulfachloropyridazine removal using three different porous materials: Pine bark, “oak ash” and mussel shell

This work focuses on studying the efficacy of three different by-products to adsorb three antibiotics (sulfadiazine, SDZ; sulfamethazine, SMT; sulfachloropyridazine, SCP). These antibiotics can be considered pollutants of the environment when they reach water, as well as in cases where they are spread on soils through irrigation or contained in sewage sludge or livestock manure. In this study, batch-type adsorption/desorption experiments were performed for each of the three sulfonamides, adding 7 different concentrations of the antibiotics, going from 1 to 50 μmol L−1, and with contact time of 24 h. The results indicate that pine bark is the most efficient bioadsorbent among those studied, as it adsorbs up to 95% of the antibiotics added, while desorption is always less than 11%. However, for “oak ash” and mussel shell the adsorption is always lower than 45 and 15%, respectively, and desorption is high, reaching up to 49% from “oak ash” and up to 81% from mussel shell. Adsorption data showed good fitting to the Linear and Freundlich models, with R2 values between 0.98 and 1.00 in both cases. Kd and KF adsorption parameters showed similar values for the same sorbent materials but were much higher for pine bark than for the other two bioadsorbents. The Freundlich's n parameter showed values in the range 0.81–1.28. The highest KF values (and therefore the highest adsorption capacities) were obtained for the antibiotic SCP in pine bark. Pine bark showed the highest capacity to adsorb each of the antibiotics, increasing as a function of the concentration added. When the concentration of sulfonamide added was 50 μM, the amounts adsorbed were 780 μmol kg−1 for SDZ, 890 μmol kg−1 for SMT, and 870 μmol kg−1 for SCP. “Oak ash” and mussel shell have low adsorption capacity for all three sulfonamides, showing values always lower than 150 μmol kg−1 (oak ash) and 20 μmol kg−1 (mussel shell) when a concentration of 50 μmol L−1 of antibiotic is added. The results of this study could aid to make an appropriate management of the by-products studied, in order to facilitate their valorization and recycling in the treatment of environmental compartments polluted with sulfonamide antibiotics.

Physical, mechanical, and decay resistance properties of heat-treated wood by Besson® process of three European hardwood species

Description of the subject. In Europe, the heat treatment of native wood species is gradually becoming an industrial reality. It provides a promising alternative to both the use of naturally durable, essentially tropical woods and the use of chemical preservative treatments based on biocides. Objectives. The aim of this study is to quantify the effect of heat treatment on the physico-mechanical and decay resistance properties of three native hardwood species (oak, ash, beech + steamed beech). Method. The wood was heat-treated in accordance with the Besson® process. The standard physical and mechanical tests including hardness, modulus of elasticity in static bending, static bending, axial compression, splitting and impact bending strengths, have been performed on 15 treated and 15 control associated samples for each species. The standard durability test on fungi exposed 60 treated and 60 control samples to each fungus. Results. The results show a decrease in the equilibrium moisture content and an increase in dimensional stability of heat-treated wood for the three species studied. The modulus of elasticity, hardness and axial compression strength increase slightly after the heat treatment, while static and impact bending strength and splitting strength may considerably decrease. The fungal durability of oak heartwood and ash increased until class 1, beech and steamed beech until class 3. Conclusions. The global approach of this study allows a complete and precise characterization of the technological properties of three native hardwood species after heat treatment. New uses of these native species can thus be explored.

Adsorption of Tetracycline and Sulfadiazine onto Three Different Bioadsorbents in Binary Competitive Systems

Different antibiotics contained in manure, slurry, wastewater or sewage sludge are spread into the environment. The harmful effects of these antibiotics could be minimized by means of immobilization onto bioadsorbent materials. This work investigates the competitive adsorption/desorption of tetracycline (TC) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) onto pine bark, oak ash and mussel shell. The study was carried out using batch-type experiments in binary systems (with both antibiotics present simultaneously), adding 5 equal concentrations of the antibiotics (between 1 and 50 µmol L−1). The adsorption percentages were higher for TC (close to 100% onto pine bark and oak ash, and between 40 and 85% onto mussel shell) than for SDZ (75–100% onto pine bark, and generally less than 10% on oak ash and mussel shell). Pine bark performed as the best adsorbent since TC adsorption remained close to 100% throughout the entire concentration range tested, while it was between 75 and 100% for SDZ. Desorption was always higher for SDZ than for TC. The results of this study could be useful to design practices to protected environmental compartments receiving discharges that simultaneously contain the two antibiotics here evaluated, and therefore could be relevant in terms of protection of the environment and public health.

