The presentation on the“EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment” (ICCE 2011) discussed the results of the project Z1-3677 Psychoactive pharmaceuticals and their transformation products in water treatment processes. Model compounds include four leading antidepressants: escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine and fluoxetine and three widespread benzodiazepines with tranquilizing and hypnotic effects: diazepam, bromazepam and oxazepam. We describe two analytical methods for trace level determination in aqueous environmental matrices, discuss the results of experiments investigating the fate of diazepam and oxazepam using laboratory scale flow-through bioreactors with activated sludge under aerobic and anoxic conditions. To improve the removal of poorly biodegradable diazepam and oxazepam the aerobic and anoxic treatment are combined with abiotic experiments including photolytic and photocatalytic breakdown. Finally the aerobic-anoxic-photocatalytical treatment is coupled to the adsorption to activated carbon, where the residual pharmaceuticals are removed. In total, the sequenced treatment results in factor 100 reduction in concentration of target pharmaceuticals, which makes this technology potentially useful for treatment of pharmaceutical wastewaters, though, after a scale-up and economic feasibility studies.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 25057319Psychoactive drugs are a group of pharmaceuticals that are being dispensed in increasing quantities due to a developing health care system, demographic changes, increasing awareness of mental health issues and in response to the various forms of psychiatric disorders caused by the stresses of modern living. As consumption increases so does the burden placed on the environment from psychoactive pharmaceutical residues - the cycling, fate and effects of which have not yet been well recognised. The presentation given on LC-MS/MS workshop focused on the analytical issues related to assessment of occurrence and fate of psychoactive pharmaceuticals in the aqueous environment and during water treatment. Model compounds include four leading antidepressants: escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine and fluoxetine and three widespread benzodiazepines with tranquilizing and hypnotic effects: diazepam, bromazepam and oxazepam.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 24853799I attended the conference NWQMC (National Monitoring Conference "Water: one resource - shared effort - common future") in Portland (OR, USA) to present our study on environmental occurrence and transformation of benzodiazepines, which was published in Water Research in 2012. The lecture received considerable attention, particularly in regards to transformation of drugs, since this is a novel research field in USA.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 25832231As a representative of young generation I participated a roundtable organised by Slovenian Science Foundation. The discussions were held on our understanding and experience of coexistence among different generations of researchers.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 24069415Due to my experience in field of new analytical method developement for determination of different micropollutants in environmental aqueous samples, I was invited by a Waters Corporation representative to give a lecture for a workshop "Total Solutions for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis From Sampling to Results". The lecture was on application of solid phase extraction sorbents in the environmental analysis. The workshop participants came mostly from institutes for public health or industry. According to the positive response of the participants, and because they still contact me for an advice, I asume that my lecture was beneficial for them.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 26264615