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Leaching of copper smelting slag in chloride media was studied. The lixiviants used were aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid (0.5-2.0 M HCl) as well as hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid (0.5-3.0 M H2O2, 1.0 M HCl). The maximum final copper extraction from the slag of 73% was attained with 3 M H2O2, at room temperature after 120 minutes of reaction. At the same time, 55% of the iron from the slag was also dissolved. The copper extraction increased during the first 60 minutes of reaction and essentially ceased thereafter. Because of a rapid catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, it should be added contiuously to the leach suspension rather than at once at the begining of the experiment. In fact, it appears that almost complete dissolution of copper from the slag is achievable after about 4 hours of leaching by implementing the method of continuous lixiviant addition. Also, it seems that the final iron extraction could be limitied to as low as 20% by using this method.

This paper is focused on cobalt valorization from the cathode material of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by using leaching and electrochemical deposition methods. During the leaching experiments, the degrees of cathode material dissolution in H2SO4-N2 and H2SO4-O2 systems were compared. Maximal degrees of cobalt extraction were 40 % in the former and 47 % in the latter system under following experimental conditions: H2SO4 concentration of 2 mol dm-3, nitrogen/oxygen volumetric flow of 2 L min-1, solid phase concentration of 33 g L-1, and temperature of 85°C. The rate of cobalt extraction from the cathode material in both investigated systems was the most favorable in the first 15 min, after which there was a sudden decrease in the reaction rate. Cobalt from the leaching solution was deposited on a copper substrate by galvanostatic electrochemical deposition with a current efficiency of 84 %. The energy consumption was 5.8 kWh kg-1 of deposited Co. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) method was used to determine the potential of cobalt deposition, as well as side reactions taking place in the system. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry has shown that during the process of electrochemical deposition agglomeration of cobalt particles occurred (in the shape of cauliflower), while the metal was deposited in its elemental state, which was also confirmed by the results of X-ray diffraction analysis.

This is the first part of an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) study of oilseed rape cultivated under conditions prevalent in the region of Vojvodina, Serbia. The paper presents the initial two phases of the LCA: goal and scope definition, as well as the life cycle inventory (LCI). The assessment exclusively focuses on the rapeseed oil production chain, which includes the transportation of oilseeds to regional silos as its final stage. The assessment of production inputs, including quantities of mineral fertilizers, pesticides, and diesel fuel needed to achieve an assumed yield of 3000 kg ha-1, relies on recommendations from relevant agricultural advisory institutions. Emissions of pollutants into the environment, considered as outputs, are calculated using methodologies that account for locally specific conditions and production practices. Collected or estimated input and output data are entered into the OpenLCA software, which, in conjunction with the ecoinvent 3.7 database, computes the results of the LCI analysis. The LCI result contains data on hundreds of different pollutants emitted into the environment during the processes that make up the oilseed rape production chain, as well as a detailed inventory of consumed or used natural resources. However, LCI results only provide data on the quantities of different exchanges with the environment, not their potential impacts. Thus, they are not suitable for concluding the overall impact of oilseed rape production on the environment. Consequently, the analysis requires supplementation through the third LCA phase: the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). This phase provides further explanations and interpretations of the significance of inventory results from an environmental protection perspective.

For an agricultural region such as the Vojvodina Province in northern Serbia, soil quality monitoring is very important. Enzymatic activities are proposed as good indicators as they respond to even the slightest changes in the soil. This study aimed to analyze the enzymatic activity levels across three different soil types in Vojvodina and to examine their connection to soil chemical properties and land use. All soil types (chernozem, vertisol, solonchak) were sampled at nine locations, each with 3 field plots. The activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase, and catalase were measured in samples, as well as the selected chemical properties. Results showed differences in enzymatic activity across different soil types and land use. The most active enzymes in vertisol were acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase; in solonchak, it was alkaline phosphatase; in chernozem, it was dehydrogenase. A high correlation between enzymatic activities and certain soil chemical properties (pH reaction, organic matter, organic carbon, total nitrogen) was also observed, underlining the existence of a relationship between different soil components. The highest determined correlation was between acid phosphatase and pH (r=-0.7), alkaline phosphatase and total nitrogen (r=0.7), and organic matter (r=0.72); the obtained correlations were found to be statistically significant.

