Biodegradation Kinetics of Phenol, 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and Pentachlorophenol with ligninolytic enzymes from Dichomitus Squalens

Biodegradation of phenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol was investigated using Dichomitus squalens cultivation media filtrates with initial laccase and manganese peroxidase activities of 1000 U L-1 and 300 U L-1, respectively. Decomposition of all three biocides was studied at T = 28 °C, pH = 4.5 and initial concentrations around 6 mg L-1 and the kinetics evaluated on the basis of the time course of the biocide concentration data. Integral analysis revealed 1st order reaction for all three pollutants and the corresponding reaction rate constants and initial concentrations for phenol, 2,4,6-TCP and PCP were estimated from linearized experimental data. The rate equations obtained allow estimation of the times necessary for a particular biocide conversion. The toxicity of reactants and products to the bacterium Vibrio fischeri before and after 48-hours degradation showed that the products were less toxic than the reactants in all three cases. The initial solutions of the three toxic substances caused 54 - 62 % inhibition of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, while after 48 hours of degradation, 57 % reduction in the toxicity of phenol, 50 % reduction of 2,4,6-TCP and 29 % reduction of PCP was achieved.Â

COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY OF THE EU FOR TEXTILES, CLOTHING AND COSMETICS

Skratka tekstilna in oblačilna pa tudi kozmetična industrija imajo veliko vlogo v slovenskem kot tudi v evropskem gospodarstvu. Proces globalizacije, gospodarska kriza, ukinitev količinskih omejitev ter dodelavni posli so pripomogli k temu, da se je proizvodnja skoncentrirala na države v razvoju. Zato se je veliko podjetij v razvitih državah prestrukturiralo ali pa šlo v stečaj. Posledično je veliko delavcev izgubilo delovna mesta. EU se je odločila, da bo zato, da bo povečala svojo konkurenčnost razvila proizvode z višjo dodano vrednostjo in visoko kakovostjo. Poleg tega, pa skuša EU na različne načine pomagati evropskim podjetjem, posledično tudi slovenskim, saj smo del EU, z raznimi razvojnimi programi, subvencijami in ugodnimi krediti. Prihodnost industrije je v veliki meri odvisna od podjetij samih ter od njihove sposobnosti odzivanja in prilagajanja nenehno spreminjajočim se razmeram na trgu, vendar glede na razmere kakršne so sedaj, je veliko odvisno tudi od pomoči same države. Tudi slovenska podjetja bodo morala nekaj ukreniti, da bodo povečala svojo konkurenčnost. Spoznali smo, da so jim dodelavni posli škodili, zaradi višje cene delovne sile in prenizke cene končnega proizvoda. Torej bodo morala slediti zgledu evropskih podjetij in proizvajati proizvode z visoko dodano vrednostjo ter povečati prodajo in prepoznavnost lastnih blagovnih znamk. Kar pa zadeva kozmetično industrijo na področju EU pa se bodo podjetja morala truditi, da bo še naprej ostala vodilna na svetovnem trgu. Če se bodo podjetja še naprej trudila razvijati nove proizvode in slediti trendom, ki ustrezajo potrebam vseh ljudi, tako po ceni kot po kakovosti, to ne bo težka naloga.To sum up textile and clothing as well as the cosmetics industry have great role in the Slovenian as well as in the European economy. The process of globalization, economic crisis, the abolition of quantitative restrictions and finishing operations have led to the concentrated production in third countries. Therefore, it was a lot of companies in developed countries to be restructured or went bankrupt. As a result, many workers have lost their jobs. The EU has decided to enhance its competitiveness to develop products with higher added value and high quality. In addition the EU aims to help European and also the Slovenian business, with the various development programs, grants and concessional loans. The future of the industry is largely dependent from companies themselves and of their ability to respond and adapt constantly changing conditions on the market, but according to the situation in the world as it is now, a lot depends of aid from the countries themselves. Also the Slovenian companies will have a couple of steps to enhance its competitiveness. We saw that finishing operations were detrimental, due to higher prices of labor and low prices of the finished product. So they will have to follow the example of European companies and produce products with high added value and increase sales and visibility of their own brands. As regards the cosmetics industry in the field of EU, companies will have to make an effort that will continue to remain a leader on the world market. If the companies will continue to strive to develop new products and to follow the trend, which correspond to the needs of all people, in the field of prices and quality, than it will not be a difficult task

Biodegradation Kinetics of Phenol, 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and Pentachlorophenol with ligninolytic enzymes from Dichomitus Squalens

Biodegradation of phenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol was investigated using Dichomitus squalens cultivation media filtrates with initial laccase and manganese peroxidase activities of 1000 U L-1 and 300 U L-1, respectively. Decomposition of all three biocides was studied at T = 28 °C, pH = 4.5 and initial concentrations around 6 mg L-1 and the kinetics evaluated on the basis of the time course of the biocide concentration data. Integral analysis revealed 1st order reaction for all three pollutants and the corresponding reaction rate constants and initial concentrations for phenol, 2,4,6-TCP and PCP were estimated from linearized experimental data. The rate equations obtained allow estimation of the times necessary for a particular biocide conversion. The toxicity of reactants and products to the bacterium Vibrio fischeri before and after 48-hours degradation showed that the products were less toxic than the reactants in all three cases. The initial solutions of the three toxic substances caused 54 - 62 % inhibition of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, while after 48 hours of degradation, 57 % reduction in the toxicity of phenol, 50 % reduction of 2,4,6-TCP and 29 % reduction of PCP was achieved.Â

Safety and efficacy of drug-eluting microspheres chemoembolization under cone beam computed tomography control in patients with early and intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Background. Drug-eluting microsphere transarterial chemoembolization (DEM-TACE) is the standard of care in pa-tients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma and ensures targeted and controlled cytotoxic and ischemic effects. Proper patient selection and optimized treatment techniques are associated with longer median survival. The aim of this single-institution retrospective study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of DEM-TACE under cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) control in patients with early and intermediate stagehepatocellular carcinoma.Patients and methods. A total of144 patients (mean age 67.9 ± 8.0 years, 127 males and 17 females) between February 2010 and December 2018 were studied. Microparticles of different dimensions according to two manufac-turers (diameter of 70–150 μm, 100–300 μm or 300–500 μm and 40-μm, 75-μm or 100-μm) were used and loaded with 50–150 mg of doxorubicin. The objective tumour response according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (mRECIST), the time to progression, adverse events and overall survival were (OS) evaluated.Results. In total, 452 procedures were performed (median, 3 per patient). Four (0.9% of all procedures) major com-plications were noted. Postembolization syndrome occurred after 35% of procedures. At the first imaging follow-up 2–3 months after first treatment, 91% of patients achieved an objective response. The median time to progression was 10.2 months (95% CI: 8.3-12.1 months). OS rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 85%, 53%, 33%, 20% and 14%, respectively. The median survival time was 25.8 months (95% CI: 22.1–29.5 months). Conclusions. DEM-TACE under CBCT control in patients with early and intermediate stagehepatocellular carcinoma is a safe and effective method of treatment with high objective tumour response and survival rates