Anna Potysz - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Anna Potysz

Research paper thumbnail of Dissolution of red sandstones exposed to siderophore-producing bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens: Experimental bioweathering coupled to a geochemical model

Construction and Building Materials

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of Zn–Pb-bearing rocks: Experimental exposure to water, microorganisms, and root exudates

Applied Geochemistry, 2021

ABSTRACT Zn-Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represe... more ABSTRACT Zn-Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represent a risk to the environment through the mobilization of metals. This study experimentally simulated the exposure of calamine-type rocks and goethite crusts to various weathering conditions and then compared the behavior of these mineralogically diverse samples. Study conditions included sample exposures to and comparisons of native microorganisms (biostimulation of the soil solution favoring microbial growth) and sterile soil extracts, single bacterial strains (Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans bioaugemnation) and sterile acidic growth mediums, root exudates of various concentrations, and water. This study demonstrated that A. thiooxidans and root exudates had the largest influence on the mobilization of metallic elements (up to 44% for Zn, 29% for Pb, and 78% for Cd), whereas H2O was found to play a minor role (0.13% for Zn, 0.27% for Pb, and 1.23% for Cd). The sample composed of goethite crust with quartz was generally more susceptible to bioweathering than the calamine-type rock, a result that was likely caused by the presence of goethite and smithsonite, both undergoing severe dissolution. We conclude that bioweathering was an important driver affecting the stability of the sample rocks. The dissolution of minerals such as hemimorphite and smithsonite under experimental conditions proves that analogic dissolution can also occur under natural weathering conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Populus nigra Italica Leaves as a Valuable Tool for Mineralogical and Geochemical Interpretation of Inorganic Atmospheric Aerosols’ Genesis

Atmosphere, 2020

The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and ... more The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and to human health due to the dispersal of contaminants into the air and soil. This study was undertaken to delineate the track of airborne contaminants’ migration and to assess the distribution of such particles deposited on Populus nigra L. cv Italica leaves and soils. Particles were identified using scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), while bulk soil composition was quantified by applying inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results of this study confirmed the research hypothesis, indicating the industrial center as a source of pollution and human exposure to metallic contaminants. The Olmaliq area in particular is strongly influenced by atmospheric pollutants from local industries. The spread of ultra-fine particles is mainly governed by the industrial output and the direction of prevailing winds.

Research paper thumbnail of Deterioration of sandstones: Insights from experimental weathering in acidic, neutral and biotic solutions with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Construction and Building Materials, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s (Bio)weathering is an important driver affecting the durability of sandstone.... more h i g h l i g h t s (Bio)weathering is an important driver affecting the durability of sandstone. Matrix and accessory minerals are the most prone to dissolution. The weathering intensity can be ranked as follows: bacteria > sterile medium > water. Biodissolution of sandstone proceeds 14 times faster than abiotic weathering.

Research paper thumbnail of Copper Metallurgical Slags – Current Knowledge and Fate: A Review

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2015

ABSTRACT Cu-slags are a by-product of pyrometallurgical processing and contain elevated concentra... more ABSTRACT Cu-slags are a by-product of pyrometallurgical processing and contain elevated concentrations of metallic elements that may be released during weathering. Hence, they may pose environmental risk and thus need to be properly disposed off. On the other hand, the high residual content of metals makes slags interesting as secondary resources for metal recovery. This review presents current knowledge about the chemical and phase composition of Cu-metallurgical slags and discusses environmental issues related to their disposal. Furthermore, it provides an overview of experimental approaches assessing environmental risk as well as recent achievements regarding the leaching and recovery of valuable metals from Cu-slags.

Research paper thumbnail of Drivers of Pb, Sb and As release from spent gunshot in wetlands: Enhancement by organic matter and native microorganisms

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental impact of the historical Cu smelting in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains (south-western Poland)

Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2013

ABSTRACT Mining and smelting of Cu ores in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains (southwestern Poland) ... more ABSTRACT Mining and smelting of Cu ores in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains (southwestern Poland) from the 14th to the 16th century produced pyrometallurgical slags which currently form unconfined slag heaps in forests or are distributed within soils and streambeds. At present, the slag affected area has approximately 10 km 2 . Chemical and mineralogical analyses of the slags, slag-contaminated and slag-free soils and stream sediments are coupled with leaching experiments and speciation modeling to determine the environmental impact of historical smelting activities. Three subtypes of pyrometallurgical slags occur in the studied area: porous slag and two massive slags (equilibrated slag and undercooled slag) having different phase compositions. All of the studied slags still contain considerable amounts of metal(loid)s (up to 1.4 wt.% Cu, 1 wt.% Zn, 750 ppm Pb and 300 ppm As). A simple 24-hour laboratory slag-leaching experiment, using three different solutions (distilled water, stream water, citric acid solution), indicate the release of metal(loid)s under simulated natural conditions. Leachates from a stream water solution and distilled water contain lower concentrations of metal(loid)s (b0.1% of total contaminant concentration in the solid) compared to leachates from a citric acid solution. Furthermore, leaching tests indicate that the release of the metal(loid)s is higher for porous slags than for those having a massive texture. Chemical analyses of soils, stream sediments and surface water indicate that some elements reach concentra-tions exceeding environmentally permissible standards (especially in soils: Cu up to 4000 ppm, Zn up to 1500 ppm, As up to 300 ppm, Pb up to 200 ppm). The impact of various sources of pollution including modern ones and those related to historical slag disposal was traced using Pb isotopes and indicate that the contamination by slag fragments and slag-derived metals is currently concentrated in soil B horizons and in river sediments. On the other hand, Pb isotopes and metal concentrations in soil O horizons are addi-tionally affected by airborne contamination not related to the slag disposal. The most important factors controlling slag weathering and metal(loid) release include the following: (i) the textural characteristics and porosity of the slag material, (ii) the slag phase composition derived from the cooling rates of the slag melt and (iii) the environmental conditions (e.g., pH, organic matter content, etc.).

Research paper thumbnail of Copper metallurgical slags : mineralogy, bio/weathering processes and metal bioleaching

Problem statement: Copper pyrometallurgical slags are inevitable waste by-products of Cu smelting... more Problem statement: Copper pyrometallurgical slags are inevitable waste by-products of Cu smelting operations. These waste are considered to be important due to their production volume and high residual metal content that are inefficiently recovered during industrial process. Due to the lack of sustainable practices in the past, tremendous volumes of Cu-slags have been disposed in many industrial districts, regardless of the weathering and associated environmental risk. Consequently, there are many areas where slags have been proven to be a source of metallic pollution for the surrounding environment. At the present time, the outstanding contradiction between the sustainable development and environmental pollution encourages to undertake the action regarding this aspect. For this reason, slags are currently being used as supplementary materials for civil engineering purposes (e.g. cement and concrete additives, road bed filling materials, hydraulic construction materials) rather than...

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of minerals and dissolution assessment by experimental simulations—Implications for sandstone rocks: A review

Construction and Building Materials

Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weat... more Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weatheringresistant silicates and aluminosilicates, whereas matrix and cement minerals in general are less resistant to weathering. Sandstone in both natural and anthropogenic environments are exposed to (bio)weathering processes, causing the release of elements from minor constituents (matrix and cement minerals) and major framework minerals and resulting in the presence of an irreversible fingerprint on the mineral/rock surface. As the result of bioweathering some adverse features such as corrosion, cracking and rock fatigue occur which arises a strong concern regarding durability of sandstones in a long-term perspective. This review paper describes analytical methods applied for determining the mineralogical composition of sandstones and their alteration features, defines bioweathering process and factors attributed to it, analyzes susceptibility of sandstone minerals to dissolution, presents experimental simulations dedicated to stability assessment. This review highlights that bioweathering processes may affect durability of construction and building materials. The gaps in the experimental research are indicated and recommendations on how to fill these gaps are provided.

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of Zn–Pb-bearing rocks: Experimental exposure to water, microorganisms, and root exudates

Applied Geochemistry 130, 2021

Zn–Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represent a risk... more Zn–Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represent a risk to the environment through the mobilization of metals. This study experimentally simulated the exposure of calamine- type rocks and goethite crusts to various weathering conditions and then compared the behavior of these mineralogically diverse samples. Study conditions included sample exposures to and comparisons of native microorganisms (biostimulation of the soil solution favoring microbial growth) and sterile soil extracts, single bacterial strains (Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans bioaugmentation) and sterile acidic growth mediums, root exudates of various concentrations, and water. This study demonstrated that A. thiooxidans and root exudates had the largest influence on the mobilization of metallic elements (up to 44% for Zn, 29% for Pb, and 78% for Cd), whereas H2O was found to play a minor role (0.13% for Zn, 0.27% for Pb, and 1.23% for Cd). The sample composed of goethite crust wi...

