This thesis is focused on study of biodegradability of modified polyurethane elastomeric films in synthetic medium with minerals and vitamins on tempered shaker by mixed thermophilic aerobic bacterial culture Bacillus and Thermus genera. In most cases addition of all used fillers (carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, acetylated cellulose, acetylated starch and glutein) led to increased biodegradability of elastomeric films with modifying agent in comparison with elastomeric films without modifying agent (referential). The growth of cultures was strongly increased in presence of elastomeric films modified by 10 % acetylated cellulose and 10 % carboxymethyl cellulose. Elastomeric film biodegradation mechanism included probably two stages: abiotic destruction of elastomeric films and consequent utilization of degradation products by bacterial culture.

Presented diploma thesis deals with the study of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of caprolactone catalyzed by novel organic and organometallic compounds. In the theoretical part of the thesis a summary of polymerization strategies and catalytic/initiators systems for ROP of polyesters is overviewed on the basis of reported background research. In experimental part a series of caprolactone polymerization runs with the view of polymerization conditions (solution/monomer ratio, catalyst/initiator ratio, monomer/initiator ratio and monomer concentration) at the temperature range of 25-70 °C was carried out. The experimental study was focused on catalytic precursors based on organic carbenes (tBuNCH=CHN+tBu)CH Cl- (NHC-tBu) in tetrahydrofuran solution and complex of aluminium{O,O’-[4,5-P(O)Ph2tz]-AlMe2} Ph = phenyl, tz = triazole, (OAlMe2) in chlorobenzene solution. Obtained polymers were precisely characterized by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy (Bruker Avance), Differential scanning calorimetry (TA Instruments Q 2000) and Gel permeation chromatography (Agilent Technologies 1100 series) methods. The microbial degradability of synthesized polymer sample having Mn = 12 kg/mol, Mw/Mn = 2.5 and crystallinity degree of 53 % was examined. The polymer in the form of melt-pressed films and powder form was bacterially aged in Bacillus subtilis (BS) strain inoculated mineral and nutrient media for 42 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) confirmed the crack development on the surface of films as the consequence of microbial attack in comparison with unchanged control samples. Moreover, the pink coloration of polymer suspension was observed as the consequence of bacterial activity.

Diplomová práce se zabývá vlivem nutričních a aeračních faktorů na produkci lipáz bakterií Bacillus subtilis (CCM 1999). Produkce lipáz byla studována zejména z hlediska katalytického působení lipáz při degradaci polyesterových řetězců. Mezi studované parametry patřily: růst bakterií, lipolytická aktivita, pH optimum, teplotní optimum, tepelná stabilita, proteolytická aktivita, množství bílkovin, atd. a to v různých typech živných medií zaočkovaných Bacillus subtilis. Jedna série vzorků kultivačních médií pro BS na bázi: pepton a kvasničný extrakt (NB), pepton, kvasničný extrakt s 2% přídavkem (w/v) glukózy (NBG) a minerální médium s kvasničným extraktem (MS-YE) obsahovala jeden PCL vzorek o definovaných rozměrech (Mn = 10 kDa, = 1.4). Experimenty probíhaly po dobu 21 dnů pří rychlosti třepání 160 a 200 rpm. Přítomnost PCL způsobila v obou typech médií (NB, NBG) inokulovaných BS zvýšení lipolytické aktivity, což naznačuje, uvolnění a následné uplatnění se nízko-molekulekulárních řetězců PCL jako substrátů pro BS. BS kultivovaný v MS-YE medium vykazoval ve srovnání s NB a NBG médii nízké hodnoty lipolytické aktivity a to i v přítomnost PCL. Během experimentů se hodnota pH posunula z neutrální (pH 7.0) do alkalické (pH 8.5-9.3) oblasti a to ve všech typech médií s i bez přítomnosti PCL vzorku v důsledku metabolických pochodů BS využívajících různé substráty. Lipolytické enzymy stanovené v supernatanech bez bakteriálních buněk vykazují dvě pH optima v přítomnosti PCL, pH 7 a 9. V nepřítomnosti polymeru vykazují pouze jedno pH optimum při pH 7. Na základě měření tepelné stability bylo prokázáno, že extracelulární lipázy jsou relativně termostabilní enzymy, zejména v nepřítomnosti polymeru. Dále byla provedena základní proteomická analýza lipáz produkovaných bakterií Bacillus subtilis v NBG médiu pomocí metody peptidového mapování (PMF). Byla ověřena přítomnost proteinů s molární hmotnosti (19.3 kDa) pomocí FPLC. SDS-PAGE a IEF-PAGE prokázaly přítomnost těchto proteinů v obou studovaných mediích inokulovaných BS (NBG vs. NBG/PCL). Zásadní rozdíly proteinového složení v přítomnosti PCL nebyly potvrzeny a identifikace pomoci MALDI-TOF hmotnostní spektrometrie nestanovila žádnou lipázu. Proces degradace v PCL vzorcích byl vyhodnocen také na základě hmotnostních úbytků, které byly zjištěny ve všech typech médií inokulovaných BS pravděpodobně v důsledku synergického účinku enzymaticky-katalyzované a biotické hydrolýzy v alkalickém prostředí. . Modelová degradační studie PCL a jeho kompozitu s oxidem grafenu (2.7 hm.%, GO) byla provedena v přítomnosti bakterie Bacillus subtilis v NBG při 30 °C a počátečním pH 7 po dobu tří týdnů. Hmotností úbytky PCL filmů se postupně zvyšovaly během celého degradačního testu až ke 12 hm%. Degradace PLC/GO kompozitu probíhala pomaleji, což je prokázáno maximální hmotnostním úbytkem 5 hm%. Podobný charakter elučních křivek PCL a jeho kompozitu stanovený pomocí SEC potvrzoval snížení molární hmotnosti po degradaci.

