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Pharmaceuticals belong to pseudo-persistent pollutants because of constant entry into the environment and hazardous potential for non-target organisms, including plants, in which they can influence biochemical and physiological processes. Detailed analysis of results obtained by microscopic observations using fluorescent dyes (berberine hemisulphate, Fluorol Yellow 088), detection of phytohormone levels (radioimmunoassay, enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay) and thermogravimetric analysis of lignin content proved that the drug naproxen (NPX) can stimulate the formation of root structural barriers. In the primary root of plants treated with 0.5, 1, and 10 mg/L NPX, earlier Casparian strip formation and development of the whole endodermis circle closer to its apex were found after five days of cultivation (by 9–20% as compared to control) and after ten days from 0.1 mg/L NPX (by 8–63%). Suberin lamellae (SL) were deposited in endodermal cells significantly closer to the apex under 10 mg/L NPX by up to 75%. Structural barrier formation under NPX treatment can be influenced indirectly by auxin-supported cell division and differentiation caused by its eight-times higher level under 10 mg/L NPX and directly by stimulated SL deposition induced by abscisic acid (higher from 0.5 mg/L NPX), as proved by the higher proportion of cells with SL in the primary root base (by 8–44%). The earlier modification of endodermis in plant roots can help to limit the drug transfer and maintain the homeostasis of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper briefly presents goals, activities, challenges, and outcomes of the NETCHEM project (http://www.netchem.ac.rs/) that was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Program of European Union (573885-EPP-1-2016-1-RS-EPPKA2- CBHE-JP). The project has been started in October 2016 and with extension lasted until April 2020. Western Balkan region has been targeted by upgrading capacities for education and research in environmental and food analysis in cooperation with partners from France, the UK, and Czech Republic. NETCHEM platform providing Web Accessed Remote Instrumental Analytical Laboratories (WARIAL) network, Database service and Open education system was created in order to improve the cooperation, educational, and research capacities of Higher Education Institutions involved, but also targeting whether audience not only from academic domain but from industry as well. The NETCHEM platform is free for access to public; thus, the external users to NETCHEM consortium can not only see its content but also actively participate, enter Database and WARIAL network, and upload their own educational/research material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the present applied research focused on pyrolysis oil as one of the three products of sewage sludge (SS) thermal treatment processing—microwave assisted pyrolysis (MAP). Specifically, the full-scale MAP unit with 3 kW magnetron and with the frequency of 2.45 GHz at low pressure conditions is in operation at AdMaS Research Centre, Brno University of Technology (AdMaS BUT). The aim of this paper is to present a chemical characterization of obtained pyrolysis oil together with the suitable analytical determination methods. Detailed characterization of pyrolysis oil from SS was realized by precipitation in n-pentane, fractionation of pentane-soluble part by column chromatography on activated silica by stepwise elution and analysis of obtained fractions by comprehensive orthogonal two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection. Substances from several groups have been identified at the pyrolysis oil from SS sample: alkanes (110 compounds), alkenes and alkynes (184 compounds), cycloalkanes (104 compounds), aromatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (646 compounds), further lower numbers of alcohols, aldehydes, esters, carboxylic acids and heterocycles. The paper also presents a comparison of the above mentioned used two chromatographic methods and imply a basic ecotoxicological test—small algal screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the state of waters in Belgrade regarding pollution with musk compounds as the target contaminants. Eleven of these compounds were alicyclic, two were macrocyclic, and one was polycyclic. Solid-phase microextraction was used for the isolation of these compounds from waste, surface and underground waters and from processed water prepared for drinking, while comprehensive orthogonal two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was used as the final analytical method. In wastewater samples, galaxolide was detected in concentrations of 1.13 and 0.40 μg/L, while in the Sava River and underground water its concentrations were 0.09 and 0.038 μg/L. The lowest concentrations of the investigated musk compounds were detected in underground water samples, indicating that this is the cleanest water of all the analyzed sources with respect to musk compounds. Comparing the results of musk compound concentrations determined in surface river water samples and clean river water samples utilized for drinking, a lower concentration of these compounds was detected in the clean river water samples. The majority of musk compounds were found in waters utilized for drinking. Based on the concentration values, we conclude that the analyzed waters are moderately polluted with these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressurised fluid extraction using water or methanol was employed for the extraction of stevioside from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The extraction method was optimised in terms of temperature and duration of the static or the dynamic step. Extracts were analysed by liquid chromatography followed by UV and mass-spectrometric (MS) detections. Thermal degradation of stevioside was the same in both solvents within the range 70–160 °C. Methanol showed better extraction ability for isolation of stevioside from Stevia rebaudiana leaves than water within the range 110–160 °C. However, water represents the green alternative to methanol. The limit of detection of stevioside in the extract analysed was 30 ng for UV detection and 2 ng for MS detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]