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Napredni procesi i tehnologije omogućavaju realizaciju suvremenih, ekoloških i biorazgradivih novih materijala posebnih funkcionalnih svojstava. Prilagodbom procesa postupka dobivanja biorazgradivog polimera željenog oblika moguće je dobiti materijal koji se dodatno može funkcionalizirati posebnim prevlakama s ciljem dobivanja antimikrobnih materijala. U ovom će radu stoga biti opisan postupak dobivanja medicinskog katetera od biorazgradivog polilaktida postupkom taložnog očvršćivanja (3D tiska) koji je pogodan za antimikrobnu funkcionalizaciju. Model katetera iz PLA polimera 3D tiskan je u optimalnim uvjetima nakon pripreme modela pomoću g-coda koji omogućava kvalitetan ispis te osigurava adekvatnu čvrstoću elemenata katetera. Pri izradi prototipa niže razine korišten je 3D printer Creality CR-10 max s prilagodljivom temperaturom podloge i mlaznice, dok se sam proces izvedbe prototipa proveo metodom taložnog očvršćivanja.

For the purpose of this investigation, a sensitive, and rapid inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) spectroscopy was applied in determination of antimicrobialy active elements of the core/shell microcapsules. Microcapsules of different sizes (120 and 450 μm) and chemical composition were prepared with zinc and sodium alginate in the shell (and with or withouth chitosan), as well as filled with the antimicrobial silver in the core. After preparation, and prior the analysis, the samples were digested in an microwave oven using 55.55% v/v HNO3 and 44.45% v/v H2O2. Digested samples were transferred to ICP-MS and analysed with aim to monitor the levels of zinc and silver, both being powerful antimicrobial agents. The results show that there is a significant difference in levels of antimicrobial metals between samples prepared with and without chitosan. Whilst Zn levels appeared marginally higher (up to 20 %) in the group of samples prepared without chitosan, compared with the group with it, the Ag content showed larger overall variability (more than 72%). Particularly, smaller microcapsules (120 μm), had the following elemental composition of antimicrobial metals: 98.32 μg/g of Ag and 106.75 μg of Zn. In contrast, three times larger microcapsules (450 μm) contained two times higher amounts of silver (190.98 μg/g) and only 20 % higher amounts of zinc (121.35 μg/g). Nevertheless, after performing the leaching experiments, obtained results proved that the amounts of antimicrobial elements were high enough for efficient antimicrobial activity of newly prepared microcapsules. Therefore such samples can be efficiently applied as antimicrobial coatings on many different items.

Polymer coatings on different materials with antimicrobial / antiviral properties are of global interest due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Surfaces can be functionalized by application of sol gel procedure during which the antimicrobial agents in a form of nanoparticles or microcapsulae filled with nanoparticles are attached to the rough or plain surfaces. The efforts towards finding optimal solution can be easily done by using statistical tools and computer modeling, and applied on the findining of the optimal sol gel process parameters and the best formulation of antimicrobial coatings. After successful optimization, new coatings are applied as wound dressings, bandages and catheters as well as other medical materials. The goal of this presentation is therefore to emphasize the antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles in mixtures with other antimicrobial and antiviral active components. Moreover, the steps of modeling and optimization using response surface methodology applied in optimization will be presented and the results will be compared to our previous finding. Finally, the future perspectives will be presented related to a recent finding on the emerging new antimicrobial technologies in the fight against microorganisms and viruses.

Pathogenic microorganisms, including fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, and viroids, constitute a serious threat to agriculture worldwide and are one of the biggest threats to global commercial crop and food production resulting in significantly increased cost of production, reduced crop establishment and productivity One of the main challenges of modern agriculture is the preparation of new agroecological formulations for the protection of plant crops based on silver and zinc ions. The aim of this investigation is to explore how the method of ionic-gelation encapsulation method can produce biopolymer microcapsules enriched with silver and zinc ions, which could increase the stability and viability of silver and zinc ions over a longer time period. At the optimal point microcapsules enriched with silver and zinc ions were produced and physiochemically characterized (microcapsules size, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, particle size). The process of encapsulation in biopolymer microcapsules did not have a negative impact on the properties of the silver and zinc ions and its activity remains very high. Also, the silver and zinc ions release data were fitted to the Korsmeyer- Peppas model and the n exponent indicated that the release mechanism was Fickian. The electrostatic interactions between silver, zinc ions, alginate and chitosan were confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. The obtained results showed that silver and zinc ions could be successfully encapsulated and applied in the process of plant protection against plant pathogens.