This research deals with the assessment of the risk to which air traffic is exposed in zones of increased level of radioactive radiation. Natural disasters and war conflicts, which take place around nuclear power plants and the radioactive area (Chernobyl), create fear that large amounts of radioactive material may be released into the atmosphere. The paper analyzed the effects of: the efficiency of the HEPA filter in relation to the size of the radioactive dust particles, radioactivity on the aircraft instrumentation, radioactivity on the engine and the contribution of the engine in the spread of radioactivity to the crew in the aircraft. An assessment of the risk of exposure to radioactive radiation in the aircraft was put in perspective, depending on the type of aircraft and the dose of radiation.

The conducted research aims to ascertain the variations in macro and microelement content within the soil-to-leaf relationship in small vineyards. The vineyard block (1.2 ha), located in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia, planted with Grašac (Riesling Italico), was divided into 20 subplots. Each subplot served as an individual location for soil and leaf sampling. Soil samples were collected at three depths, while leaf sampling occurred at two phenophase (end of flowering and at ripening), with separation into petiole and blade parts. Vari­ability of soil physico-chemical characteristics between subplots was determinate, with the greatest variability in the 30-60 cm soil layer. The soil generally displayed low levels of organic matter and available P, K, Zn and B. Erosion processes were indicated by the spatial distribution of physico-chemical parameters. Differences in nutrient contents were noted among leaf parts and phenophases, aligning with existing literature. Comparing leaf nutrient status to optimal values from literature, N and P content was found at lower limits, confirming K and B deficiencies. Identically, fertilization recommendations can be inferred from soil and foliar analyses, primarily for N, K and B. Additionally, based on soil analysis, a slight increase in P and Zn application is advisable. Established correlations among all observed variables revealed connections between soil parameters, across all depths, and nutrients in the leaf blade at the end of flowering. It is notable to say that nutrient content in soil, particularly N, K, Mn and Zn, exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with its content in the leaf blade, respectively. Further research is necessary to lay the foundation for the development of ac­curate and reliable criteria for diagnosing nutrition, not only for the whole species but also among grapevine leading varieties. Given the significant variations in nutrient requirements and accumulation among these genotypes, this research will be instrumental in ensuring op­timal nutrient supply while minimizing deficiencies or excesses.

The paper discusses the problems that come with the contradictions between individualism and collectivism. Discussions about these contradictions are still present in academic circles today. In Eastern European countries, individualism became relevant after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Up to then, the collectivist spirit prevailed. By accepting neoliberalism, post-socialist Eastern European countries began economic reform, including further educational reform, health reform, cultural reform, etc. This reform also meant the transition from collectivism to individualism because modern neoliberal capitalism belongs to individualism, in which the main focus is on the individual as the largest consumer. The transition to neoliberal capitalism led to a considerable number of workers losing their jobs after the liberalization, deregulation, and privatization of the Serbian economy, resulting in the lifeless demographic image of Serbia, which worsens significantly yearly. Today, Serbia remains without a working-age population, which, in addition to young and highly educated workers, also consists of artisans of various occupations. For the Serbian political elites, the path to the EU does not lead to the question. We've been on that road for twenty years, and it doesn't seem like we've moved much since the beginning. According to the principle, "one step forward, two steps back."

The modern state plays a significant role in securing public resources in order to provide them to all of its citizens. The state needs to secure a certain amount of income to perform this function. The institution that best exemplifies that manner in which the state acquires and directs its income is the budget. Given that a budget sets forth the financial plans for a specific period in detail, the process of creating and controlling a budget is very significant. An efficient mechanism of controlling the creation and implementation of the budget needs to exist in order to ensure that the acquired state income is managed to the benefit of the citizens. Budget control can be performed by administrative bodies, independent bodies and the parliament, as the body that adopts the budget and the final financial statement. Thus, the subject of this paper is administrative, institutional and political budget control. Throughout the paper, the author will also provide a brief overview of some positive law solutions from the Republic of Serbia. Administrative control is based on the hierarchical principle, institutional control is performed by auditing institutions, while political control is conducted by the parliament, as the highest representative body.

