Accumulation of 17 organochlorine pesticides in muscle of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) from Garaši reservoir (Serbia)

Samples of pikeperch (20 in total) were caught at Garaši reservoir during the summer of 2017. The objectives of this research was to analyse the concentrations of 17 organochlorine pesticides (aldrin, α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, 4,4’-DDD, 4,4’-DDE, 4,4’-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and metoxychlor) in fish muscle by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric (GC-MS) detection. QuEChERS method was used for extraction and clean-up of pesticide residues from muscle tissue. Three phenyl phosphate (TPP) was used as an internal standard. Concentrations of 4,4’-DDD, 4,4’-DDE, 4,4’-DDT, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in fish muscle were compared with the maximum allowed concentrations (MAC) in fish meat set by the national legislation of Serbia. This reservoir is used as a drinking water source. Therefore, the hypothesis was that it was exposed to low organic pollution. The concentrations of all analyzed pesticides were below the detection limits. In conclusion, there is no health risk for consumption of pikeperch from Garaši reservoir

Importance of Implementing the Green Economy Concept and its Impact on Financial Performance of an Enterprise

In the modern business environment, sustainable development is largely achieved through the implementation of the concept of the green economy, both at the global and national as well as at the corporate level. The motive for the application of this concept at the level of enterprise can be found in the numerous benefits and positive business experiences of companies that have already decided to take that step. Although there are different opinions regarding the character and direction of the following relation, it is stated that the most important reason for implementation of this concept is possible positive correlation with achieving financial performances and competitive advantage of the enterprise-implementator. One way of understanding this influence is through monitoring the implementation of environmental strategy, or through monitoring the process of environmental performance and social responsibility performance management

Life Cycle Analysis as the Corporate Environmental Responsibility Assessment Technique

Lifecycle analysis is one of the techniques for assessing the impact of enterprise on the environment, by monitoring environmental effects of the product along its lifecycle. Since the cycle can be seen in stages (extraction of raw materials, raw materials processing, final product production, product use and end of use of the product), the analysis can be applied to all or only some parts of the aforementioned cycle, hence the different variants of this technique. The analysis itself is defined in phases according to the of ISO 14040 standard series, and involves defining the objectives and scope of analysis, life cycle inventory data analysis, life cycle impact assessment and lifecycle interpretation. Although its use is characterized by certain disadvantages, it can be said that this is still a very valuable management tool without which one cannot imagine the process of effective environmental decision-making in the modern enterprise, and consequently the complete adoption of environmentally responsible way of doing business

Electrochemistry of cobalt ethylenediamine complexes at high pH

The electrochemical behavior of cobalt ethylenediamine complexes (Co(en)), at pH 12 was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), the potentiostatic pulse technique and polarization curve measurements at stationary and rotating glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. It was shown that sixteen different species could be formed in a solution containing Co(en)3, with the most stable one at all pH values being [Co(en)(3)](3+). The reduction of [Co(en)(3)](3+) into [Co(en)(3)](2+) was shown to be a totally irreversible, one-electron exchange reaction. Further reduction of [Co(en)(3)](2+) was found to be a complex process leading to cobalt deposition at potentials more negative than -1.45 V vs. SCE. The process of [Co(en)(3)](2+) oxidation was also complex and most probably coupled with chemical reactions

Active moss biomonitoring of trace elements with Sphagnum girgensohnii moss bags in relation to atmospheric bulk deposition in Belgrade, Serbia

Active biomonitoring with wet and dry moss bags was used to examine trace element atmospheric deposition in the urban area of Belgrade. The element accumulation capability of Sphagnum girgensohnii Russow was tested in relation to atmospheric bulk deposition. Moss bags were mounted for five 3-month periods (July 2005-October 2006) at three representative urban sites. For the same period monthly bulk atmospheric deposition samples were collected. The concentrations of Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe. Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were determined by instrumental neutron activation analyses and atomic absorption spectrometry. Significant accumulation of most elements occurred in the exposed moss bags compared with the initial moss content. High correlations between the elements in moss and bulk deposits were found for V, Cu, As, and Ni. The enrichment factors of the elements for both types of monitor followed the same pattern at the corresponding sites. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Monitoring of trace element atmospheric deposition using dry and wet moss bags: Accumulation capacity versus exposure time