Antiviral and antibacterial materials Materials Science and Engineering Materials Science for a Better Future

Antibacterial Metal Fibers and Metal Nanoparticles

The antimicrobial textiles market is likely to grow significantly in the upcoming years. According to the recent estimations, the global antimicrobial textiles market will grow from USD 10.7 billion in 2021 to USD 14.7 billion by 2026. Moreover, as healthcare associated diseases are increasing in a number of hospitals, it is very important to protect medical devices as well as clothing used in the hospital. For that purpose material engineering enables that the antimicrobial products are integrated into devices and fabrics of healthcare. By this, the result is material that is resistant to the growth and spread of microbes and therefore can be odor-free. In the medical industry, the demand for antimicrobial textiles is high for hospital gowns, patient clothes, curtain, bed cover, surgical supplies, wipes, and others. Therefore the antimicrobial textiles have attracted a great interest in recent years due to their potential for reducing the transmission of infections in medical and health care environments. Antimicrobial textile materials reduce the adhesion of viruses and provide biocidal and antiviral activity or combinatory effects are today even more important due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This work presents our recent results in optimization and production of the hydrophobic antibacterial materials. [1]. The antimicrobial effects were tested on several different model microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Staphylococus aureus, Klebsiella pseudomonia, MRSA and others). Obtained data on the toxicity to particular microoganisms was discussed, and the chemical characterization was performed by spectroscopic, chromatographic and microscopic techniques [2, 3]. By this, the hydrophobic materials were developed [4] and afterwards the antimicrobial effects were optimized [5]. The future perspectives of the emerging antimicrobial materials presents their significant role in the fight against microorganisms and viruses, needed for better future perspectives. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This work was financially fully supported by the Croatian Science Foundation, project IP-2019-04-1381 under title „Antibacterial coating for biodegradable medicine materials ABBAMEDICA“.

New antimicrobial materials – hope for the future

Global Conference on Semiconductors, Optoelectronics and Nanostructures

Aktivna sredstva poput nanočestica srebra i srebrov ion poznati su po svojim antimikrobnim svojstvima. Različiti proizvodi koji sadrže navedena sredstva koriste se dugi niz godina u liječenju tegoba kao što su kronične rane. S ciljem izrade medicinskog proizvoda, upotrebom sol-gel postupka su na površinu tekstilnog supstrata nanesene i vezane mikrokapsule koje su u jezgri sadržavale srebrov nitrat, ili nanočestice srebra vezane natrijevim alginatom, plašt sačinjen od cinkovog sulfata, koji je u nekim uzorcima sadržavao i hitozan. Upotrebom ove recepture mikrokapsula omogućeno je kontrolirano otpuštanje antimikrobnog srebra. U ovome radu predstavljeni su rezultati otpuštanja Ag+ iona u vodenom mediju dobiveni metodom UV/VIS spektrometrije. Zahvaljujući svojoj strukturi, tj. kemijskom sastavu, mikrokapsule su postigle kontrolirano otpuštanje, pri čemu su mikrokapsule koje su sadržavale hitozan otpuštale manje koncentracije Ag+ iona u odnosu na mikrokapsule bez hitozana.

UV/VIS spektroskopija omogućuje praćenje otpuštanja srebra iz mikrokapsula, te utvrđivanje kinet

Encapsulated Nanoparticles Protective Medical Textiles

World Health Organization has recognized the problem of antimicrobial resistance as one of the most important issues in world health protection. Due to the increasing resistance of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms to conventional drugs, it is necessary to develop new solutions for medical textile materials. The antimicrobial properties of silver ions are intensively investigated in a form of silver ions and silver nanoparticles, so their application on medical textile materials is very important. Therefore, this study aimed to functionalize textile surfaces with antimicrobial microcapsules filled with antimicrobial substances. The characterization tests were performed by ultraviolet and visible spectrometry on samples containing silver in microcapsules in both nanoparticle and ionic forms. Testing of the samples was performed on ready-made microcapsules obtained from sodium alginate, which contained silver in their core. In contrast, the outer shell was made of zinc sulfate 7-hydrate. The encapsulation method using the Buchi Encapsulator B-390 encapsulator was used to obtain these microcapsules. For characterization purposes, the test was performed on a two-beam Lambda 20 instrument, manufactured by Perkin Elmer from the United States. The test was performed in the ultraviolet and visible range, in the range of 190 to 900 nm. The test was performed in an aqueous medium in which the microcapsules released silver. The obtained test results will enable the determination of the concentration of silver released over time from microcapsules in an aqueous medium, and based on the obtained results, the antimicrobial properties of silver ions will be estimated based on the released quantities that are efficient for removal of certain strains of microorganisms on textile medical materials.

