prof. RNDr. Milada Vávrová, CSc.

1. Biochars modification and their applications in environmental protection technologies

   Current interest is focused on exploitation of waste in order to produce stabilized, highly porous carbonaceous materials, i.e. biochars that are further applicable in environmental, industrial and agricultural technologies. The quality of biochars depends on the production conditions of the pyrolysis, and their properties can further enhanced by the surface modification. The aim of this work is the production of biochars from sewage sludge under modified process and post-process conditions in order to enhance their sorption properties towards organic and inorganic pollutants and water. Simultaneously, the aim will also be the development of new methods for fast analysis biochar stability, composition and porosity.

   Tutor: Kučerík Jiří, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Development of techniques for fast assessment of soil quality and properties

   Thermogravimetry appeared as a promising techniques for fast assessment of soil properties and showed a potential to replace currently used techniques. These techniques are often costly and require long experimental time, while thermogravimetry experiments require only several hours. The aim of this work is searching for new relationships between thermo-oxidative stability of soil determined using thermogravimetry and soil chemical properties (pH, content of biogenic elements including P, S and different forms of N, metals including Al and Fe), physical properties (texture and volume density) and biological indicators (microbial biomass, potentially mineralizable N, glomalin and phospholipids contents and microbial emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide). These properties are known as indicators of soil quality, and therefore, the found correlations will be used for development of a complex soil quality index and models for prediction of soil organic carbon stability.

   Tutor: Kučerík Jiří, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Environmental relevance of water and water-cation bridges in soil organic matter

   Water and water-cation bridges are formed in soil organic matter as a result of water sorption on polar groups located in micropores [7]. Currently, their role is connected only with physicochemical aging of soil organic matter [8], but recent results imply their role in non-linearity sorption of organic pollutants [9] and in total water holding capacity of soil organic matter under arid conditions [10]. The aim of this work is to explore these indices and shed light on the environmental relevance of bridges. First part of the project will be focused on the elucidation of the bridges on the total water holding capacity and their role in filling of hydrophobic micropores. In the second part will be studied the influence of the bridges on sorption and desorption of hydrophobic pollutants.

   Tutor: Kučerík Jiří, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Plant bioindicators – a tool for assessing environmental contamination inorganic pollutants

   This thesis will focus on the use of plant material, which is located in the exposed areas, to the assessment of environmental pollution. The aim will be to develop a detailed literature review current bio-monitoring and environmental contamination by inorganic pollutants. After selection will be performed reliable bioindicators and methods for their use regard to the environmental studies; also will be made "optimization" of their use under laboratory conditions. In conclusion, these techniques will be applied to assess the real state of contamination of the environment, particularly the evaluation and comparison of contamination in large urban areas and rural areas.

   Tutor: Vávrová Milada, prof. RNDr., CSc.

5. Study of stability and effect of antiseptic preparations for catheterized patients

   The subject of the study will be investigation of the the stability of the preparations intended for the maintenance of asepticity of catheters and study of the effect of these products on patients.

   Tutor: Čáslavský Josef, prof. Ing., CSc.

6. Study on degradation processes of bioplastics

   The use of biodegradable polymers leads to a question, if these compounds are really biodegradable or only disintegrable and which products are formed during their degardation in aquatic systems under specific unusual conditions such as salinity, pH change, influence of dissolved organic matter or influence of additives in polymers. Next problem can be formation of so-called microplastics. The aim of this work is to investigate the degradation of biodegradable polymers in various aquatic systems with respect to the formation of harmful producs, their ecotoxicity and potential formation of microplastics.

   Tutor: Kučerík Jiří, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Study the influence of the use of herbal adaptogens to the exploitation of the environment

   Tutor: Vávrová Milada, prof. RNDr., CSc.

8. Studying the properties of peat using electrochemical and thermografical methods

   Tutor: Vávrová Milada, prof. RNDr., CSc.