To clarify the peculiarities of trace element accumulation in moss bags technique (active biomonitoring), samples of the moss Sphagnum girgensohnii Rusow were exposed in bags with and without irrigation for 15 days up to 5 months consequently in the semi-urban area of Belgrade (Serbia) starting from July 2007. The accumulation capacity for 49 elements determined by ICP-MS in wet and dry moss bags was compared. The concentration of some elements, i.e. Al, V, Cr, Fe, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Pb, and Sm increased continuously with exposure time in both dry and wet moss bags, whereas concentration of Na, Cl. K, Mn, Rb, Cs, and Ta decreased. Irrigation of moss resulted in a higher accumulation capacity for most of the elements, especially for Cr, Zn, As. Se, Br, and Sr. Principal component analysis was performed on the datasets of element concentrations in wet and dry moss bags for source identification. Results of the factor analysis were similar but not identical in the two cases due to possible differences in element accumulation mechanisms. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Influence of electrodeposition parameters of Ni-W on Ni cathode for alkaline water electrolyser

In this study, different Ni-W coatings, obtained by cheap and technologically simple electrodeposition method, were examined as potential electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). All electrodepositions were done on a Ni mesh substrate from ammoniacal-citrate bath containing different concentrations of Na2WO4. The influence of deposition parameters, such as deposition current density, pH and composition of ammoniacal-citrate bath on electrocatalytic activity of obtained Ni-W coatings toward HER was examined by polarization curve measurements in 6 M KOH at room temperature. The morphology and tungsten content of the Ni-W coatings were investigated by means of SEM and EDS analysis. All investigated electrodes have shown high electrocatalytic activity for the HER. The samples obtained at higher deposition current densities had the lowest overvoltage for the HER. It has been shown that the plating bath pH value is very important parameter in obtaining active coatings. Results of the analysis of polarization curves, morphology of deposited Ni-W coatings and the content of tungsten in the coatings, indicate that the surface roughness of the coatings is responsible for their catalytic activity towards HER. Copyright (c) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Monitoring of trace element atmospheric deposition using dry and wet moss bags: Accumulation capacity versus exposure time

To clarify the peculiarities of trace element accumulation in moss bags technique (active biomonitoring), samples of the moss Sphagnum girgensohnii Rusow were exposed in bags with and without irrigation for 15 days up to 5 months consequently in the semi-urban area of Belgrade (Serbia) starting from July 2007. The accumulation capacity for 49 elements determined by ICP-MS in wet and dry moss bags was compared. The concentration of some elements, i.e. Al, V, Cr, Fe, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Pb, and Sm increased continuously with exposure time in both dry and wet moss bags, whereas concentration of Na, Cl. K, Mn, Rb, Cs, and Ta decreased. Irrigation of moss resulted in a higher accumulation capacity for most of the elements, especially for Cr, Zn, As. Se, Br, and Sr. Principal component analysis was performed on the datasets of element concentrations in wet and dry moss bags for source identification. Results of the factor analysis were similar but not identical in the two cases due to possible differences in element accumulation mechanisms. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Active biomonitoring with wet and dry moss: a case study in an urban area

Active biomonitoring of the air quality in Belgrade, Serbia, was performed using the moss Sphagnum girgensohnii. Moss bags were exposed in parallel with and without irrigation for 3 and 6 months, respectively, at three different sites. Twenty-nine elements were determined in the exposed moss samples by INAA. For all exposure periods, higher uptake in the irrigated moss bags was evident for Al, Cr, Fe, Zn and Sr. Elements such as Cl, K, Rb and Cs were depleted in the moss tissue during the time of exposure. For most of the elements the accumulation after 6 months exceeded that observed after 3 months