World Health Organization has emphasized that the problem of antimicrobial resistance is one of the most important issues in protection of the global population health. Moreover, the WHO has encouraged researchers and scientist to strive in detecting more powerful and more innovative solutions in producing antimicrobial materials. Therefore this presentation will bring the state-of-the-art initiatives that enable efficient functionalization of antimicrobial polymer surfaces. The most powerful activity against microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics are nanoparticles of metals and metalo oxides. Therefore, this study will introduce to the scientific community the methodologies and procedures that we use for functionalization of 3D printed polymers, as well as textile surfaces. Such coatings can contain pure nanoparticles, or their combination with other active species. Moreover, in specific cases the antimicrobial substances can be filled materials that will enable their slow release into the environment. Lastly, the presentation will show the most important characterization methodologies needed for successful monitoring of the antimicrobial reagents. To conclude, the presentation will summarize the state-of-the-at technologies used in functionalization of antimicrobial polymers, to be shared in the scientific community for the benefit of all.

Characterization of historical and modern samples is very important in materials engineering. In historical samples, valuable cultural heritage needs preservation and the obtained results dictate decisions on cleaning, conservation and restoration steps. In contrast, modern newly functionalized polymers with nanoparticles on their surface will have future application depending on the results of precise information on the sample's chemical composition. In both cases the samples are very precious or expensive, rare and usually available for the analysis in very small amounts. In such cases particularly sensitive methodologies like ICP-OES and ICP-MS can provide the vital information on the sample composition. Moreover, their coupling to SEM-EDX, FTIR and other methodologies are unavoidable routine in analytical laboratories [1, 2]. Methods applied should be non-destructive and sensitive enough to detect trace elements in small sample amounts. The goal of this research was to present procedures for fast and simple determination of specific elements of interest in historical and modern materials by ICP-OES, SEM-EDX and ICP-MS. For quality insurance reasons, a comparative method applied for chemical analysis was AAS. Although ICP-OES, ICP-MS and AAS were destructive methods which demanded dissolving of samples prior the analysis, their combination was very useful in analysis of historical and modern samples. SEM-EDS was a simple and non-destructive method which provided information on chemical composition of sample surfaces, morphology and topology, while ICP-OES, ICP-MS and AAS enabled the full insight into their average chemical composition [3].

Plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi are one of the biggest threats to global commercial crop and food production resulting in significantly increased cost of production, and reduced crop establishment and productivity. One of the most important tasks in plant protection is the process of using new agroecological formulations based on silver ions. The aim of this investigation is to explore how the method of ionic-gelation encapsulation method can produce biopolymer microcapsules enriched with silver ions, which could increase the stability and viability of silver ions over a longer time period. The optimization process of silver ion encapsulation in the biopolymers microcapsules was performed under optimal conditions of concentrations of alginate, chitosan, and calcium chloride: (1.5% sodium alginate, 0.5% chitosan, 2% calcium chloride). At the optimal point microcapsules enriched with silver ions were produced and physicochemically characterized (microcapsules size, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, particle size). The process of encapsulation in biopolymer microcapsules did not have a negative impact on the properties of the silver ions and its activity remains very high. Also, the silver ions release data were fitted to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model and the n exponent indicated that the release mechanism was Fickian. The electrostatic interactions between silver ions, alginate and chitosan were confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. The obtained results showed that silver ions could be successfully encapsulated and applied in the process of plant protection against plant pathogens.