Pharmaceuticals are micropollutants, that enter the environment mainly through Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). In this work microbial community has been studied in sediments of a stream, which is located near a WWTP. This sediment is contaminated with pharmaceuticals. The subject of this thesis was to determine the presence of pharmaceuticals and microbial community in this study site and to point out possible relationships between these factors. Twelve pharmaceuticals were identified at concentrations reaching levels of ng/g. The concentrations of the compounds form a gradient that decreases with the distance from WWTP. Microbial biomass was estimated using the analysis of phospholipid fatty acids and microbial community was described using next-generation DNA sequencing. The analysis of phospholipid fatty acids pointed out, that with the increasing distance from WWTP the amount of microbial biomass decreases. DNA sequencing revealed large microbial diversity in the studied sediment. For evaluation of the relationship between the microbial community and pharmaceuticals in the stream sediment, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used. The result of PCA showed, that in the stream sediment (depth 10-30 cm), Betaproteobacteria negatively correlated with triclosan and Clostridia negatively...

The aim of this work is study of utilization of PHA producing bacteria in bioremediation technologies. For this study were used bacteria Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and two isolates from soil contaminated by petroleum - Pseudomonas gessardii (D2) a Pseudomonas fulva (D3). The experimental part describes especially study of feather biodegradation using selected microbial strains. All the tested bacterial strains were capable of feather degradation and utilization as the sole carbon source. During biodegradation experiment, we monitored weight loss of feather, protease and keratinase activity, concentration of bacterial biomass and PHA content as well as pH. The highest biodegradation ability and keratinase activity was observed in Pseudomonas putida. None of tested bacteria accumulated detectable amount of PHA during growth on waste feather, nevertheless, bacterial biomass grown during feather degradation can be used as an inoculum for PHA production on waste frying oil and octanoic acid. Using this experimental setup, high PHA content (54% of cell dry weight) was achiaved in Pseudomonas putida. Another part of the thesis deals with biodegradation of petroleum oil. The highest capability of growth on this carbon source were determined in Pseudomonas fulva.

The biodegradation of Delor 103, a commercial mixture of PCB congeners, was studied with eight strains of white rot fungi in two nutritive media: in mineral nitrogen limited medium (so called Kirk medium) and in complex Malt- extract glucose medium. The most efficient biodegradation was observed with the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, where 99% of PCB congener sum was degraded after 42 days in both media. Bjerkandera adusta was able to degrade 89% of PCB congener sum within 42 days in complex medium. Irpex lacteus removed 70% of PCB congener sum within 42 days in Kirk medium. Other white rot fungi showed lower biodegradation ability, degrading only low chlorinated biphenyls. Further, urgent toxicity of samples was monitored during the Delor 103 biodegradation. P. ostreatus proved to be the most suitable agens for PCB decontamination as a significant reduction of toxicity in comparison with controls was observed during the PCB degradation. In case of other fungi, no reduction of urgent toxicity was observed showing a disadvantage of their use for PCB biodegradation. Activities of ligninolitic enzymes during biodegradation were also studied. In both media laccase activity was detected in Dichomitus squalens, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Trametes versicolor cultures. Ligninperoxidase enzyme activity was...