Research paper thumbnail of Biodissolution of amorphous and crystalline fayalite-bearing copper metallurgical slags

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of minerals and dissolution assessment by experimental simulations-Implications for sandstone rocks: A review

Construction and Building Materials 316: 125862, 2022

Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weat... more Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weatheringresistant silicates and aluminosilicates, whereas matrix and cement minerals in general are less resistant to weathering. Sandstone in both natural and anthropogenic environments are exposed to (bio)weathering processes, causing the release of elements from minor constituents (matrix and cement minerals) and major framework minerals and resulting in the presence of an irreversible fingerprint on the mineral/rock surface. As the result of bioweathering some adverse features such as corrosion, cracking and rock fatigue occur which arises a strong concern regarding durability of sandstones in a long-term perspective. This review paper describes analytical methods applied for determining the mineralogical composition of sandstones and their alteration features, defines bioweathering process and factors attributed to it, analyzes susceptibility of sandstone minerals to dissolution, presents experimental simulations dedicated to stability assessment. This review highlights that bioweathering processes may affect durability of construction and building materials. The gaps in the experimental research are indicated and recommendations on how to fill these gaps are provided.

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of metal-bearing phases by siderophore producing bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens

Goldschmidt2021 abstracts

Research paper thumbnail of Experimental simulations of Zn Pb slag weathering and its impact on the environment: Effects of acid rain, soil solution, and microbial activity

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

Research paper thumbnail of CHAPTER 9. Secondary Metal Recovery from Slags

Chemistry in the Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Can Bacteria Weather Ammunition Lead Pellets?

Research paper thumbnail of Vanadium removal from spent sulfuric acid plant catalyst using citric acid and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

Spent catalysts being considered hazardous wastes exhibit a high metal content in mobile forms. I... more Spent catalysts being considered hazardous wastes exhibit a high metal content in mobile forms. In addition, growing demand for circular economy policy applications requires proper utilization of these wastes. This study aimed at the assessment of vanadium leaching from spent desulfurization catalyst derived from sulfuric acid plant dump located nearby a copper smelter. Chemical and phase composition of the catalyst has been characterized. The extraction has been performed using chemical (0.1-M and 1-M citric acid) and biological (biotic solution with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans) methods, using different experimental parameters (pulp density, particle size, leaching time) to observe V leaching behavior and kinetics. The results revealed that both citric acid and bacteria carried out the extraction process well. The optimal parameters for acid leaching were

Research paper thumbnail of Spent sulfuric acid plant catalyst: valuable resource of vanadium or risky residue? Process comparison for environmental implications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

The enormous amount of spent catalysts generated worldwide may pose a risk to the environment bec... more The enormous amount of spent catalysts generated worldwide may pose a risk to the environment because of their high load of metals, including vanadium. The latter may be mobilized and released to the environment if managed improperly. Moreover, the catalysts could be considered as secondary resources rather than waste. This study aimed at the efficient extraction of vanadium from spent desulfurization catalyst (SDC) from a sulfuric acid production plant. The raw SDC and the post-extraction residues were characterized in terms of their chemical and phase composition. The metal mobility from the materials was examined with both single-step and multi-step extractions. The environmental risk assessment was performed using sequential extraction. The study revealed that both tested methods (citric acid leaching and bioleaching with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans) enable the extraction of nearly 96% of V from SDC with a simultaneous reduction of metal mobility. However, the bacterial treatm...

Research paper thumbnail of Bioleaching and toxicity of metallurgical wastes

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Research paper thumbnail of Populus nigra Italica Leaves as a Valuable Tool for Mineralogical and Geochemical Interpretation of Inorganic Atmospheric Aerosols' Genesis

Atmosphere, 2020

The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and ... more The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and to human health due to the dispersal of contaminants into the air and soil. This study was undertaken to delineate the track of airborne contaminants’ migration and to assess the distribution of such particles deposited on Populus nigra L. cv Italica leaves and soils. Particles were identified using scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), while bulk soil composition was quantified by applying inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results of this study confirmed the research hypothesis, indicating the industrial center as a source of pollution and human exposure to metallic contaminants. The Olmaliq area in particular is strongly influenced by atmospheric pollutants from local industries. The spread of ultra-fine particles is mainly governed by the industrial output and the direction of prevailing winds.