LA-ICP-MS was proposed as an effective method for characterization of antimicrobial polymers that contain nanoparticles

Covid-19 is not the only threat to the global human health. It is estimated that by the year 2050, from the infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, more people could die than from AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis together. Only in Europe 25 000 deaths per year and costs over € 1.5 billion are the consequences of the resistant microorganisms activity. Therefore, in this work new antimicrobial materials containing nanoparticles active against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin- sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), microorganism strains resistant to antibiotics, are developed. Antimicrobial water-repellent coatings are intended for materials foreseen as: bedding hospital items, disposable antimicrobial lining and bandages for chronic wounds. In the development of the antimicrobial formulation, we apply the Response surface methodology (RSM) and mathematical modeling for predicting the optimal antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles and their mixtures. The thus-calculated antimicrobial mixtures are applied on the surface of biodegradable polymers (textiles or 3D printed surfaces) by sol-gel process. Polymers are characterized by different spectroscopic, microscopic and chromatographic methods and investigated for their newly obtained functional properties (water repellency, antimicrobial efficiency and others). Our results show that by applying RSM methodology and mathematical modeling, and by changing the process parameters excellent water repellency is achieved [1], as well as a very good antibacterial efficiency against MRSA and MSSA microorganisms [2]. In our future activities we plan to optimize the antimicrobial properties further in order to enhance the efficiency and reduce the time required for total antimicrobial effects in time interval shorter than few hours.

3D printing of biodegradable polymers in the textile industry

Biodegradable polymers that have antimicrobial properties have a very wide application in medicine and medical materials and are often used as medical textiles (bedding and hospital towels) or consumables such as bandages, gauze, and wound dressings. Polymers that are produced by 3D printing can also be functionalized with nanoparticle coatings to obtain antimicrobial properties. These materials can therefore be used as catheters, consumables, coatings and bags. In this work, the TLC method was applied to analyze 60 different metal ions in the antimicrobial coating of samples prepared in the laboratory. The stationary phases tested were 31 different preprepared cellulose and silica gel, polyamid and Al2O3, and the mobile phase consisted of various developers containing mixtures of inorganic and organic solvents (such as acetonitrile, acetyl acetone, butanol, triethylamine, ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid, hydrochloric acid, water, etc.). The optimal system that detected all metal ions consisted of silica gel as a stationary phase, while the mobile phase contained a solvent mixture of acetonitrile: hydrochloric acid: water, a volume of 24 mL in a volume ratio of 60.00: 19.17: 20.83. Sample detection was performed using a UV cabinet and during the detection the separation parameters (RF, Rs and others) of known standard solutions of metal ions were determined, which were then used in the detection of analytes in an unknown samples.

Nanočestice metalnih iona i metalnih oksida danas imaju sve veću primjenu u funkcionalizaciji površine raznih polimera sa svrhom dobivanja materijala poboljšanih antimikrobnih svojstava (medicinskih materijala). Stoga, cilj istraživanja je bio razviti: 1) metodu dobivanja biorazgradivih polimera aditivnom tehnologijom, te 2) metodu karakterizacije novih materijala kako bi se s velikom pouzdanošću mogla odrediti željena koncentracija nanočestica na površini materijala. U prvoj fazi istraživanja, razvila se metoda aditivne tehnologije (3D tiska) pomoću koje su iz polilaktata dobiveni materijali željenih dimenzija i geometrije. U drugoj fazi korištene su spektroskopske, mikroskopske i kromatografske metode analize funkcionaliziranih materijala. Tako dobiveni materijali obrađuju se sol-gel postupkom nakon čega se na površini tiskane tvorevine nalazi antimikrobni premaz. Pomoću računalnog dizajna eksperimenta optimiziran je sustav s obzirom na pokretnu i nepokretnu fazu. Optimalni sustav se sastoji od silikagela kao sloja sorbensa nepokretne faze, i smjese otapala volumena 24 mL, ACN: HCl: H2O volumnog omjera 60, 00: 19, 17: 20, 83. Upotrebom ovoga sustava je moguća vizualizacija traženih metalnih iona, čije su nanočestice poznate po antimikrobnim svojstvima.

