1. Comparing the effects of pristine and UV–VIS aged microplastics : behavioural response of model terrestrial and freshwater crustaceansPrimož Zidar, Dana Kühnel, Andrijana Sever Škapin, Tina Skalar, Damjana Drobne, Luka Škrlep, Branka Mušič, Anita Jemec Kokalj, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Physico-chemical properties of microplastics (MPs) change during weathering in the environment. There is a lack of knowledge about the effects of such environmentally relevant MPs on organisms. We investigated: 1) the physico-chemical changes of MPs due to UV–VIS weathering, and 2) compared the effect of pristine and aged MPs on the behaviour of the water flea Daphnia magna and terrestrial crustacean Porcellio scaber. Dry powders of MPs were produced from widely used polymer types: disposable three-layer polypropylene (PP) medical masks (inner, middle and outer), polyester textile fibres, car tires and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags and were subjected to accelerated ultraviolet–visible (UV–VIS) ageing. Our results show that the extent of transformation depends on the type of polymer, with PP showing the most changes, followed by LDPE, textile fibres and tire particles. Obvious fragmentation was observed in PP and textile fibres. In the case of PP, but not polyester textile fibres, changes in FTIR spectra and surface properties were observed. Tire particles and LDPE did not change in size, but clear changes were observed in their FTIR spectra. Most MPs, aged and pristine, did not affect the swimming of daphnids. The only effect observed was a significant increase in path length and swimming speed for the pristine tire particles when the recording was done with particles remaining in the wells. After transfer to a clean medium, this effect was no longer present, suggesting a physical rather than chemical effect. Similarly, woodlice showed no significant avoidance response to the MPs tested, although there was a noticeable trend to avoid soils contaminated with pristine polyester textile fibers and preference towards the soils contaminated with aged MP of the middle mask layer. Overall, the apparent changes in physico-chemical properties of MPs after accelerated ageing were not reflected in their effects on woodlice and daphnids.
Keywords: Daphnia magna, Porcellio scaber, polyethylene, polypropylene, weathering, FTIR
Published in DiRROS: 08.10.2024; Views: 224; Downloads: 1462
 Full text (5,54 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
2. Why are the Early Gothic murals in St. Jacob’s Church in Ormož, Slovenia, almost entirely black?Anabelle Križnar, Katja Kavkler, Sabina Dolenec, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: In St. Jacob’s parish church in Ormož, Slovenia, mural paintings from around 1350–1370 are partially conserved in the northeastern corner of the main nave. They are almost completely black, indicating a large-scale pigment degradation. They were studied as a part of a larger research project aiming to identify materials applied and their possible degradation. First, they were studied in situ, and next, extracted samples of plaster, pigments, and colour layers were analysed by optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM-EDS, and XRD. Haematite, green earth, malachite, azurite, and tenorite were identified, showing that azurite and perhaps also malachite degraded to black tenorite, probably due to their fine grinding and their application directly on the fresh plaster. The plaster is made with small and large amounts of aggregate with mostly quartz with some impurities, which makes it fragile. The original appearance of these murals was of bright blue and green colours.
Keywords: mural painting, medieval painting, Gothic art, St. Jacob's Church, Ormož, Slovenia, pigments, chemical structure, colour degradation, optical microscopy, Raman microspectroscopy, FTIR, XRD
Published in DiRROS: 17.04.2024; Views: 452; Downloads: 386
Full text (81,04 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
3. Aggregates obtained by alkali activation of fly ash : the effect of granulation, pelletization methods and curing regimesOgnjen Lj. Rudić, Vilma Ducman, Mirjana Malešev, Vlastimir Radonjanin, Suzana Draganić, Slobodan Šupić, Miroslava Radeka, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: This paper presents results regarding the phase composition, microstructure and textural properties of two types of aggregates, which were prepared via crushing or pelletization of alkali-activated Class F fly ash and cured under different conditions. The alkali activator was the same for aggregate products, containing an alkaline solution consisting of 8 M NaOH and Na-silicate (8 M NaOH/Na-silicate = 1:2.5 mass ratio). The aforementioned properties were influenced by two different preparation procedures combined with varying curing regimes (under normal conditions at 20 %C, RH 40%60% for 28 and 120 days and under an accelerated regime, at 65 %C for 5 days). Aggregates were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), back scattered electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer (BSE-EDS) analyses and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results showed noteworthy structural and textural diversities between the two types of aggregate. The method of preparation and curing regime affected the formation of the N-A-S-H structure and the texture of the alkali-activated fly ash product, with the crushing method giving an advantage
Keywords: alkali activation, agregat, FTIR
Published in DiRROS: 14.09.2023; Views: 594; Downloads: 331
