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Soil erosion is a problem that affects the landscape at different scales and represents a serious challenge for land management and soil conservation in both natural forests and meadows. The aim of this study was to determine how the parent material and land use affect the physical and chemical properties of the soil in the area of the Fruska gora Mountain. The soils were developed on five bedrock types: serpentinite, marl, trachyte, shale, loess and two land use types: forest and meadow. Twenty-three forest soil and 24 meadow soil from a depth of 0-20 cm were sampled from the Fruska gora Mt. Following properties were determined: pH, electrical conductivity, oxidation-reduction potential, content of organic carbon, sodium adsorption ratio, aggregate size and stability. There is no statistically significant difference in pH, Eh, EC, and SAR values between the analyzed forest and meadow soils, but there is a statistically significant difference in the content of Corg. It can be conculded that both the parent matrial, and to a slightly less extent, land use have a great influence on physico-chemical properties of the soil. Ерозија земљишта је проблем који утиче на пределе у различитим размерама и представља озбиљан изазов за управљање земљиштем и очување земљишта како у природним шумама тако и на ливадама. Циљ овог истраживања био је да се утврди како матична стена и начин коришћење земљишта утичу на физичко-хемијске особине земљишта на подручју Фрушке горе. Земљишта су развијена на пет типова стена: серпентинит, лапорац, трахит, шкриљац, лес, као и на два начина коришћења терена: шума и ливада. Са Фрушке горе узоркована су 23 шумска земљишта и 24 ливадска земљишта са дубине од 0-20 цм. Одређена су следећа својства: pH, електрична проводљивост (EC), оксидо-редокс потенцијал (Eh), садржај органског угљеника (Corg), однос адсорпције натријума (SAR), величина агрегата и стабилност. Не постоји статистички значајна разлика у вредностима pH, Eh, EC и SAR између анализираних шумских и ливадских земљишта, али постоји статистички значајна разлика у садржају Corg. Може се закључити да на физичко-хемијске особине земљишта велики утицај имају изворни материјал и у нешто мањој мери начин коришћење земљишта.

The sequential extraction procedure was applied for partitioning of metals in river sediments collected along the course of the river Tisa (Serbia). Eight elements (Sb, Sn, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) from twenty-one sampling site were analyzed using the modified BCR sequential extraction procedure in combination with ICP-OES. The results of sequential extraction, statistical analyses and calculation of EF and lithogenic and anthro?pogenic ratio of metals are similar. In the river Tisa sediments Sn, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, while As, Cu and Sb are of lithogenic and anthropogenic origin. The sediments from the river Tisa show high risk for Cd, medium risk for Hg and Zn, low risk for Sn, As, Cu and Pb, whereas Sb does not show the risk for the aquatic environment.

The main objectives of this research were to (i) investigate the concentration; (ii) characterize the distribution; (iii) determine the sources apportionment; (iv) estimate environmental and health risks of heavy metals in soil from mountain beech forest. A total of 76 soil samples from 20 pure beech forest stands from Bosnia and Her- zegovina (BA), Bulgaria (BG), Check Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Italy (IT), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Serbia (RS), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SL), and Spain (ES) were collected. The content of major elements was measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The content of heavy metals was measured by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Heavy metals had a specific concentration range, which fol- lowed in soil samples from depth 0–40 cm the common order (low to high): Hg < Cd < As < Co < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn, and from depth 40–80 cm: Hg < Cd < As < Pb < Co < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn. The grouping of the examined parameters according to rock types, soil types, and localities indicated the separation of carbonate rocks from other substrates, luvisol, and rendzina from other soil types, and samples from BA, SL, and IT from other localities. According to sources apportionment As, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni are of geogenic origin, while the middle position of Cu and Hg indicates a combined contribution of both sources. Elements Cd and Hg indicated severe to extremely severe enrichment with a mean value of 24.3 and 70.6, respectively. Based on the determined values Ni, Cr, As and Cd do not pose a health risk.