Tankoslojna kromatografija (TK) učinkovita je, brza i jednostavna metoda analize metalnih iona koja se može lako primijeniti u analizi uzoraka raznih vrsta materijala. Danas ova metoda ima ogromnu primjenu u analizi povijesnih i suvremenih tekstilnih materijala te se koristi kako bi se identificirale i kvantificirale pojedine komponente u uzorku. U povijesnim uzorcima na oslikanim tekstilima TK metoda primjenjuje se najčešće u analizi voskova, smola, proteina i šećera, odnosno prirodnih veziva koji se često nalaze na povijesnim uzorcima. Za razliku od tih materijala, u suvremenim materijalima će se u premazima moći detektirati širok raspon drugih vrsta materijala koji uzorcima definiraju posebna uporabna svojstva. Takvi su materijali i antimikrobno aktivni biorazgradivi polimeri koji u vanjskom sloju sadrže prisutne nanočestice metala i metalnih oksida. Biorazgradivi polimeri koji imaju antimikrobna svojstva imaju vrlo široku primjenu u medicini i medicinskim materijalima te se koriste od medicinskih tekstilnih materijala (posteljine i ručnika za bolnice) do potrošnih materijala poput zavoja, gaza, i obloga. Polimeri koji nisu proizvedeni tehnologijom dobivanja vlakana i ispredanjem, već drugim postupcima (poput aditivne tehnologije, odnosno 3D tiska) također mogu biti funkcionalizirani premazima s nanočesticama kako bi dobili antimikrobna svojstva. Ti se materijali stoga mogu koristiti kao kateteri, potrošni materijali, prevlake i vrećice. U ovom je radu TK metoda primijenjena za analizu 64 različita metalna iona koji mogu biti prisutni u antimikrobnoj prevlaci uzoraka koji su pripremljeni u laboratoriju. Testirana je 31 različita vrsta nepokretnih faza (od celuloze, silikagela, poliamida i aluminijevog oksida), te mnogobrojne pokretne faze koje su činili razni razvijači smjesa anorganskih i organskih otapala (acetonitril, acetil aceton, butanol, trietilamin, etilendiaminotetraoctenakislina, klorovodična kiselina, voda i dr.). Tijekom ispitivanja koristilo se 19 različitih smjesa razvijača. Optimalni sustav koji su detektirani svi metalni ioni sastojao se od silikagela kao nepokretne faze, dok je pokretnu činio razvijač acetonitril: klorovodična kiselina: voda, volumena od 24 mL u volumnom omjeru 60,00: 19,17: 20,83. Detekcija uzoraka obavljena je pomoću UV kabineta te su prilikom detekcije određeni parametri razdvajanja (RF, Rs i drugi) poznatih standardnih otopina metalnih iona, koji su zatim korišteni u detekciji analita kod nepoznatih uzoraka. Nova je metoda primijenjena u analizi vodenih otopina uzoraka koji su imali sadržaj metalnih iona ispod granica detekcije, te je stoga prije kvantificiranja provedena metoda dodavanja poznatog sadržaja standardnih metala u nepoznate uzorke. Na taj je način detektirano željezo, krom i kobalt u tri različita realna uzorka s vrlo visokom ponovljivošću i točnošću analize., Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is an efficient, fast and simple method of metal ion analysis that can be easily applied in the analysis of samples of various types of materials. Today, this method has a huge application in the analysis of historical and contemporary textile materials and is used to identify and quantify individual components in a sample. In historical samples on painted textiles, the TLC method is most often used in the analysis of waxes, resins, proteins and sugars, i.e. natural binders that are often found on historical samples. Unlike those materials, in modern materials it is possible to detect a wide range of other types of materials in coatings, which define special usage properties in the samples. Such materials are for example antimicrobially active biodegradable polymers that contain nanoparticles of metals and metal oxides present in the outer layer. Biodegradable polymers that have antimicrobial properties have a very wide application in medicine and medical materials and are often used as medical textiles (bedding and hospital towels) or consumables such as bandages, gauze, and wound dressings. Polymers that are not produced by fiber production and spinning technology, but by other processes (such as additive technology or 3D printing) can also be functionalized with nanoparticle coatings to obtain antimicrobial properties. These materials can therefore be used as catheters, consumables, coatings and bags. In this work, the TLC method was applied to analyze 64 different metal ions in the antimicrobial coating of samples prepared in the laboratory. The stationary phases tested were 31 different preprepared cellulose and silica gel, polyamid and Al2O3, and the mobile phase consisted of various developers containing mixtures of inorganic and organic solvents (such as acetonitrile, acetyl acetone, butanol, triethylamine, ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid, hydrochloric acid, water, etc.). During the experiment, 19 different solvent mixtures were used. The optimal system that detected all metal ions consisted of silica gel as a stationary phase, while the mobile phase contained a solvent mixture of acetonitrile: hydrochloric acid: water, a volume of 24 mL in a volume ratio of 60.00: 19.17: 20.83. Sample detection was performed using a UV cabinet and during the detection the separation parameters (RF, Rs and others) of known standard solutions of metal ions were determined, which were then used in the detection of analytes in an unknown samples. The new method was applied in the analysis of aqueous solutions of samples that had metal ion content below the detection limits, and therefore, before quantification, a method of adding a known standard metal content to unknown samples was performed. In this way, iron, chromium and cobalt were detected in three different real samples with very high repeatability and accuracy of the analysis.

