Latest Academic Works
Deposition and protection mechanisms of zirconium conversion coatings on aluminium alloy, steel and zinc substrates
This thesis focuses on the development and optimisation of zirconium conversion coatings (ZrCCs) on cold-rolled steel (CRS), zinc (Zn), and aluminium alloy AA5754 substrates through a multidimensional approach. The utilization of statistical tools, specifically response surface methodology (RSM), enabled the assessment of the individual and mutual effects of various parameters …
Metrology of mercury measurements in the air
Atmospheric mercury (Hg) plays an important role in the biogeochemical Hg cycle. Hg species in the atmosphere are present in very low concentrations. While gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) is relatively inert, gaseous oxidized (GOM) and particulate-bound (PBM) mercury are highly reactive. These characteristics of atmospheric Hg species make the speciation …
Speciation of ruthenium-based candidate drugs for cancer treatment and copper as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis in human serum
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer represents the second leading cause of mortality, with almost 10 million deaths in 2020. A broad spectra of cancer treatments are being developed, among them are metal-based drugs. Consistent with the available data, platinum (Pt)-based chemotherapeutics are still widely used to treat …
Speciation of mercury in environmental samples from gold mining communities in Southwestern Ghana
Gold miners (Artisanal and Small-Scale [ASGM]) operating in southwestern Ghana use exclusive mercury-gold amalgamation, cyanidation of gold-rich mercury-contaminated tailings, or a combination of both techniques during gold extraction; exposing water bodies within the catchment to mercury (Hg) and cyanide (CN) from mining discharged effluents. Additionally, sporadic CN spillage/leakage from Large …
Mercury in the Process of Cement Clinker Production and Emission Control
Mercury is a very toxic element. Due to its volubility it is present everywhere in the environment at ambient temperature. High temperature processes increased levels of mercury on the global scale. Global and European action plans were established to reduce mercury emissions and remove mercury from the environment. Cement plants …
Development of analytical methods for speciation of organotin compounds in environmental samples using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
Organotin compounds (OTCs) are the organometallic compounds with the most numerous applications. Today, it is more than 50 years of their intensive development and use. While they are highly useful chemicals they are also extremely toxic to a wide array of aquatic and terrestrial living organisms at very low concentrations. …
Selenocompounds in selenium-enriched plants determined by spectrometric methods
Selenium (Se) has been demonstrated to be an essential trace element for maintenance of animal and human health. Se is incorporated into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help to prevent cellular damage caused by radicals. Radicals are natural by-products of oxygen …
Speciation of aluminium in human serum by CIM® (Convective Interaction Media) monolithic chromatography and mass spectrometry
The toxicity, biological availability and mobility of aluminium (Al) depend on its chemical form. In order to understand toxicity and transport of Al in human body it is important to identify and quantify Al species present in human serum. This led to the development of sensitive and selective analytical methods …
Mass Balance of Mercury in the Idrijca River Catchment
Mercury (Hg) pollution has been investigated in the area of the Idrija mercury mine, Slovenia, where the second largest mercury mine in the world operated for more then 500 years. Although the production of mercury at the Idrija mercury mine stopped in 1994, centuries of mining and ore processing operations …