Purpose The Great War Island (GWI) is a landform of exceptional features and a protected area located in the center of Belgrade at the Sava and Danube River’s confluence. The position of GWI causes a large number of possible hydrocar- bons inputs that influence the quality of both river waters and sediments. The main objective of this research is to assess the distribution and source of hydrocarbons in sediments deposited at the GWI depending on the river’s flow regimes and depositional environment. Material and methods Sediment samples were collected from 16 sites (11 sites along the GWI’s coast, 4 sites from the inner of the Island, and 1 specific wetland site). The grain size was determined using a standard wet sieving procedure. The extractable organic matter (OM) was quantified after Soxhlet extraction, and aliphatic and aromatic fractions were isolated by column chromatography. n-Alkanes, diterpanes, terpanes, steranes, and 16 PAHs are analyzed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. Results and discussion Sand fraction predominates in coastal samples, and clay size fraction in the samples from the inner island environment. The predominance of odd higher n-alkanes indicates the terrestrial origin of OM, while the distribution of lower n-alkanes indicates a certain proportion of algae, bacteria, and/or high maturity of OM. The presence of oil-type pollutants is confirmed by thermodynamically stable biomarker isomers and/or the presence of unresolved complex mixture (UCM). Inner island samples are characterized by the largest amount of Corg (up 6%), indicating high bioproductivity and good preservation of OM. Samples from wetland environment are distinguished by the domination of pimaranes and phyl- locladanes among saturated hydrocarbons. Conclusions This study revealed that sediments of the GWI mainly contain native OM with a certain anthropogenic input. The native OM predominately comes from higher terrestrial plants (Salix alba, Populus nigra, Fraxinus viridis, Taxodium distichum Rich.), followed by various types of grasses, macrophytes (Salvinia natans, Nymphaea alba), bacteria, algae, and phytoplankton. Anthropogenic OM originates from petroleum, but also combustion products arrived by deposition from the air and runoff.

The molecular and isotopic composition of biomarkers in initial bitumen isolated from immature (0.41% Rr) oil shale samples (Aleksinac deposit) and liquid products obtained by pyrolysis in open (OS) and closed (CS) systems are studied. The influence of pyrolysis type and variations of kerogen type on biomarkers composition and their isotopic signatures in liquid products is determined. The applicability of pyrolysis type, numerous biomarkers and carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C) of n-alkanes in liquid pyrolysates is established. Pyrolysis experiments were performed on two selected samples that showed high content of total organic carbon and hydrocarbon generation potential, but also certain variations in sources/depositional environment of organic matter (type I and mixed type I/II kerogen) within previous research of the oil shales sample set. The biomarker signatures were evaluated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and δ13C of individual n-alkanes in bitumen and liquid pyrolysates. The molecular composition of liquid pyrolysates from the OS is very similar to those in initial bitumen, independently on kerogen type, confirming algal origin of organic matter (OM) deposited in lacustrine environment, even more apparently than results of initial bitumen. Therefore, OS can be useful for assessment of source and depositional environment of OM. Pyrolysis in the CS caused more intense thermal alterations, therefore the source fingerprints sometimes notably disappear. The liquid pyrolysates from the CS have the distributions of biomarkers similar to those in crude oils. The biomarker maturity parameters showed slightly higher values in the CS pyrolysate of mixed type I/II kerogen in relation to type I kerogen. δ13C of n-alkanes in liquid pyrolysates from the OS are isotopically lighter in comparison to bitumen, independently on kerogen type. Oppositely, in liquid pyrolysates from the CS, they become heavier than in bitumen, indicating the thermal influence on δ13C signatures, with more pronounced difference for type I kerogen. This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Gajica, G.; Šajnović, A.; Stojanović, K.; Schwarzbauer, J.; Kostić, A.; Jovančićević, B. A Comparative Study of the Molecular and Isotopic Composition of Biomarkers in Immature Oil Shale (Aleksinac Deposit, Serbia) and Its Liquid Pyrolysis Products (Open and Closed Systems). Marine and Petroleum Geology 2022, 136, 105383. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105383] Published version: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4900]

Human activities have changed ecosystems and today ≈ 60% of the world’s ecosystems are already degraded. These changes have caused growing environmental costs, including biodiversity loss and land degradation, which in turn has resulted in many economic, social and cultural losses. Protected areas (PAs) are the key tool in biodiversity conservation, moreover they may help to maintain water supplies and food security, strengthen climate resilience and improve human health and well-being. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defined PA as „a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated, and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services (ES) and cultural values”. Such areas represent Earth systems in which influence of human interactions with preserved ecosystems are readily evident. The coverage of PA is a widely used indicator of sustainable development, because the loss of biodiversity is recognized as one of the most serious global environmental threats. The “Big Five” threats to global biodiversity are fragmentation, habitat loss, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, and the spread of invasive alien species. New interventions for governing nature are captured by the umbrella of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the European Union (EU) policy context. NBS can offer accessible, sustainable, and feasible benefits via a range of areas affecting public health and social well-being. According to IUCN NBS are defined as “actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits”. NBS address these societal challenges over the delivery of ES. The main objective of this study is to use the effect of NBS to enhance the sustainability of management of the PAs that would have environmental, social and economic benefits. The methodology includes determination of heavy metals in soils and needles of Picea alba, and quantification and qualification of PAs benefits based on Protected Areas Benefits Assessment Tool + (PA-BAT+) in six sites: Zlatibor, Golija, Tara, Đerdap, Stara planina, and Fruška gora. Zlatibor, Golija, and Stara planina are protected as a Nature Park – protected areas of international, national, i.e., exceptional importance Category I (first) in accordance with the Law on Nature Protection ("Off. Gazette of RS", No. 36/2009, 88/2010 , 91/2010 and 14/2016). By the decision of the UNESCO commission within the MAB program in 2001, Golija was declared as Biosphere Reserve ”Golija - Studenica”. Tara, Đerdap, and Fruška gora are protected as National Parks – protected area of international, national, i.e., exceptional importance Category I (first) in accordance with the Law on National Parks ("Off. Gazette of RS", No. 39/1993, 44/1993-correction, 53/1993, 67/1993, 48/1994, 101/2005 and 36/2009). According to categorization of the IUCN Zlatibor, Golija, and Stara planina are classified in Category V, while Tara, Đerdap, and Fruška gora are classified in Category II. Based on heavy metals content in soils and needles, different interventions in managed ecosystems are proposed.