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles provide excellent antimicrobial, water resistance and protective properties so they are today one of the most important antimicrobial reagents in the textile industry. Therefore, extraordinary antimicrobial activity of metals and metal oxides receives significant global interest in the development of new products. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles is the result of their very small diameters, which are far below the range of the microorganisms’ dimensions. Such nano-sized metals and metal oxides can interact with both bacterial surfaces and/or with the bacterial core, after they enter inside the bacterial cell showing activity against different microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram- negative bacteria, as well as on spores that are resistant to high temperature and high-pressure. Different biodegradable polymers containing nanoparticles in their surface coatings are used in many protective materials. In this work, thin layer chromatography (TLC) was applied as a simple, rapid and effective method for determination of metals in a form of metal ions which are used as efficient antibacterial compounds in protective coatings on biodegradable polymers. The development was performed by acetonitrile: hydrochloric acid: water= 72: 25: 23 (v/v), on thirty different stationary phases. For visualization, NH3 vapors and UV light (254 and 366 nm) were applied. Results proved that spots of different compounds (namely Ag, Al, Au, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb, Zn and others) can easily be determined. Proposed TLC method is therefore an excellent choice for identification and quantification of many metals used as antimicrobial compounds present in coatings on wide variety of different biodegradable polymers.

Rad obuhvaća globalnu problematiku smanjenja onečišćenja s naglaskom na tekstilnu industriju. Europski zeleni plan nalaže i u detalje razrađuje točke kojima bi se do 2050. godine uspjela u što većoj mjeri ukloniti onečišćenja okoliša, vode, zraka i tla. Zeleni plan jasno ističe poveznicu između kružnog gospodarstva i okoliša. Sve je više načina na koje čovjek negativno djeluje na okoliš te je bilo nužno izraditi strategiju i akcijski plan za osiguravanje nulte razine onečišćenja. Jedan od značajnih ciljeva je smanjiti iscrpljivanje šuma, voda i tla, kako bi očuvali održivi razvoj eko sustava. Problematika tekstilne industrije s gledišta smanjenja onečišćenja okoliša izuzetno je značajna s obzirom da je ona jedan od većih zagađivača. U radu su navedena najčešće primjenjiva sredstva koja uzrokuju onečišćenje, općenito i posebno u tekstilnoj industriji. Dodatno su prikazana i rješenja za čišću proizvodnju koja obuhvaćaju primjenu ekološki prihvatljivijih sredstava, uređaja i visoko učinkovitih postupaka te maksimalno iskorištenje svake sirovine sa što većim stupnjem ponovne upotrebe, recikliranja, kompostiranja, povratom energije te na kraju i pravilnim odlaganjem, odnosno odlaganjem koje ne šteti okolišu., The paper covers the global issue of pollution reduction with an emphasis on the textile industry. The European Green Deal prescribes and elaborates in detail points that would be able to eliminate environmental, water, air and soil pollution as much as possible by 2050. The Green Deal clearly shows the connection between the circular economy and the environment There are more and more ways in which man has a negative impact on the environment and it was necessary to develop a strategy and action plan to ensure zero pollution levels. One of the important goals is to reduce the depletion of forests, water and soil in order to preserve the ecosystem. From the point of view of reducing the pollution, the problem of the textile industry is extremely important since it is one of the major industrial polluters. The paper lists the most commonly used contaminants that cause pollution in general and in the textile industry in particular. Additionally, solutions for cleaner production are presented. They include the use of environmentally friendlier agents and devices, highly efficient procedures and maximum utilization of each raw material, with the highest possible degree of reuse, recycling, composting, energy recovery and finally proper disposal which does not harm the environment.

Rad prikazuje način pripreme biorazgradivih polimera za pripravu udlaga pomoću aditivne tehnologije. Izrađen je prototip materijala pomoću metode taložnog očvršćivanja te su ispitana neka njegova svojstva.