Research paper thumbnail of Dissolution of red sandstones exposed to siderophore-producing bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens: Experimental bioweathering coupled to a geochemical model

Construction and Building Materials

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of Zn–Pb-bearing rocks: Experimental exposure to water, microorganisms, and root exudates

Applied Geochemistry, 2021

ABSTRACT Zn-Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represe... more ABSTRACT Zn-Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represent a risk to the environment through the mobilization of metals. This study experimentally simulated the exposure of calamine-type rocks and goethite crusts to various weathering conditions and then compared the behavior of these mineralogically diverse samples. Study conditions included sample exposures to and comparisons of native microorganisms (biostimulation of the soil solution favoring microbial growth) and sterile soil extracts, single bacterial strains (Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans bioaugemnation) and sterile acidic growth mediums, root exudates of various concentrations, and water. This study demonstrated that A. thiooxidans and root exudates had the largest influence on the mobilization of metallic elements (up to 44% for Zn, 29% for Pb, and 78% for Cd), whereas H2O was found to play a minor role (0.13% for Zn, 0.27% for Pb, and 1.23% for Cd). The sample composed of goethite crust with quartz was generally more susceptible to bioweathering than the calamine-type rock, a result that was likely caused by the presence of goethite and smithsonite, both undergoing severe dissolution. We conclude that bioweathering was an important driver affecting the stability of the sample rocks. The dissolution of minerals such as hemimorphite and smithsonite under experimental conditions proves that analogic dissolution can also occur under natural weathering conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Populus nigra Italica Leaves as a Valuable Tool for Mineralogical and Geochemical Interpretation of Inorganic Atmospheric Aerosols’ Genesis

Atmosphere, 2020

The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and ... more The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and to human health due to the dispersal of contaminants into the air and soil. This study was undertaken to delineate the track of airborne contaminants’ migration and to assess the distribution of such particles deposited on Populus nigra L. cv Italica leaves and soils. Particles were identified using scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), while bulk soil composition was quantified by applying inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results of this study confirmed the research hypothesis, indicating the industrial center as a source of pollution and human exposure to metallic contaminants. The Olmaliq area in particular is strongly influenced by atmospheric pollutants from local industries. The spread of ultra-fine particles is mainly governed by the industrial output and the direction of prevailing winds.

Research paper thumbnail of Deterioration of sandstones: Insights from experimental weathering in acidic, neutral and biotic solutions with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Construction and Building Materials, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s (Bio)weathering is an important driver affecting the durability of sandstone.... more h i g h l i g h t s (Bio)weathering is an important driver affecting the durability of sandstone. Matrix and accessory minerals are the most prone to dissolution. The weathering intensity can be ranked as follows: bacteria > sterile medium > water. Biodissolution of sandstone proceeds 14 times faster than abiotic weathering.

Research paper thumbnail of Copper Metallurgical Slags – Current Knowledge and Fate: A Review

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2015

ABSTRACT Cu-slags are a by-product of pyrometallurgical processing and contain elevated concentra... more ABSTRACT Cu-slags are a by-product of pyrometallurgical processing and contain elevated concentrations of metallic elements that may be released during weathering. Hence, they may pose environmental risk and thus need to be properly disposed off. On the other hand, the high residual content of metals makes slags interesting as secondary resources for metal recovery. This review presents current knowledge about the chemical and phase composition of Cu-metallurgical slags and discusses environmental issues related to their disposal. Furthermore, it provides an overview of experimental approaches assessing environmental risk as well as recent achievements regarding the leaching and recovery of valuable metals from Cu-slags.

Research paper thumbnail of Drivers of Pb, Sb and As release from spent gunshot in wetlands: Enhancement by organic matter and native microorganisms

Science of The Total Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental impact of the historical Cu smelting in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains (south-western Poland)

Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2013

ABSTRACT Mining and smelting of Cu ores in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains (southwestern Poland) ... more ABSTRACT Mining and smelting of Cu ores in the Rudawy Janowickie Mountains (southwestern Poland) from the 14th to the 16th century produced pyrometallurgical slags which currently form unconfined slag heaps in forests or are distributed within soils and streambeds. At present, the slag affected area has approximately 10 km 2 . Chemical and mineralogical analyses of the slags, slag-contaminated and slag-free soils and stream sediments are coupled with leaching experiments and speciation modeling to determine the environmental impact of historical smelting activities. Three subtypes of pyrometallurgical slags occur in the studied area: porous slag and two massive slags (equilibrated slag and undercooled slag) having different phase compositions. All of the studied slags still contain considerable amounts of metal(loid)s (up to 1.4 wt.% Cu, 1 wt.% Zn, 750 ppm Pb and 300 ppm As). A simple 24-hour laboratory slag-leaching experiment, using three different solutions (distilled water, stream water, citric acid solution), indicate the release of metal(loid)s under simulated natural conditions. Leachates from a stream water solution and distilled water contain lower concentrations of metal(loid)s (b0.1% of total contaminant concentration in the solid) compared to leachates from a citric acid solution. Furthermore, leaching tests indicate that the release of the metal(loid)s is higher for porous slags than for those having a massive texture. Chemical analyses of soils, stream sediments and surface water indicate that some elements reach concentra-tions exceeding environmentally permissible standards (especially in soils: Cu up to 4000 ppm, Zn up to 1500 ppm, As up to 300 ppm, Pb up to 200 ppm). The impact of various sources of pollution including modern ones and those related to historical slag disposal was traced using Pb isotopes and indicate that the contamination by slag fragments and slag-derived metals is currently concentrated in soil B horizons and in river sediments. On the other hand, Pb isotopes and metal concentrations in soil O horizons are addi-tionally affected by airborne contamination not related to the slag disposal. The most important factors controlling slag weathering and metal(loid) release include the following: (i) the textural characteristics and porosity of the slag material, (ii) the slag phase composition derived from the cooling rates of the slag melt and (iii) the environmental conditions (e.g., pH, organic matter content, etc.).

Research paper thumbnail of Copper metallurgical slags : mineralogy, bio/weathering processes and metal bioleaching

Problem statement: Copper pyrometallurgical slags are inevitable waste by-products of Cu smelting... more Problem statement: Copper pyrometallurgical slags are inevitable waste by-products of Cu smelting operations. These waste are considered to be important due to their production volume and high residual metal content that are inefficiently recovered during industrial process. Due to the lack of sustainable practices in the past, tremendous volumes of Cu-slags have been disposed in many industrial districts, regardless of the weathering and associated environmental risk. Consequently, there are many areas where slags have been proven to be a source of metallic pollution for the surrounding environment. At the present time, the outstanding contradiction between the sustainable development and environmental pollution encourages to undertake the action regarding this aspect. For this reason, slags are currently being used as supplementary materials for civil engineering purposes (e.g. cement and concrete additives, road bed filling materials, hydraulic construction materials) rather than...

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of minerals and dissolution assessment by experimental simulations—Implications for sandstone rocks: A review

Construction and Building Materials

Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weat... more Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weatheringresistant silicates and aluminosilicates, whereas matrix and cement minerals in general are less resistant to weathering. Sandstone in both natural and anthropogenic environments are exposed to (bio)weathering processes, causing the release of elements from minor constituents (matrix and cement minerals) and major framework minerals and resulting in the presence of an irreversible fingerprint on the mineral/rock surface. As the result of bioweathering some adverse features such as corrosion, cracking and rock fatigue occur which arises a strong concern regarding durability of sandstones in a long-term perspective. This review paper describes analytical methods applied for determining the mineralogical composition of sandstones and their alteration features, defines bioweathering process and factors attributed to it, analyzes susceptibility of sandstone minerals to dissolution, presents experimental simulations dedicated to stability assessment. This review highlights that bioweathering processes may affect durability of construction and building materials. The gaps in the experimental research are indicated and recommendations on how to fill these gaps are provided.

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of Zn–Pb-bearing rocks: Experimental exposure to water, microorganisms, and root exudates

Applied Geochemistry 130, 2021

Zn–Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represent a risk... more Zn–Pb-bearing rocks from mining sites in Olkusz, southern Poland may continue to represent a risk to the environment through the mobilization of metals. This study experimentally simulated the exposure of calamine- type rocks and goethite crusts to various weathering conditions and then compared the behavior of these mineralogically diverse samples. Study conditions included sample exposures to and comparisons of native microorganisms (biostimulation of the soil solution favoring microbial growth) and sterile soil extracts, single bacterial strains (Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans bioaugmentation) and sterile acidic growth mediums, root exudates of various concentrations, and water. This study demonstrated that A. thiooxidans and root exudates had the largest influence on the mobilization of metallic elements (up to 44% for Zn, 29% for Pb, and 78% for Cd), whereas H2O was found to play a minor role (0.13% for Zn, 0.27% for Pb, and 1.23% for Cd). The sample composed of goethite crust wi...

