ECO-FRIENDLY ELDERBERRY BASED SORBENT FOR REMOVING Pb2+IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

Abstract Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) pith was modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI) in order to improve the adsorption properties. Characterization of both dried Sambucus nigra pith (DSNP) and amino modification of elderberry pith with branched PEI (PEI/DSNP) was performed by: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), optical microscopy, and porosity determination. The amine and ester number, as well as acid value, were determined on DSNP and PEI/DSNP samples using standard volumetric methods. The samples were used as adsorbents for Pb2+ions from an aqueous solution in a batch system. The obtained results were fitted using suitable equilibrium isotherm and kinetic models. The maximum adsorption capacity for Pb2+ions on DSNP andaminаted sample, obtained using Langmuir adsorption isotherm at 298 K, are 18.9 and 47.8 mg g-1, respectively. Based on the kinetic studies, the adsorption process follows the pseudo second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous. In general, the overall adsorption process was improved by modifying starting material withbranched PEI modifier by introducing large numbers of amino functionalities having high affinity to cations

Supplementary material for the article: Perusko, M.; van Roest, M.; Stanic-Vucinic, D.; Simons, P. J.; Pieters, R. H. H.; Cirkovic Velickovic, T.; Smit, J. J. Glycation of the Major Milk Allergen β-Lactoglobulin Changes Its Allergenicity by Alterations in Cellular Uptake and Degradation. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research 2018, 62 (17). https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201800341

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201800341]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2212

Novel asymmetric polyethersulfone membranes for ultrafiltration application

Ultrafiltration has recently become popular as a promising separation method in many industrial processes covering fractionation and concentration steps in the food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as much as in water and wastewater treatments. This paper presents the synthesis of novel asymmetric polyethersulfone membranes containing an interpenetrating network of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA). In order to improve the properties and application range of membranes, the epoxy groups from PGMA are converted to amine groups by ring opening under alkaline conditions. Membranes before and after functionalization are characterized by FTIR-ATR, elememtal analysis and water permeability

Longevity, body dimension and reproductive mode drive differences in aquatic versus terrestrial life-history strategies

1. Aquatic and terrestrial environments display stark differences in key environmental factors and phylogenetic composition but their consequences for the evolution of species' life-history strategies remain poorly understood. 2. Here, we examine whether and how life-history strategies vary between terrestrial and aquatic species. We use demographic information for 685 terrestrial and 122 aquatic animal and plant species to estimate key life-history traits. We then use phylogenetically corrected least squares regression to explore potential differences in trade-offs between life-history traits between both environments. We contrast life-history strategies of aquatic versus terrestrial species in a principal component analysis while accounting for body dimensions and phylogenetic relationships. 3. Our results show that the same trade-offs structure terrestrial and aquatic life histories, resulting in two dominant axes of variation that describe species' pace of life and reproductive strategies. Terrestrial plants display a large diversity of strategies, including the longest-lived species in this study. Aquatic animals exhibit higher reproductive frequency than terrestrial animals. When correcting for body size, mobile and sessile terrestrial organisms show slower paces of life than aquatic ones. 4. Aquatic and terrestrial species are ruled by the same life-history trade-offs, but have evolved different strategies, likely due to distinct environmental selective pressures. Such contrasting life-history strategies have important consequences for the conservation and management of aquatic and terrestrial species

Adsorption of azo dyes on polymer materials

The use of polymeric adsorbents for the removal of azo dyes from solution has been reviewed. Adsorption techniques are widely used to remove certain classes of pollutants from waters, especially those which are not easily biodegradable. The removal of azo dyes as pollutants from wastewaters of textile, paper, printing, leather, pharmaceutical and other industries has been addressed by the researchers. The wider use of already available adsorbents is restricted due to their high costs which lead to investigation and development of new materials that can be cheaper, eficient and easy regenerated. The aim of this article is to present to the readers the widespread investigations in recent years of synthetic and natural polymers as adsorbents and potential replacement of conventional adsorbents. This review presents only the data obtained using raw, hydrogel, grafted and crosslinked forms of synthetic and nature based polymers, and the discussion is limited to these polymer-based materials and their adsorption properties