This study examined the influence of compost application on alterations in soil organic matter levels and the content of labile organic matter fractions in soil during maize sowing. Due to the lack of organic fertilizers, industrial compost is being investigated as an alternative. The research aims to identify relevant soil quality and fertility indicators and their effects on agricultural production. Short-term compost application as an organic fertilizer may increase the content of labile organic matter fractions in the soil, especially in less fertile plots. The results indicate a significant influence of compost application on soil quality, confirming its role as a nutrient source and enhancer of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. This highlights its potential for preserving soil quality and supporting agricultural production.

In this study, the potential of the walnut shell as a biosorbent for biosorption of Cu(II), Pb(II), and As(III)/(V) ions from river water samples was investigated. The effects of various conditions of water samples such as the initial ion concentration, sample pH, and contact time at a constant temperature and biosorbent dosage, on biosorption of Cu(II), Pb(II), and As(III)/(V) were investigated. Walnut shells, as the material with a high potential for removal of investigated ions, have biosorption efficiency of up to 99.6%, under the applied experimental conditions. The best adsorption time was obtained at 4 h for Cu(II), Pb(II), and As(III)/(V) ions. The maximum removal of 97.6% (Cu(II)), 82.9% (Pb(II)), and 99.6% (As(III)/(V)) was obtained at pH=4.43, pH=8.55, and pH=7.84, respectively. Hence, the walnut shell shows potential of a cost-effective biosorbent that could be used for the treatment of contaminated rivers. However, further investigation is needed to fully explore this potential.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is a multiparameter surveillance system designed to improve key segments of air traffic: enabling real-time surveillance, raising safety and efficiency levels, and improving flight information and weather services. ADS-B consists of two subsystems, ADS-B Out and ADS-B In. Although only a complete system, ADS-B In/Out provides numerous benefits (additional situational awareness, more efficient oceanic routing, etc.) FAA and EASA only require ADS-B Out (by January and June 2020, respectively), whereby ADS-B In remains optional. Because of its many advantages, ADS-B In/Out will be popular, but there are some weaknesses, which are primarily related to its cyber vulnerabilities due to insufficient authentication and encryption in the applied protocol. In this paper, an overview of the ADS-B system is presented as an aid to understanding the security problems and the different ways of potential attack. In addition, this review deals with the current state of ADS-B deployment and its future perspective and challenges.

Dust from an electric arc furnace is formed as the main by-product of the steel production process from the secondary iron-based raw materials. This dust has significant contents of Zn and Fe, as well as Pb, Cd, Ca, Mg, Cr, Mn, Si, Ni, Cu, F, Cl and other elements and is considered hazardous industrial solid waste since it contains heavy metals. In order to protect the environment and public health from the negative impact of this type of hazardous waste, it is necessary, even mandatory, to carry out its treatment in accordance with the legislation of the country where it is located. Before applying any treatment of the electric arc furnace (EAF) dust, it is necessary to perform its detailed characterization. In this paper, the following characterization of EAF dust originating in the Republic of Serbia was performed: physical-mechanical and chemical characterization, determination of granulometric composition, and mineralogical characterization. Also, the EAF dust impact on the environment and human health was assessed (Leachability and Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) tests). The results have shown that the Zn content is in the range 32 to 35 % and that the main mineralogical phases of the dust are zincite, franklinite, magnetite, and magnesioferrite. Granulometric analysis has shown that 80 % of the sample consists of particles less than 26 µm in size. According to the leaching test results, the EAF dust is characterized as a hazardous waste due to the increased chloride content, while the TCLP test indicated dust toxicity due to the increased contents of Zn, Cd, and Pb.

Financial Starting from general position that the sale of one of the key functions in the organizational structure of enterprises, the increasing demands that are placed before the management of sales, contributed to the professionalisation of the strong business and marketing functions. In accordance with the method of business marketing, sales coordinates the efforts of vendors to the needs of customers and shows customers that vendors are ready and willing to meet their demands. Sales is a profession that is not easily overcome. At its most complex level, it involves learning skills that involve concepts and principles' psychology sociology communication, management, economics and marketing, which means the behaviorist approach to sales activities of companies.

