Editorial comment

H. Najdenski            3-4

I. MAN AND BIOSPHERE

The attempts to closed life support system development, the early context of MELISSA project

C. Lasseur, D. Kaplan, M. Mergeay, C. Audas             5-12

Microbial bioconversion of cellulose-containing waste in terrestrial and space conditions

H. Najdenski                13-20

Support of a hypothesis about oil reserves in Bulgaria

A. Sadovski               21-28

Prediction of stack plume rise

P. Jafari Shalkouhi                  29-33

II. SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

Studying of the satellite based models for local spatio-temporal monitoring of ocean acidification in costal sea water in Black sea

N. Drumeva, M. Chanev                  34-41

III. MICROORGANISMS AND ENVIRONMENT

Antimicrobial effects of colloidal nanosilver

T. Popova                  42-51

Some experiments with electrochemically activated water

N. Ivanov, V. Ivanov, G. Gluhchev                 52-58

IV. FOREST ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGY

Vegetative propagation and reintroduction of common yew (Taxus Baccata L.) in its natural habitats in Strandzha and Vitosha mountains

S. Savev, N. Iliev                 59-63

V. RADIATION ECOLOGY

Impact of replacement coal and fossil energy by nuclear energy on global greenhouse gases emission

M. Abdelaziz, H. Elkhatib, A.Abdelmaksoud, M. Essawy                 64-72

VI. SCIENTIFIC FORUMS

Eighth International Conference Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection (EEEP'2024) with Youth Scientific Session

6-9 Junе 2024, Velingrad, Bulgaria                  73-74

MICROBIAL BIOCONVERSION OF CELLULOSE-CONTAINING WASTE IN TERRESTRIAL AND SPACE CONDITIONS
Hristo Najdenski
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Abstract: One of the important ecological problems at present is the increasing pollution of the natural environment with cellulose waste. A similar process is also observed in long-term manned space flights: a huge amount of cellulose waste from clothing, hygiene materials, food residues and others accumulates, the processing and utilization of which is a definite scientific challenge. In recent years, many scientists have expanded and deepened their research on this important question, which still remains unresolved both in Earth’s conditions and during the long-term space flights. Many experiments are carried out on the biodegradation processes of cellulose-containing waste with the use of different populations of microorganisms - bacteria, fungi, etc., as well as with different parameters of the culture medium - composition, temperature, presence of oxygen, pH, etc. The synergistic action of these microbial populations, which have the capacity to degrade and assimilate complex carbohydrates (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) through the synthesis of a number of cellulolytic enzymes, thus restoring the carbon cycle in nature, has been proven. In parallel, research is being conducted in simulated microgravity conditions, focused on their future application for bioconversion and efficient utilization of waste in closed life support systems during long-duration manned space flights. An important condition is that the microorganisms used are not pathogenic, not resistant to antibiotics and do not form biofilms. There is already accumulated experimental data proving that microgravity conditions lead to changes in bacterial gene expression, growth rate, reduced motility, increased virulence, biofilm formation, etc. In this review, the most important results achieved by Bulgarian and foreign teams in this current and promising scientific field are briefly presented.
Keywords: cellulolytic bacteria, bioconversion, cellulose-containig waste, life support systems, long-term manned spaceflight

Abstract: This study is an attempt to support the hypothesis of Prof. Vassil Vuchev for oil reserves in Bulgaria. He argues that there is a geographical zone of underground sources of oil, which begins in Indonesia, passed through the countries of the Middle East, and the Balkan countries – Bulgaria, and Romania, and reaches Norway. It can be expected that the territory of our country hides considerable reserves of this natural wealth. The study is performed by GIS techniques, Procrustes analysis and text mining. The results are in favor of Prof. Vuchev’s hypothesis.

P. Jafari Shalkouhi

The aim of the present study is to investigate and evaluate the possibilities of applying the models for the study of marine acidification using satellite data for a limited coastal area in the Black Sea region. A review of the publications in various scientific databases related to the major projects of international and governmental organizations such as UNESCO, IALA, EC, NOAA, etc. was made. The study takes into account the gaps in the information on the acidification of the Bulgarian coastal waters by exploring the possibilities for satellite remote monitoring, which would allow the creation of spatio-temporal and prognostic models.

VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION AND REINTRODUCTION OF COMMON YEW (TAXUS BACCATA L.) IN ITS NATURAL HABITATS IN STRANDZHA AND VITOSHA MOUNTAINS
Slavcho Savev, Nasko Iliev
University of forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria
Abstract. Ex situ propagation and reintroduction in the wild could be a promising approach in the conservation of rare species, including the Common yew. Its conventional vegetative propagation by rooting of cuttings do not provide satisfying results since a major factor remains the stage of development of the donor plant. Cuttings from stage-young individuals taken from Maglizh site formed more root primordia, with successful rooting of 44%. Individuals in the reproductive stage of their development form root primordia, but root development follows in 8 to 20 % of cuttings, while the other cuttings necrotize. The attempt to reintroduce Taxus baccata revealed that young plants hardly develop in the lower part of the steep slopes of thinned forest communities, forming the natural habitat of the mixed scree forests, on steep slopes and ravines, a xerophytic variant of the Tilio-Acerion alliance. Young Yew plants are sensitive to summer droughts and to the allelopathic effect of their neighboring Rhododendron ponticum shrubs, which reduces the success of their reintroduction. A limiting factor is also the thick layer of leaf litter and shading by beech trees in the lower part of the slopes, as well as damage by wild herbivores, mainly roe deer and rabbits. Young saplings require good soil aeration, combined with sufficient moisture during the summer drought period and intensive cultivation, including lightening under beech shading during the initial three-year period after planting.
Keywords: common yew, habitats, nature parks

doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2023.2.6472

IMPACT OF REPLACEMENT COAL AND FOSSIL ENERGY BY NUCLEAR ENERGY ON GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GASES EMISSION
Mohamed Abdelaziz¹,Hesham Elkhatib², Abdelfatah Abdelmaksoud², Mohamed Essawy^2
1 Department of Nuclear Safety Research and Radiological Emergencies, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority
² Nuclear Reactors Department, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority
Abstract. Climate change has become one of the important matters that worry humanity worldwide, until local seminars and international conferences have been held for it at the highest levels, such as the level of heads of state. What is worrying about climate change is the increase in the average global temperature until it soon reaches the age of mankind, which has reached 1.5 degrees Celsius until the year 2033 and 2 degrees Celsius until the year 2059, as an inevitable result of the increase in carbon emissions resulting from electricity generation, industry and vehicle exhaust, which were estimated at about 1000 gigabytes of tons until the year 2060, in which the production of electrical energy contributes by more than 50%. On the other hand, the unjust encroachment on forests, this is the lung of the world. Since electric power generation is responsible for more than half of the global emissions of carbon gases, this research aims to study the carbon emissions resulting from electric power generation with the scenarios of Unfinished Symphony, Modern Jazz and Hard Rock, and trying to reduce the carbon emissions resulting from electric power generation by replacing electricity generation with nuclear energy as an alternative to coal all types, as well as petroleum (fossil fuels), with the stability of the use of natural gas and new and renewable energies according to previous scenarios until the year 2060. The result was, according to the Unfinished Symphony scenario, emissions were about (591.9) Giga tons. In contrast, when using nuclear energy as an alternative, the contribution of electricity production by 65% cancels out the improvement in the amount of carbon emissions by 75.1%, with a carbon dioxide productivity of 146.8 Giga tons. According to the Jazz scenario, emissions were about (632.1) Giga tons. In contrast, when using nuclear energy as an alternative, the contribution of electricity production is 65%, which cancels out the improvement in the amount of carbon emissions by 75.2%, with a carbon dioxide productivity of 156.8 Giga tons. According to the Hard Rock scenario, emissions were about (643.3) Giga tons. In contrast, when using nuclear energy as an alternative, the contribution of electricity production is 65%, which cancels out the improvement in the amount of carbon emissions by 74.87%, with a production of carbon dioxide that amounted to 161.6 Giga tons.
Keywords: Climate change – CO₂ emission – Electric demand scenario – Nuclear energy contribution.