The study investigates the influence of alluvial-lacustrine processes and paleoclimate variations on the distribution of terpenoids and unsubstituted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The XRF, ICP-MS, Rock-Eval, and organic geochemical analyses were employed to investigate thirty Lower and Middle Miocene sedimentary samples from the Prebreza and Čučale formations, collected from boreholes BL3 and BL5, situated in the central part of the Toplica Basin (Serbia). The development of the studied basin part was influenced by alluvial-lacustrine processes, which affected the type of organic matter (OM) and the paleoenvironment. Sandy silt and gravel layers in the profile of the BL3 borehole indicate the contribution of thicker clasts brought by rivers. In the BL5 borehole, there are fine-grained intrabasinal lacustrine sediments in the lower part, and swamp sediments in the upper part. The lowest total organic carbon (TOC) content is in alluvial sediments of BL3 and some lacustrine sediments of BL5. Based on Hydrogen Index (HI) and C/N ratio, various mixtures of terrigenous and algal organic matter are present in the sediments, while an increase in the proportion of terrestrial organic matter with higher HI (Type II kerogen) is recorded in upper parts of both boreholes, which may be related to paleoclimatic changes. Based on Tmax, the OM is immature and/or in the initial stage of maturity. The presence of plant terpenoids and unsubstituted PAHs, which reflected paleoflora and paleoclimate changes, was associated with the suggestion of predominating Type III kerogen in the studied sediments. Various factors influenced the application of gymnosperms/angiosperms parameters. For instance, the progressive aromatization of triterpenoids occurred in the BL5, whereas the process was hindered in the upper part of the BL3, probably as a result of high sedimentation rates. Based on C-value, Sr/Cu, and Rb/Sr ratios, during the deposition of the Lower and Middle Miocene formations of Čučale and Prebreza, a warm and humid climate prevailed, reflecting the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO). The production of unsubstituted PAHs in the studied samples probably relates to paleo-wildfires, anoxic conditions, or the presence of specific biomass precursors. © 2021 Sciendo. All rights reserved.

The contribution corrects an equation from the paper: Hagemann, L.; Kasanin-Grubin, M.; Gajica, G.; Strbac, S.; Sajnovic, A.; Jovancicevic, B.; Vasic, N.; Schwarzbauer, J. Four Decades of Organic Anthropogenic Pollution: A Compilation for Djerdap Lake Sediments, Serbia. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 2019, 230 (10). [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-019-4277-8]

Mercury (Hg) has been listed as a global high priority pollutant by many international organizations due to its mobility and persistence in the environments and high toxicity to organisms. This research was conducted with the aims to determine: (i) total Hg content (THg) and its spatial distribution in sediments of river Tisa along the river course, (ii) possible sources of THg and (iii) degree of THg pollution in sediments from the river Tisa through different criteria. Total Hg in the sediments ranged from 0.07 to 0.49 mg kg-1, with mean ? S.D. value of 0.26 ? 0.10 mg kg-1. The highest mean value of THg (0.30 mg kg-1) was found in the lower stream, while the lowest (0.13 mg kg-1) was found in the tributary. According to Principal Component Analyses (PCA) strong positive loading of metals in all parts of the river Tisa is mainly controlled from the same sources. These sources are related to anthropogenic activities based on calculated Enrichment Factor (EF) values. Total Hg are higher than background value. According to the Republic of Serbia official standard, THg values of river Tisa sediments were within the range of maximum permissible values. Compared with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) guideline, 80.49% of sediment samples indicated that THg in the river Tisa sediments represented minimal and possible risk towards the living organisms. Integrating the results of pollution assessment, it could be concluded that THg in river Tisa sediments in Serbia demonstrates considerable contamination according to Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), and Contaminant Factor (CF), and high pollution risk according to Potential Environmental Risk Index (PERI).