The text deals with the economic (in)security that modern society is facing. First of all, this paper starts with an explanation of the concept of security, what does it mean, and how is this concept defined in the literature. We also present some of the basic theoretical approaches used in modern security. In the following, we deal with neoliberal economic theory, which we believe has had a massive impact on the economic (in)security not only of Serbia but also for the countries of Southeast Europe, which all experienced a similar outcome with deindustrialization, that is to become dependent countries on the periphery of the world capitalist system. At the end of the paper, we conclude that due to economic uncertainty and in quest of a better standard of living, the countries of Southeast Europe, including Serbia, remained without an immense population, which will be a big problem for them in the future.

The aim of this paper is to find out whether the quality of educator's instruction impact the manifestation of creativity in preschool children. The study involved 100 children aged between 5 and 6 years, who were divided into two equal groups. According to the research, A4 paper was used on which there was a drawn triangle. The educators instructed the first group of children: "Finish this drawing", while the second group of children was instructed: "Complete this drawing correctly". A team of experts composed of researchers, pedagogues, educators and art teacher evaluated the drawings according to the following characteristics: number of lines, number of colors used, number of objects in the drawing and composition of the drawings. Each of the three evaluators chose drawings that he considered creative. Statistically significant difference found in the number of colors, lines and objects used The results showed that there are no statistically significant differences between the two groups given the complexity of the composition of the drawings. Statistically significant differences no found in the number of drawings marked as creative by different evaluators. Based on the analysis conducted in this research, it can be concluded that preschool children express their creativity freely and naturally, regardless of the instructions of the educator. Given that previous research has confirmed that creativity is stifled by starting primary school, it is necessary to find and describe the causes that lead to it, and in accordance with future findings to create new paradigms that will be the basis of holistic child development.

Background/Aim: Acne can occur in people of all ages, but mostly affects the population at puberty. Given the high prevalence and large impact that acne has on young people, the aim of this study was to assess adolescents' knowledge about factors that improve or worsen the clinical picture of acne, as well as to evaluate the sources used to obtain information on acne. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 460 high school pupils from the Medical School and Gymnasium in Kosovska Mitrovica. A self-administrated questionnaire was used. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to model the association between gender (males/females) or presence of acne (no/yes) and potential exacerbating and ameliorating factors, as well as sources of information. Results: 36.7 % of the respondents were male and 63.3 % were female. 48.9 % of high school pupils confirmed that they had acne. The main factors that worsen the condition of acne, were irregular face washing (88.7 %), hormones (87.0 %), fatty foods (80.9 %) and sweets (79.3 %). The majority of respondents believed that the intake of more water (83.9 %), cosmetic treatment (77.8 %), dietary changes (75.9 %), holiday (54.1 %) and sunbathing (39.3 %) affect improving acne. Taking more water (OR = 1.77; 95 % CI = 1.01-3.11) as a factor in improving acne was significantly more common in girls, while boys more often believed that sunbathing (OR = 0.62; 95 % CI = 0.41-0.94) and weight loss (OR = 0.53; 95 % CI = 0.32-0.88) affect the improvement of acne. The most important sources of information about acne were the Internet (73.0 %) followed by parents (62.6 %), friends (54.1 %), and a doctor (42.8 %). Conclusion: Acne was more common in women and those with a positive family history. The presence of misconceptions among young people regarding the factors that improve or worsen the condition of acne indicates the need for additional education.

