of the Diploma Thesis In this Diploma Thesis, the electrochemical behavior of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was studied at a newly prepared large-surface carbon film electrode (ls-CFE) using techniques of DC voltammetry (DCV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with the aim to develop sensitive analytical methods for its determination. Voltammetric behavior of 4-NP was investigated in the region of anodic potentials, in dependence on the pH of the medium used (realized using Britton-Robinson buffer). The optimum pH values for the determination of 4-NP were chosen as follows: pH 3.0 (for DCV) and pH 7.0 (for DPV). During anodic oxidation of 4-NP on the ls-CFE at the concentration of the analyte of 1·10-4 mol/l, the passivation of the electrode surface occurred. Thus, it was decided to record series of measurements always at a new carbon film. Using the sample of 4-NP (at the concentration of 1·10-4 mol/l), the repeatability of the application of individual carbon films was tested, with obtained RSD values of 3.7% and 3.6% for DCV and DPV, respectively. Under optimum conditions, the calibration dependences of 4-NP were measured in the concentration range from 1·10-6 to 1·10-4 mol/l, with the limits of quantification (LQs) of 1.5·10-6 mol/l (for DCV at the ls-CFE) and 4.6·10-7 mol/l (for DPV at the...

This master's thesis is focused on the determination of 6-thioguanine (6-T) by DC voltammetry (DCV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and flow injection analysis with electrochemical detection (FIA-ED) on a boron doped diamond electrode (BDDFE). The optimum conditions for determination of 6-T were found and under these conditions, concentration dependences were measured and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were calculated for each method. Medium of 60% methanol and phosphate buffer (PB) pH 2,0 was chosen as optimum for DCV and DPV determination of 6-T at BDDFE. For both DCV and DPV, the linear concentration dependences were obtained in concentration ranges of 6-T from 2 µmol·l-1 to 10 µmol·l-1 with LOQ 0,9 µmol·l-1 for DCV and 1,5 µmol·l-1 for DPV. Lower LOQ was achieved in PB pH 2,0, where LOQ was 0,6 µmol·l-1 for both DCV and DPV, but the problem was lower repeatability. In PB pH 2 6-T was determined by DCV in drinking and river water with LOQ 1,3 µmol·l-1 in both drinking and river water. The possibility of solid phase extraction was investigated as a method for preliminary separation of 6-T from urine. For FIA under optimized conditions (polarization potential 1300 mV, flow rate 5 ml·min1 and sample volume 50 µl) the linear concentrations dependences were obtained in concentration ranges...

The submitted work deals with the application of voltammetric determination of Fomesafen using non-traditional mercury meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode on model samples of Fomesafen in real aqueous matrices of drinking and river water. This method of measurement has been developed and optimized in my bachelor thesis, which the diploma thesis is related to. Fomesafen belongs to a group of herbicides used on a mass scale in the late 20th century in the USA and in many countries around the world still used even today. Among its side effects according to the EPA include, among others, potential carcinogenicity to humans and confirmed carcinogenicity to some mammals (such as rats) which led to a legislative regulation on its use in many countries around the world including the USA, the European Union and many others. Silver solid amalgam electrode has been developed with the intention to limit the use of mercury in accordance with new legislation of the European Union and the concept of green analytical chemistry. Despite the low levels of mercury mainly bound in the form of virtually harmless silver amalgam electrode retains very similar electrochemical properties with proven mercury electrodes. As part of the thesis, direct determination of a number of partial extraction of Fomesafen...

This diploma thesis focuses on the determination of sulfonamide antibiotics especially the possibility of elimination of these substances from the aquatic ecosystem. Nowadays, environmental contamination of the pharmaceuticals and their residues is a serious concern. Main sources of this contamination are wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), where these compounds are not effectively removed by contemporary conventional technology. For this reason, new methods are being developed and tested that could eliminate the number of contaminants entering the environment in this way. There is a possibility to use the potential of the enzymatic system of wood-decay fungi, especially white rot fungi. Six representatives of sulfonamide antibiotics were selected and isolated from the aquatic matrix via solid phase extraction. The final identification and quantification method was high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Monitoring of the concentration level of selected sulfonamide antibiotics at the inflow and effluent at the Brno-Modřice WWTP was carried out weekly. Moreover, the effectiveness of elimination of selected antibiotics from the aquatic ecosystem by the use of Trametes versicolor wood-decay fungi cultured on a suitable carrier was verified.

This diploma thesis is focused on the issue of nonylphenol, degradation product of surfactants. Nonylphenol however most often arises in wastewater treatment plants predominantly during the microbial degradation of nonylphenol ethoxylates used in industry. It is a substance highly bioaccumulative, toxic predominantly to aquatic organisms. Furthermore, it belongs among hormone disruptors. The detailed research was prepared, on the basis which experimental part of diploma thesis was solved. Nonylphenol was determined in samples of the wastewater. The solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for the isolation of the analyte and purification of the extract. The final determination was performed on the gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry with time of flight analyzer (TOF). All steps of the preanalytical and the analytical procedure were optimized.