Research paper thumbnail of Biodissolution of amorphous and crystalline fayalite-bearing copper metallurgical slags

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of minerals and dissolution assessment by experimental simulations-Implications for sandstone rocks: A review

Construction and Building Materials 316: 125862, 2022

Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weat... more Sandstones are common rocks mainly composed of a framework of grains dominated by relatively weatheringresistant silicates and aluminosilicates, whereas matrix and cement minerals in general are less resistant to weathering. Sandstone in both natural and anthropogenic environments are exposed to (bio)weathering processes, causing the release of elements from minor constituents (matrix and cement minerals) and major framework minerals and resulting in the presence of an irreversible fingerprint on the mineral/rock surface. As the result of bioweathering some adverse features such as corrosion, cracking and rock fatigue occur which arises a strong concern regarding durability of sandstones in a long-term perspective. This review paper describes analytical methods applied for determining the mineralogical composition of sandstones and their alteration features, defines bioweathering process and factors attributed to it, analyzes susceptibility of sandstone minerals to dissolution, presents experimental simulations dedicated to stability assessment. This review highlights that bioweathering processes may affect durability of construction and building materials. The gaps in the experimental research are indicated and recommendations on how to fill these gaps are provided.

Research paper thumbnail of Bioweathering of metal-bearing phases by siderophore producing bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens

Goldschmidt2021 abstracts

Research paper thumbnail of Experimental simulations of Zn Pb slag weathering and its impact on the environment: Effects of acid rain, soil solution, and microbial activity

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

Research paper thumbnail of CHAPTER 9. Secondary Metal Recovery from Slags

Chemistry in the Environment

Research paper thumbnail of Can Bacteria Weather Ammunition Lead Pellets?

Research paper thumbnail of Vanadium removal from spent sulfuric acid plant catalyst using citric acid and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans

Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

Spent catalysts being considered hazardous wastes exhibit a high metal content in mobile forms. I... more Spent catalysts being considered hazardous wastes exhibit a high metal content in mobile forms. In addition, growing demand for circular economy policy applications requires proper utilization of these wastes. This study aimed at the assessment of vanadium leaching from spent desulfurization catalyst derived from sulfuric acid plant dump located nearby a copper smelter. Chemical and phase composition of the catalyst has been characterized. The extraction has been performed using chemical (0.1-M and 1-M citric acid) and biological (biotic solution with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans) methods, using different experimental parameters (pulp density, particle size, leaching time) to observe V leaching behavior and kinetics. The results revealed that both citric acid and bacteria carried out the extraction process well. The optimal parameters for acid leaching were

Research paper thumbnail of Spent sulfuric acid plant catalyst: valuable resource of vanadium or risky residue? Process comparison for environmental implications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

The enormous amount of spent catalysts generated worldwide may pose a risk to the environment bec... more The enormous amount of spent catalysts generated worldwide may pose a risk to the environment because of their high load of metals, including vanadium. The latter may be mobilized and released to the environment if managed improperly. Moreover, the catalysts could be considered as secondary resources rather than waste. This study aimed at the efficient extraction of vanadium from spent desulfurization catalyst (SDC) from a sulfuric acid production plant. The raw SDC and the post-extraction residues were characterized in terms of their chemical and phase composition. The metal mobility from the materials was examined with both single-step and multi-step extractions. The environmental risk assessment was performed using sequential extraction. The study revealed that both tested methods (citric acid leaching and bioleaching with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans) enable the extraction of nearly 96% of V from SDC with a simultaneous reduction of metal mobility. However, the bacterial treatm...

Research paper thumbnail of Bioleaching and toxicity of metallurgical wastes

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Research paper thumbnail of Populus nigra Italica Leaves as a Valuable Tool for Mineralogical and Geochemical Interpretation of Inorganic Atmospheric Aerosols' Genesis

Atmosphere, 2020

The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and ... more The Olmaliq industrial area in Uzbekistan is believed to represent a risk to the environment and to human health due to the dispersal of contaminants into the air and soil. This study was undertaken to delineate the track of airborne contaminants’ migration and to assess the distribution of such particles deposited on Populus nigra L. cv Italica leaves and soils. Particles were identified using scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), while bulk soil composition was quantified by applying inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results of this study confirmed the research hypothesis, indicating the industrial center as a source of pollution and human exposure to metallic contaminants. The Olmaliq area in particular is strongly influenced by atmospheric pollutants from local industries. The spread of ultra-fine particles is mainly governed by the industrial output and the direction of prevailing winds.