Intensive crop cultivation systems require continuous monitoring of irrigation water quality as well as the control of physical and chemical soil properties. In view of the ongoing climate change and a dramatic decrease in soil organic matter content, the use of low quality irrigation water and its adverse effects on soil, cultivated plants and irrigation equipment must not be overlooked. The aim of this paper was to evaluate general quality of irrigation water from the different water intake sources in the Vojvodina Province. The paper presents the results of irrigation water quality, collected during 2018 and 2019. The research included 140 irrigation water samples obtained from three different intake structures which collect water from wells, canals or reservoirs. Water quality was assessed using the following parameters: pH value, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), ionic balance, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) value. Water quality diagram given by the US Salinity Laboratory (USSL) and FAO guidelines for interpretation water quality for irrigation was used. Additionally, the Nejgebauer classification for irrigation water, developed specifically for the area of Vojvodina, was used as a third classification. Based on the results of mineralization of the irrigation water, the following values of the observed parameters were determined: average pH of the analyzed water samples were 7.89, ranged from 7.14 to 9.01, while electrical conductivity values ranged from 0.10 to 3.50 dS/m, with an average of 0.85 dS/m. TDS analysis resulted in a wide range of values, from 112 mg/l to 2,384 mg/l, with an average of 529,22 mg/l. SAR values varied between 0.04-16.52 with a satisfactory average of 1.97. The USSL water classification produced similar results as FAO classification and RSC index

Nickel (Ni) is an essential nutrient for animals and it has an important role in many physiological and biochemical processes in higher plants. At the same time, it belongs to the group of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The aim of this study is to determine Ni concentrations in the soil-plant relationships between the main crops and agricultural land in Central Serbia. A total of 71 bulked soil samples are taken from the topsoil at the depth of 0-30 cm in an area belonging to 6 statistical districts of Central Serbia. A total of 71 seed samples are collected during harvest as an average sample of seed from each observed plot, of which 26 are corn, 19 sunflower, 17 wheat, and 9 soybean samples. Analysis of the collected samples includs the main soil parameters and Ni total and available concentrations in soil, as well as Ni total concentration in seeds. The median value of total Ni concentration in soil is 44.8 mg kg-1, close to MAC. The median nickel concentration in wheat and corn seeds is 0.5 mg kg-1, while soybean and sunflower seeds have higher median Ni content of 8.40 and 10.26 mg kg-1, respectively. Bioaccumulation factors in seeds (BAF) in the present study ranges from 0.013 (corn) to 0.256 (soybean). According to statistically significant differences, all crops have equal total NiT concentration in soil, while the available NiA concentration differs in soils under corn and sunflower cultivars. Based on Ni concentration in seed and BAF, two groups are distinguished − the group of soybeans and sunflowers with higher Ni content and the group of wheat and corn with lower Ni content in seed. The obtained differences confirm that plant species have a significant role in the bio­accumulation of Ni. The determined BAF parameter is in a statistically significant negative correlation with the total Ni content in soil in all observed crops except maize. However, the BAF parameter for maize alone is in a statistically significant negative correlation with the readily available Ni concentration in the soil. The obtained correlations indicate that higher Ni concentration in soil causes lower Ni concentration in seeds, which might be due to the activation of plant defense mechanism to preserve the reproductive organs ‒ seeds ‒ from harmful effects. Based on the obtained results, Ni concentration in seeds of the main field crops in Central Serbia is safe for feed and food usage. Increased content of Ni found in agricultural soils in Central Serbia requires constant monitoring for maintaining sustainable agriculture production.

Special-purpose technical assets for measurement and monitoring are being rapidly developed with the goal of improving sustainable security and electronic protection of people and objects. A general division and application of intelligent infrared sensors in the security community is given in the paper. In a narrower sense, in the paper, a metrological overview of smart measuring sensors, devices, and systems is given. In a narrower sense, the paper analyses in detail the systems based on the use of thermal imaging cameras. A series of examples from world practice are given with the aim of illustrating the importance of measuring and monitoring IC systems use.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of biochar soil amendment (BSA) on chemical and microbial properties in different agricultural soils in Vojvodina Prov­ince. Short-term pot experiment consisted of five biochar application doses (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3%) and five contrasting soil types (Mollic Gleysol, Eutric Cambisol, Calcaric Fluvisol, Gleyic Chernozem, and Haplic Chernozem), planted with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The examined chemical and microbial properties were significantly influenced by soil type and interaction of experimental factors. Significant influence of biochar on the contents of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), total nitrogen (N), total carbon (C), soil organic carbon (SOC), humus and potassium (K) of the tested soils was observed. Biochar also significantly affected the number of azotobacters (AZB), fungi (FNG), actino­mycetes (ACT) and copiotrophic bacteria (CB). The effect of BSA varied depending on the applied dose, with higher values of the examined chemical and microbial parameters at higher doses of application. Further studies on using biochar in soils with low fertility will be neces­sary to establish its efficiency as an enhancer for agricultural production in Serbia. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR31072]

