Advances in Environmental Engineering Research in Poland

A side-effect of numerous anthropogenic activities involves unfavourable changes in the natural environment. The acquisition of natural resources, especially fossil fuels, solid waste and wastewater production, as well as emission of gases and particulate matter from industrial plants and means of transport contribute to disturbances in the natural cycles of elements between different parts of the environment. Local changes lead to global effects, changing the composition of atmosphere, its capacity for absorbing the infrared radiation and temperature, which has further repercussions in the form of weather anomalies, melting glaciers, flooding, migration or extinction of species, social problems, etc. These global changes can be mitigated by local remedial actions, simultaneously taken all over the world, including Poland. Only the joint efforts of communities from different countries can be successful in preserving the world as we know it for the future generations. Realisation of this task requires the cooperation of experts across many fields of science, environmental engineering being one of most relevant. It comprises the engineering actions taken to preserve the balance of the natural environment or restore it if degradation has occurred. This monograph presents several key issues related to the actions aimed at mitigating the negative impact on the environment connected with the acquisition and transport of energy, management of municipal and industrial wastes, as well as the impact of the industry on the aquatic and soil environment.

This book is dedicated to academics, engineers, and students involved in environmental engineering, who are following the advances in the research on environmental aspects of energy production and waste management.

Malgorzata Pawlowska Ph.D., Sc.D. is a researcher and lecturer working at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering of Lublin University of Technology. She received her M.Sc. of the philosophy of nature and the protection of the environment at the Catholic University of Lublin in 1993. In 1999, she received Ph.D. in agrophysics at the Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and in 2010 she obtained a postdoctoral degree in the technical sciences in the field of environmental engineering at the Wroclaw University of Technology. In 2018, she was awarded the title of professor of technical sciences. The scientific interests of prof. Malgorzata Pawlowska focus mainly on the issues related to the reduction the greenhouse gases concentrations in the atmosphere, energy recovery of organic waste, and the possibility of using the waste from the energy sector in the reclamation of degraded land. A measurable outcomes of her research is the authorship or co-authorship of 105 papers, including 40 articles in scientific journals, 4 monographs, 24 chapters in monographs, co-editor of 5 monographs, co-authorship of 15 patents and dozens of patent applications. Prof. Malgorzata Pawlowska has participated in the implementation of 9 research projects concerning, first of all, the prevention of pollutant emissions from landfills and the implementation of sustainable waste management. In the years 2013-2019 she was the head of the Department of Alternative Fuels Engineering at the Institute of Renewable Energy Sources Engineering. Currently, she heads the Department of Biomass and Waste Conversion into Biofuels. Lucjan Pawlowski, Ph.D., Sc.D., was born In Poland, 1946. Director of the Institute of Environmental Protection Engineering of the Lublin University of Technology, Member of the European Academy of Science and Arts, Member of the Polish Academy of Science, Deputy President of the Engineering Science Division of the Polish Academy of Science, honorary professor of China Academy of Science. He received his Ph. D. in 1976, and D. Sc. (habilitation) in 1980, both at the Wroclaw University of Technology. He started research on the application of ion exchange for water and wastewater treatment. As a result, together with B. Bolto from CSIRO Australia, he has published a book ＂Wastewater Treatment by Ion Exchange＂ in which they summarized their own results and experience of the ion exchange area. In 1980 L. Pawlowski was elected President of International Committee ＂Chemistry for Protection of the Environment＂. He was Chairman of the Environmental Chemistry Division of the Polish Chemical Society from 1980-1984. In 1994 he was elected the Deputy President of the Polish Chemical Society and in the same year, the Deputy President of the Presidium Polish Academy of Science Committee ＂Men and Biosphere＂. In 1999 he was elected President of the Committee ＂Environmental Engineering＂ of the Polish Academy of Science. In 1991 he was elected the Deputy Reactor of the Lublin University of Technology, and held this post for two terms (1991-1996). He has published 19 books, over 128 papers, and authored 98 patents, and is a member of the editorial board of numerous international and national scientific and technical journals.