The scale of human impacts on the natural environment is now considerably larger than at any point in history. The concept of geomorphic sensitivity can help to understand the rate, magnitude and nature of landscape adjustment to perturbation in a given natural system. Aim of this research is to show that geochemical and mineralogical data are important factors in determining landscape sensitivity. To test the suggested premise Neogene lacustrine Kremna basin (Serbia) was selected since sediments found in lacustrine basins are usually prone to dispersion and erosion. Furthermore, lacustrine basins often bear fossil and mineral resources and because of that are often undergoing land use changes. For the purpose of this study, samples of serpentinite, carbonates, marly carbonates, oil shale and tuff were analyzed. Besides mineralogical and petrographic analyses, samples were subjected to the weathering experiments. Obtained results indicate that marly carbonates and tuff are most prone to dispersion primarily due to presence of clay minerals. However, oil shale which also contains clay minerals showed minor leaching characteristics due to high content of organic matter. It can be concluded that mineralogical and geochemical characteristics are important for determining landscape sensitivity to erosion processes of an area.

In this paper an applied organic geochemical approach in studying the nature of organic matter (OM) in water and sediments of the River Ibar (upsteream and downstream of towns Kosovska Mitrovica and Kraljevo) was used. A forensic approach that relies on the fact that the composition of OM of recent sediments and oil varies due to geological age and maturity was applied. The content of bitumen, its group composition of saturated, aromatic and NSO compounds (nitrogen, sulphur, and oxygen compounds) and the distribution of n-alkanes in saturated fractions identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (in almost all samples incorporated into the colloidal micelles formed by water and NSO compounds) could not answer the question whether OM in isolated extracts has native or anthropogenic origin. However, the presence of sterane and terpane, with the distribution of structural and stereochemical isomers characteristic of oil, as a form of most matture OM in sediments, unambiguously confirmed presence of oil type pollutants in anlayzed samples. Based on significant differences in the distributions of these polycyclic alkane (water–water, sediment–sediment and water–sediment), it was concluded that they have more than one source of pollution, and that the River Ibar is permanently exposed to this form of pollution. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 176006]

The objective of this study is geochronological investigation of sedimentological and inorganic composition, in the Danube Djerdap Lake sediments in order to obtain reliable information about former pollution. Eleven samples were taken from the 135-cm-deep sediment core drilled at the Orlova location. Since the core represents sediments deposited during 1972–2016, the sedimentation rate of ~ 3 cm year−1 was estimated. Grain size, mineralogical and geochemical composition was determined. Sediments are sandy silts and clayey silts, and only the deepest and shallowest layers contain > 30% of sand-size fraction. The highest concentrations of minor elements are found in the oldest sediment (1972–1977) as a consequence of the high flux of the material from variable sources. During the sedimentation period (1975–1990), the concentrations of analyzed elements are generally decreasing until the beginning of 1990s. After this period, there are two distinct decreases and two distinct increases in concentrations of elements. The fluctuations in minor element concentrations are a consequence of both natural and anthropogenic sources. Granitic rocks situated south are source of minerals that carry minor elements. Enrichment Factor, Geoaccumulation Index, Contamination Factor and Pollution Load Index indicate that concentrations of certain minor elements at specific depositional periods have anthropogenic source.

Analysis of limnic sediments can serve as a tool to assess sedimentary pollution for both the status quo as well as changes over time. However, in environmental studies, often only a small number of established well-studied contaminants are considered. This study focused on a more comprehensive investigation of sedimentary pollution of Djerdap Reservoir. Therefore, complementary analytical approaches were applied covering lipophilic organic contaminants and heavy metals. Investigations were performed on limnic sediment layers representing a period of 43 years of reservoir functioning. The core was sectioned on 11 samples and analyzed for, loss on ignition (LOI), and organic compounds (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Here, we report the quantitative data of 43 lipophilic organic compounds indicating both domestic and industrial emissions. Measured concentrations are generally low. Surprisingly, no polychlorinated biphenyls have been detected. Data concerning grain size, sedimentological, and inorganic composition were measured and published by in Kasanin-Grubin et al. (Kasanin-Grubin et al. 2019). This article has been corrected. Link to the correction: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4275]

