Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Smoluchowskiego 25, 50-372 Wrocław, Poland

Biograph
Dr. Izabela Michalak is an Assistant Professor at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Advanced Material Technologies (Poland). She got her PhD in discipline – Chemical technology, specialization – Biotechnological processes. Her current research interest is in the utilization of waste biomass for agricultural purposes, biosorption of metal ions by various types of biomasses (especially algae), the application of biosorption process in a wastewater treatment, the use of the enriched biomass as a feed additive (feeding experiments on animals) or component of fertilizers (germination tests, pot trials, field trials), extraction processes, the production of seaweed/plant extracts and their potential applications – in agriculture (e.g., as plant growth biostimulants) or as the components of cosmetics and dietary feed supplements. She has published over 60 high impacted refereed publications and 15 invited book chapters in the area of algae, extraction, agriculture, fortification, nutrients. She is also co-editor of two books. She has been the recipient of several awards, academic fellowships and national research grants.

Speech Title: The agricultural applications of freshwater macroalgae

Abstract: In the present study, potential applications of naturally occurring freshwater macroalga – Cladophora glomerata were examined. The biomass in different forms was tested in terms of biosorption properties. The natural and soaked algae were proposed as feed additives for animals, especially for horses with diagnosed metabolic syndrome. Soaking procedure was used in order to reduce the content of water-soluble carbohydrates. Additionally the biomass was enriched with Cr(III) ions via biosorption process since this element plays a significant role in the glucose metabolism. The algal biomass was also subjected to the pyrolysis at 300, 350, 400 and 450°C. Obtained biochar was proposed as a soil amendment (nutritional benefits to soil, as well as to plants), as well as a biosorbent in wastewater treatment. The ability of biochar to remove Cr(III) ions from aqueous solutions was also tested. The biosorption kinetics of Cr(III) ions by C. glomerata in various forms was studied in a batch system with respect to the initial pH and initial metal ion concentrations and was described by pseudo-second order model. The equilibrium data were evaluated using Langmuir model. The biosorption capacity at equilibrium of natural C. glomerata towards Cr(III) ions was 68.0 mg/g, whereas for the soaked biomass it was 76.3 mg/g for the same experimental conditions (pH 5, 300 mg Cr(III)/L). It was also found that biosorption properties of biochar increased with the increase of temperature – the highest equilibrium biosorption capacity was 99.0 mg Cr(III)/g of biochar obtained at 450°C, whereas at 300°C it was only 45.9 mg/g. All the tested biomasses were also examined in terms of multielemental composition and additionally the nutritional value of natural and soaked biomass was tested. On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that soaked biomass can be used as a carrier of Cr(III) ions in animal nutrition, whereas biochar produced at 450°C as an effective biosorbent.