Full text (5,27 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
4. The potential of ladle slag and electric arc furnace slag use in synthesizing alkali activated materials; the influence of curing on mechanical propertiesMark Češnovar, Katja Traven, Barbara Horvat, Vilma Ducman, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Alkali activation is studied as a potential technology to produce a group of high performance building materials from industrial residues such as metallurgical slag. Namely, slags containing aluminate and silicate form a useful solid material when activated by an alkaline solution. The alkali-activated (AA) slag-based materials are promising alternative products for civil engineering sector and industrial purposes. In the present study the locally available electric arc furnace steel slag (Slag A) and the ladle furnace basic slag (Slag R) from different metallurgical industries in Slovenia were selected for alkali activation because of promising amorphous Al/Si rich content. Different mixtures of selected precursors were prepared in the Slag A/Slag R ratios 1/0, 3/1, 1/1, 1/3 and 0/1 and further activated with potassium silicate using an activator to slag ratio of 1:2 in order to select the optimal composition with respect to their mechanical properties. Bending strength of investigated samples ranged between 4 and 18 MPa, whereas compressive strength varied between 30 and 60 MPa. The optimal mixture (Slag A/Slag R = 1/1) was further used to study strength development under the influence of different curing temperatures at room temperature (R. T.), and in a heat-chamber at 50, 70 and 90 °C, and the effects of curing time for 1, 3, 7 and 28 days was furthermore studied. The influence of curing time at room temperature on the mechanical strength at an early age was found to be nearly linear. Further, it was shown that specimens cured at 70 °C for 3 days attained almost identical (bending/compressive) strength to those cured at room temperature for 28 days. Additionally, microstructure evaluation of input materials and samples cured under different conditions was performed by means of XRD, FTIR, SEM and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP).
Keywords: alkali activation, slag, influence of curing regime, FTIR
Published in DiRROS: 13.09.2023; Views: 624; Downloads: 327
Full text (10,76 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
5. An electrochemical and spectroscopic study of surfaces on bronze sculptures exposed to urban environmentDajana Mikić, Helena Otmačić Ćurković, Tadeja Kosec, Neven Peko, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Polluted urban environment enhances dissolution of patina and underlying bronze material of recent and historical bronze sculptures exposed outdoors. In this work, two bronze statues, situated in one of the most polluted Croatian cities, were examined in order to characterize composition of patina and its electrochemical stability. The composition of patina on several positions on each sculpture was determined by EDS, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR measurements. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were conducted in order to evaluate the corrosion stability of both patina and underlying bronze. Results obtained in this work show that the two examined bronze sculptures were covered with patina layer that was mainly composed of copper sulfides and sulphates, which is in accordance with the high concentrations of H2S and SO2 in the atmosphere. However, the variations in the appearance of FTIR and Raman spectra revealed that the amount of each species differed from spot to spot, as well as the fact that other compounds, such as carbonates, were present at some areas. This difference in patina composition was reflected in electrochemical behavior as observed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Keywords: bronze, corrosion, spectroscopy, FTIR, Raman, EIS, open access
Published in DiRROS: 16.05.2023; Views: 669; Downloads: 386
Full text (4,82 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
6. Sinteza epoksidne smole na osnovi lignina : diplomsko deloKlemen Peršin, 2022, undergraduate thesis Keywords: epoksidna smola, lignin, FTIR, DMA, DSC, TGA, Fourierjeva transformacija, dinamična mehanska analiza, diferenčna dinamična kalorimetrija, termogravimetrična analiza, diplomsko delo
Published in DiRROS: 23.03.2023; Views: 868; Downloads: 274
Full text (2,96 MB) |
7. Etanolamin v zaščitenem lesuMiha Humar, Marko Petrič, 2000, original scientific article Abstract: Zaščita lesa je, kljub poostrenim okoljevarstvenim zahtevam, še vedno nujno potrebna in ekonomsko upravičena. Zaradi dobrih fungicidnih lastnosti se za impregnacijo lesa množično uporablja tudi bakrove spojine. Ker se dokaj slabo vežejo v les, se iz njega izpirajo. V kombinaciji s kromom pa se baker v lesu dobro fiksira. V zadnjem času so v mnogih državah omejili uporabo kromovih soli, oziroma jih nameravajo prepovedati. Strokovnjaki zato za fiksacijo bakra iščejo druge spojine. Kot primerni in potencialno uporabni so se izkazaliamini. Raziskovali smo interakcije med bakrovimi pripravki z etanolaminom (C2H7NO, 2-aminoetanol) in komponentami lesa. Opazili smo, da etanolamin z lesom reagira. Z metodo nihajne spektroskopije (FTIR) smo opazilispremembe na skupinah lignina in polioz. Razvili smo tudi metodo, kjer reagent z barvno reakcijo dokaže prisotnost etanolamina v lesu.
Keywords: zaščita lesaq, etanolamin, fiksacija etanolamina, barvna reakcija, FTIR, zaščiteni les
Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2017; Views: 4847; Downloads: 1963
Full text (748,24 KB) |