The mutual impact of low-quality lignite and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) during open system pyrolysis was investigated, aiming to improve utilization of lignite with simultaneous treatment of HDPE waste. Pyrolysis of lignite, HDPE, and their mixture (mass ratio, 1:1) was performed at temperatures 400, 450, 500, 550, and 600 °C. Initial substrates and pyrolysis products were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), specific carbon isotope analysis of individual hydrocarbons (δ13C), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and elemental analysis. The positive synergetic effect during co-pyrolysis of lignite/HDPE mixture was observed at temperatures ≥450 °C, with the greatest being at 500 °C. The highest yield of liquid co-pyrolysis products with a similar composition to that of crude oils is also noticed at 500 °C. The yields of liquid and gaseous products and quality of pyrolytic products obtained by co-pyrolysis of lignite/HDPE mixture are notably improved compared with pyrolysis of lignite alone. On the other hand, data obtained from pyrolysis of HDPE alone indicate that it cannot be concurrent to well-developed catalytic thermal processes for polymer recycling. However, concerning the huge amount of produced HDPE, at least part of this plastic material can be reused for advanced thermal treatment of lignite, particularly in countries where this low-rank coal represents the main source of energy. Supplementary material: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4398]

On a global scale, it has been found that in the last decades the surface of the vulnerable land and land affected by degradation is increasing and that unsustainable land management is one of the key drivers of land degradation. In order to assess the effect that these changes have on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and to carry out the appropriate planning and management actions for conserving the environment it is essential to identify and quantify changes caused by land degradation. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of geological setting i.e. type of bedrock, and land use on soil physico-chemical properties in vulnerable mountainous areas of Fruškagora. For the purpose of this study the total of 30 soil samples at 0-20 cm depth were collected at four locations on the Fruškagora Mt. Geological setting was serpentinite and marl and land cover was forest and meadow. Following soil properties were determined: pH, redox potential (Eh), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), concentrations of available cations Ca, Mg, K, Na, contents of organic carbon (Corg) and nitrogen (N). The correlation between the obtained parameters was tested with two-way ANOVA and Principal Component Analyses (PCA). All of the obtained results indicate that the soil physico-chemical properties depend on geological setting and that rock composition has to be taken into consideration during land management. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 176006 i br. 173011]

A detailed evaluation of geochemical properties of oil shale samples,from the outcrops of the Lower Miocene upper layer in the Dubrava area, Aleksinac basin, Serbia, was performed. For that purpose X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Rock Eval pyrolysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of biomarkers and conventional pyrolysis in an autoclave were used. Most of the samples have similar mineral compositions with predominance of clay and feldspar minerals. Three samples are characterised by an elevated content of carbonates, and among them one sample has a notable prevalence of this mineral group. This sample also demonstrated certain differences in biomarker distribution. In most samples organic matter (OM) consists predominantly of type I and II kerogens, showing high oil generative potential, whereas three samples, which contain type II kerogen with a certain input of type III kerogen, demonstrated potential to produce both, oil and gas. The OM of all samples is immature and corresponds to the vitrinite reflectance of ca. 0.40%. Biomarker patterns along with Rock-Eval data indicated a strong contribution of aquatic organisms such as green and brown algae and bacteria with some influence of higher plants OM. The organic matter was deposited in a reducing lacustrine alkaline brackish to freshwater environment under warm climate conditions. Preservation of OM was governed by stratification of the water column rather than its height. Tectonic movements that caused the regional tilting of an investigated area and supported minor marine ingression and influx of fresh water played an important role in formation of the sediments. Conventional pyrolytic experiments confirmed that these sediments at the catagenetic stage could be a significant source of liquid hydrocarbons.

The objective of the study was to determine the origin and type of organic matter (OM) of the Tisza recent sediments along the distance of 153 km through the territory of Serbia. For this purpose group organic-geochemical parameters and biomarker compositions were used. All samples contain approximately same amount of OM, which was deposited under uniform, slightly reducing conditions. Based on the distribution of n-alkanes, the origin and type of OM could not be precisely estimated. However, n-alkane patterns suggest the presence of immature singenetic organic matter of terrestrial origin. Distributions of terpanes and steranes and values of corresponding maturity parameters indicate that Tisza River sediments, apart from immature singenetic organic matter, contain oil pollutant of anthropogenic origin. Identical composition of these biomarkers in all samples confirms that the recent sediments of the Tisza River, from Kanjiža town to the confluence into the Danube River, contain the same type of oil pollutant. Based on the compositions of terpanes and steranes and values of biomarker parameters in Tisza sediments, it is supposed that oil pollution generally could be related to heavy fuel oil from tankers due to intense river transport and, in lower extent, to crude oils from the Elemir and Rusanda oil fields. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 176006 i 176019]