The thesis is about the processing of biological waste in the Czech composting plants with focus on the quality of the final compost. In 2016, there was more than 160 composting plants in the Czech Republic. The thesis is focused on the most widely used technologies in small composting plants in terms of their impact to the quality of the final product, including the follow-up of individual indicators during composting. The best technology in my work is based on a higher decomposition temperature (85 ° C) at the first stage of composting. The practical part of thesis is focused on the measurement of ion-exchange capacity according to Sandhof as a main material for the overall evaluation of the functionality of composting. The final value shows the compost quality of the individual composting plants in terms of ion exchange flexibility of the produced substrate. The best result was achieved with the combination of composting boxes and composting in the belt heaps. The value of the ion-exchange capacity with the best technology was 52.8 mval .100 g of the soil, with 77.9% of the distributed biowaste. You have to expect with an average annual costs of composting about 1,696,000 crounds in the Czech republic, when you are designing small functional composting plant with production of 2000 tons of the compost per year.

This master’s thesis focuses on biodegradation of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polylactic acid (PLA). The theoretical part discusses an origin, properties and applications of investigated biopolyesters, and so the enzymology of their biodegradation. The experimental part deals with biodegradation of these polymers in liquid medium using several pure thermophilic bacteial strains and controlled composting of these bioplastics. Amongst six tested thermophilic bacterial strains only one showed PHB-biodegradation activity – strain Schlegelella thermodepolymerans. No degradation degree of amorphous or semi-crystalline PLA was observed. Mainly disintegration of both forms of PLA articles was observed in compost environment, thus the abiotic mechanism of its decomposition was indicated. After 4 weeks of composting, the relative weight loss of 99 % and 63 % was detected in amorphous and semi-crystalline PLA respectively. On the contrary, the weight loss of PHB after 4 weeks of composting reached 36 %, moreover, a half decrease of molar mass was observed using SEC. The surface erosive mechanism of PHB-biodegradation was stated using SEM. By monitoring of esterase, lipase and protease activities, no influence on the compost by polymer presence was concluded at statistical significance.

This diploma thesis focuses on the problematics of preparation of biodegradable starch based packaging. The aim of the thesis is to optimize the preparation and verify the characteristics for further adaptation and production technologies. The films consisted of starch, PVA and glycerol. Four types of starches, three types of PVA and different ratios of glycerol were tested. Films were prepared by casting with glycerol as a plasticizer, instead of distilled water, to reduce the energy cost of the preparation. The mechanical properties of the films were tested as well. The experimentally determined values of elongation at break and tensile strength of the wheat starch films were compared with a semiempirical model. Results revealed that the preparation of thermoplasticization of starch with glycerol leads to a considerable increase in elongation at break but at the same time to a marked decrease in tensile strength compared to the preparation from solution. The rheological properties of the prepared films were also investigated. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to study the structure of the films.

The aim of this work is focused on biodegradability study of modified polyurethane materials (foams and foils) in glukose medium and biodegradation of whey. The biodegradability was tested with using mixed thermophilic aerobic bacterial culture of the Bacillus and Thermus genera. The cultivations were practised in the fermentor and in Erlenmayer flasks in a heated shaker. Maximal reduction of COD and culture growth has been achieved by biodegradation of polyuretane in the fermentor. Main effect of degradation was abiotic destruction of PUR materials and consequent utilization of degradation products by bacterial culture. These tests indicated that the best modification agent for biodegradation was 10% carboxymethyl cellulose. The polyurethane foam was more decomposed then the polyurethane foil. Biodegradation of whey without proteins in the fermentor was detected decrease of CHSK and lactose concentration about 50 % in 20th hour. Optimal conditions for whey biodegradation with the thermophilic bacterial culture were pH 6,5 and temperature 60 °C.