Contact Efficacy of Different Wood Ashes against Spanish Slug, Arion vulgaris (Gastropoda: Arionidae)

The wood ash from seven plant species (sessile oak, European beech, European hornbeam, silver fir, European spruce, common alder, and Spanish chestnut) was tested against Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris) as an environmentally acceptable alternative to chemical bait pellets. We carried out laboratory and semi-field experiments to assess the contact and barrier efficacy of selected wood ash. To demonstrate the contact efficacy, slugs were rolled in the wood ash. Geochemical analysis of wood ash was carried out as well. The highest concentrations of chemical compounds SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO and MnO and elements Ba, Co, Cs, Ga, Cu, Pb and Zn were identified in the most effective ashes (beech, oak, fir, and spruce) compared to the ineffective ashes (hornbeam, chestnut, black ader). The concentration of cobalt was comparably higher, while the concentration of molybdenum was comparably lower in the four most effective wood ashes. The results of our studies revealed that the wood ash of oak and spruce have great contact efficacy. The oak and beech wood ash showed the strongest barrier efficacy against slugs. In the semi-field trials, only 10% of the plants treated with oak wood ash were damaged by slugs. The oak wood ash is an efficient alternative for slug control, however, further studies and biotechnical enhancement are needed.

Technical, Environmental, and Qualitative Assessment of the Oak Waste Processing and Its Usage for Energy Conversion

The article analyses and evaluates the possibilities of using oak bark, oak leaves, and their mixtures for biofuel. The preparation of this waste for the burning process (milling, granulation) has been investigated and the results have been presented together with the analysis of the prepared granules’ properties—humidity, density, strength, elemental composition, ash content, caloric value, and others. The moisture content of the oak waste granules ranged from 8.1% to 12.5%, and the granules’ density ranged from 975.8 to 1122.2 kg m−3 DM (dry matter). The amount of oak ash found was very high (from 10.4% to 14.7%)—about 10 times higher than that of wood waste granules. The calorific value determined after burning the oak bark and leaves pellets was sufficiently high, ranging from 17.3 to 17.7 MJ kg−1. This thermal value of oak waste granules was close to the calorific value of the herbaceous plant species and some types of wood waste. The environmental impact of burning the granules of oak waste was also assessed. The harmful emissions of carbon monoxide and dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and unburnt hydrocarbons into the environment were found to be below the permissible limits for the incineration of oak waste granules. The highest CO gas concentration, determined when burning the oak leaves, was 1187.70 mg m−3, and the lowest NOx concentration, determined when burning the oak bark and leaf mixture granules, was 341.2 mg m−3. The coefficient of energy efficiency R of the granulated oak leaves biofuel, when the oak waste biomass moisture content was reduced by 10%, reached 3.64. It was very similar to the results of previous studies of various types of granulated straw biofuel (3.5–3.7). The research results presented show that, given that the main parameters of oak waste meet the basic requirements of solid biofuel, oak bark, leaves, and their mixture can be recommended to be used as solid biofuels.

Competitive adsorption and desorption of three tetracycline antibiotics on bio-sorbent materials in binary systems

Batch-type experiments were used to study competitive adsorption/desorption for the antibiotics tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlortetracycline (CTC), onto by-products from forest and food industries (oak ash, pine bark, and mussel shell). These antibiotics are frequently present in manures and slurries spread on agrosystems. Binary competitive systems were performed by setting the dose of one antibiotic to 200 μmol L−1, and varying the concentration of a second antibiotic from 50 to 600 μmol L−1. In the cases where a concentration of 200 μmol L−1 was used for each antibiotic, the results of the binary experiments were also compared with those obtained in parallel tests corresponding to simple and ternary systems using the same concentration. The results indicated that pine bark can adsorb most of the antibiotics added, with desorption being less than 5% in most cases. Oak ash showed high adsorption for all three antibiotics in the simple systems (100% of CTC, 90% of TC, and 80% of OTC), but clearly decreased in the binary systems (up to values below 40%), especially for higher antibiotics concentrations, although desorption was generally less than 5%. Mussel shell showed adsorption results lesser than 25% for OTC and CT in simple systems, while increased up to 65% in binary systems in which CTC was present at high concentrations, but desorption was generally very high. CTC was the antibiotic with the highest adsorption onto all three by-products, and the one showing less decrease for its adsorption in the binary systems. Overall, the smallest differences among the various competitive systems were obtained when the adsorbent used was pine bark, and especially for the CTC antibiotic. These results could aid to develop management practices, based on the use of low-cost bio-sorbents, which would decrease risks of pollution due to tetracycline antibiotics spread in agroecosystems and affecting the environment.