Application of non-thermal plasma reactor and Fenton reaction for degradation of ibuprofen.

Pharmaceutical compounds have been detected frequently in surface and ground water. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) were reported as very efficient for removal of various organic compounds. Nevertheless, due to incomplete degradation, toxic intermediates can induce more severe effects than the parent compound. Therefore, toxicity studies are necessary for the evaluation of possible uses of AOPs. In this study the effectiveness and capacity for environmental application of three different AOPs were estimated. They were applied and evaluated for removal of ibuprofen from water solutions. Therefore, two treatments were performed in a non-thermal plasma reactor with dielectric barrier discharge with and without a homogenous catalyst (Fe(2+)). The third treatment was the Fenton reaction. The degradation rate of ibuprofen was measured by HPLC-DAD and the main degradation products were identified using LC-MS TOF. Twelve degradation products were identified, and there were differences according to the various treatments applied. Toxicity effects were determined with two bioassays: Vibrio fischeri and Artemia salina. The efficiency of AOPs was demonstrated for all treatments, where after 15 min degradation percentage was over 80% accompanied by opening of the aromatic ring. In the treatment with homogenous catalyst degradation reached 99%. V. fischeri toxicity test has shown greater sensitivity to ibuprofen solution after the Fenton treatment in comparison to A. salina.

Airborne ragweed pollen concentration in north-eastern Croatia and its relationship with meteorological parameters.

Airborne ragweed pollen concentration in the north-eastern part of Croatia was investigated in relation to some meteorological factors. Data was obtained for three consecutive years (2001, 2002 and 2003) using volumetric method (Burkard trap). The correlation between the concentration of pollen grains in the atmosphere and maximum, minimum and mean daily temperature, daily temperature range, sunshine hours, relative humidity and precipitation from daily monitoring was studied. The critical ragweed pollen season appears from 33rd to 38th week, with its peak at the beginning of September each year. Statistically significant correlation between the ragweed pollen count and selected meteorological variables were found in some study years, but only a correlation with the mean air temperature and ragweed pollen presence in the air was significant over time.

[Histochemical detection of primary shell residue mixture in the entry of gunshot wounds]. / Histohemijsko dokazivanje rezidua inicijalne smese kapisle u ulaznom otvoru strelne rane.

Alizarin red S, a commonly used organic dye in the histologic identification of calcium deposits, also forms colored reaction products with other metal ions, such as barium and lead, which are present in primer residue. The possibility was presented of using this histochemical technique in determination of firing distance based on the results in experimentally made close-range gunshot wounds (up to 1 m) by using several types of firearms.