PRODUCTION OF HETEROGENEOUS SUPERALKALI CLUSTERS Li n F (n= 2 -6) BY KNUDSEN -CELL MASS SPECTROMETRY

The superalkali clusters are important because they can be considered as potential building block for the assembly of novel nanostructured materials with unique structural, electronic, optical, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties. We have modified and used the Knudsen cell mass spectrometer in order to obtain and measurement of the ionization potentials of the superalkali clusters. In this work the clusters Li n F (n = 2 -6) have produces in the vapor over a mixture of lithium fluoride and lithium iodide by means of Knudsen cell which is placed into ionization chamber of the magnetic sector mass spectrometer. The simultaneous production and mass spectrometric detection of the ionic of clusters provide information on the conditions of formation and the distribution of these ion species. It is observed that the ions of clusters with an even numbered of lithium atoms are more stable than the ions of clusters with an odd numbered of lithium atoms. The clusters Li 5 F and Li 6 F were detected experimentally for the first time with their ionization energies of (4.29±0.25) eV, and (4.24±0.25) eV, respectively

Comparative Profiling of Microplastics in Differently sized Manila Clams from South Korea by Nile Red Staining and μFTIR

The high bioavailability of microplastics (MP) to marine biota has led to the contamination of seafood products. The safety of shellfish as food has become questionable due to the potential health risks associated with MP. As such, microplastics ingestion by commonly consumed shellfish is being investigated. In this study, market samples of clams (Ruditapes philippinarum, n=101) from South Korea were segregated into two different sizes (small and large) and analysed for microplastics contamination. Using alkaline digestion, MP were extracted and subsequently quantified using two of the most commonly used techniques in the field- Nile red staining (NRS) and μFTIR imaging [1], [2]. With NRS, the small (n= 51) and large (n= 50) clams were analysed individually. On the other hand, 8 composite subsamples (30 small and 31 large clams) were subjected to μFTIR imaging. The average MP concentration based on NRS was 4.3 ± 5.2 MP/ g ww (wet weight of soft tissue) considering both small and large clams. In the subsamples, 3.2 ± 1.6 MP/ g ww and 3.8 ± 1.7 MP/g ww were detected based on μFTIR and NRS, respectively. NRS showed 18-75% higher MP quantity compared to μFTIR. This was considered to be a consequence of the co-staining of remnants of undigested biological which was confirmed by additional staining using DAPI. Due to this overestimation, only μFTIR data was utilized for the comparative analysis of the differently sized clams. The MP abundance in both groups was comparable, with the small and large clams having 2.7 ± 1.7 MP/g ww and 3.6 ± 1.6 MP/g ww, respectively. Similarly, there was no significant difference observed in the concentration of MP fibers and MP non-fibers. In the small clams, only PS (polystyrene) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) were identified from the fibers. In contrast, PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene), PE, and PET were found from the fibers that came from the large clams. The same 4 synthetic polymers were detected from the non-fibers obtained from both groups. Overall, PS was the most prominent type, accounting for 35- 49% of total detected MP. In terms of MP size, 20-50μm was the most abundant followed by 50-100μm. Relative to the weight of the samples, the quantity of MP, classified according to size and polymer type, was similar in both groups. In summary, the size of the clams had no effect on the MP content as suggested by the analogous concentrations of MP with respect to shape, size, and polymer identity. In addition, despite the simplicity, low-cost, and growing popularity of NRS, this method should be used with caution due to its propensity to overestimate MP quantity

Supplementary data for article: Smiljanic, K.; Apostolovic, D.; Trifunovic, S.; Ognjenovic, J.; Perusko, M.; Mihajlovic, L.; Burazer, L.; van Hage, M.; Cirkovic Velickovic, T. Subpollen Particles Are Rich Carriers of Major Short Ragweed Allergens and NADH Dehydrogenases: Quantitative Proteomic and Allergomic Study. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2017, 47 (6), 815–828. https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.12874

Supporting information for: [https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.12874]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2468]Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3126