Short air core induction coils with a large radius and a large number of turns can be successfully used as induction sensors for detecting low-intensity quasistationary magnetic fields, such as magnetic fields of ships. The application of these sensors is presented in detail, and then a practical methodology for determining all the necessary parameters of the sensor is proposed. The sensitivity of sensors with actual design parameters is determined and inductance is calculated in several ways. The practical results of ship's magnetism measurement and the calculation of all parameters of the coil are presented. A comparative analysis of all results was performed and the observed deviations were thoroughly commented on.

In this paper author is dealing with the problem of democracy and neoliberal capitalism, through the prism of history; it explains the difference in certain socio-economic and political-economic systems. The concept of the neoliberal capitalist system that has been current for the last forty years has become unsustainable due to the enormous inequalities in the society that it has created. Therefore today, the rich are getting richer, while the poor are getting poorer. It has also been shown that without the economic intervention of a state, no economic system can survive. The growing protests throughout Europe and the world have prompted the author to consider the following questions' What are the alternatives to neoliberal capitalism? Why are Marxism and socialism always current when we talk about changing? Can we talk about socialism in the 21st century?

Background/Aim. Acinetobacter is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections, especially ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP). Considering the increased presence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms and the lack of novel antibiotics, colistin merged as the last-resort antibiotic for life threatening nosocomial infections. Intravenous use of antibiotics is accepted as a gold standard for the treatment of pneumonia, but additional administration of inhaled antibiotics in the treatment of VAP has shown to be advantageous in some clinical trials. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhalatory colistin as an adjunct to intravenous colistin on the survival of patients with VAP caused by Acinetobacter species. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of combination of inhalatory and intravenous colistin vs. intravenous colistin alone in 69 patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) with VAP caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. The patients were treated in the ICU at the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica (Serbia) in the period from January, 2013 to March, 2018. Baseline demographic data, severity of the disease, comorbidities, colistin regimen and length of the treatment were collected. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Results. Twenty seven of total 69 (39.1%) patients received combined intravenous and inhalatory colistin. Forty two (60.9%) patients received only intravenous colistin. Compared to the combined use of the drug (intravenous and inhalatory colistin), patients receiving intravenous colistin alone had a significantly increased risk of death during 28 days [25.9% vs. 61.9%, respectively; odds ratio (OR) 4.464, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.539–2.925; p = 0.006]. Length of colistin use (> 7 days) was also associated with reduced survival (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.080–0.606; p = 0.003). After adjusting for baseline severity of the illness (APACHE score) and length of colistin treatment, patients receiving only intravenous colistin had greater 28-day mortality rate compared to patients receiving both intravenous and inhalatory colistin (OR 6.305; 95% CI 1.795–22.153; p = 0.004). Conclusion. Our results suggest that adding inhalatory to intravenous colistin might be beneficial in the treatment of VAP caused by Acinetobacter species.

Development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) during the latest decades resulted in improved performances of the new integrated cathode materials and in their wide applications. This rapid expansion of new materials led to the intensive replacement of the old-fashioned, traditional materials and increased a simultaneous accumulation of both kinds of materials at extremely hazardous electronic waste sites, which additionally increased an urgent need for their recycling. Most importantly, in this way, spent LIBs may further serve as a significant source of valuable metals such as Li and cobalt. However, one of the key problems in LIBs recycling is the absence of a precise battery classification/sorting based on the chemical composition of the used cathode material. In this paper, characterization of the cathode material was performed regarding chemical composition of 40 samples of spent LIBs using inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. Preparation of the samples, (pretreatment) included: discharging, dismantling, separation of the main components (cathode, anode and the separator), and detachment of the cathode material from the aluminium foil. The obtained results showed that, in the investigated commercially available LIBs, lithium cobalt oxide was the most frequently used (cathode) material. [Projects of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. OI172031, Grant no. III46010, and Grant no. TR34024]