Synthetic musk compounds are artificial organic substances commonly used as fragrant constituents of personal care products as parfums, cosmetics, detergents, in-house cleaning and washing agents. Given their large area of applications and their ability to be persistent, they leaked into all parts of ecosystem, especially aquatic one. There have been a big focus on studiyng these compounds, their properties and fate in the different parts of ecosystems in the last years. The aim of master's thesis was carry out the determination of five representatives (habanolide, exaltolide, ambrettolide, musk MC4 and ethylene brassylate) of macrocyclic musk compounds in waste water samples from influent and effluent of three water treatment plants (WWTP Brno-Modřice, WWTP Lednice and WWTP Mikulov). One of the main tasks was to perform a method optimisation for the determination of selected musk compounds in waste water and evaluation and interpretation of the results. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) technique was used for the extraction of analytes, consequently gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for analysis of selected analytes. Following evaluation the removal efficiency of musk compounds in the waste water treatment plant was assessed.

This work was focused on the determination of musk compounds in various components of the environment. Synthetic musk compounds are organic substances commonly used as fragrant constituents of detergents, perfumes, cosmetics and other personal care products (PCPs). These compounds contaminate the aquatic environment through municipal wastewater from sewage treatment plants. The result is accumulation of these analytes in the environment and their occurrence in food chain. Synthetic fragrances are commonly detected also in human body; these substances generally belong among relatively new persistent organic pollutants (POPs) because of their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. The aim of this work was to optimize the methods for the determination of selected synthetic fragrances in wastewater (municipal, industrial) and in fish muscle. These analytes were determined in wastewater [the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Brno – Modřice, cosmetic manufacturing plant] and in fish Squalius cephalus that had been caught in the river Svratka. The selected analytes (14 substances) originate from the group of nitromusk, polycyclic musk and linear musk compounds. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) [for wastewater samples] and pressurized solvent extraction (PSE) [for fish samples] were used for isolation of analytes from real samples. The identification and quantification of analytes were carried out by high resolution gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS). The results show that galaxolide (g.L-1) and tonalide (tenths of g.L-1) were polycyclic musk compounds which were found at the highest concentration level in influent and also in effluent samples from the WWTP Brno – Modřice. The most extended nitromusk compound was musk ketone (hundredths of g.L-1). Linear musk compounds were detected in all influent samples (g.L-1). The overall removal efficiency of synthetic musk compounds from wastewater in the WWTP varies within the following ranges: nitromusk compounds 34.4 % – 85.4 %, polycyclic musk compounds 36.7 % – 53.3 % and linear musk compounds 90.5 % – 99.9 %. On the basis of the results it can be stated that wastewater (effluent from the WWTP) is the primary source of musk compounds, especially of the polycyclic ones in the environment. It has been also shown that ultrafiltration used in a cosmetic plant is a highly efficient technology for removing nitromusk and polycyclic musk compounds from industry wastewater. The results from evaluation of the fish contamination by musk compounds show that galaxolide was the substance which reached the highest concentration levels (tens of g.kg-1 l.w.). The results corroborate ubiquitous occurrence of musk compounds in the environment and reduction of using of nitromusk compounds due to their potential toxic properties. It has been shown that the insufficiency of the purifying procedures used in the WWTP Brno – Modřice has a significant influence on the concentration level of polycyclic musk compounds (tonalide, galaxolide) in fish caught from the river Svratka.

This work is focused on the study of penetration of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. The aim was to develop and verify the optimal method for long-term monitoring of the occurrence of selected pesticides and pharmaceuticals in surface waters. Two frequently used analgesics ibuprofen and diclofenac, and carbamazepine that is used to treat epilepsy, were chosen from the group of drugs. A group of 41 pesticides were selected for monitoring too. The attention was focused on a group of urea pesticides and phenoxyacetic acids, as well as on selected pesticides falling to the group of priority substances or identified as environmental quality standards. Some of pesticides were selected because their consumption in the Czech Republic exceeds 30 tons a year. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC / MS / MS) was used for the determination of selected analytes in surface waters. Two optimized analytical method were developed. Ten analytes were determined in negative ion mode and 34 analytes in positive ion mode. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for purification and concentration of the samples. Developed methodology was validated and used for monitoring of selected compounds in samples of surface waters from the Morava River basin. Samples were collected on the rivers Morava and Svratka monthly for two years. Samples from the river Blata and stream Nivnička were collected for one year. Surface water samples were also collected from the river Litava. Four samples were taken throughout the length of the flow during one day. Smaller streams were chosen for monitoring because of the probability of occurrence of pesticides. They flow abundantly agriculturally cultivated areas. Drugs ibuprofen and diclofenac were detected in all taken samples, carbamazepine mostly. Among the most commonly occurring pesticides were bentazon, diuron, isoproturon, carbendazim, MCPA, MCPP, propiconazole, tebuconazole and 2,4-D.

This work is focused on the determination of polar pesticides in surface and waste waters. In this study Mecoprop-P, MCPA, Dichlorprop-P, 2,4-D and MCPBA in differently loaded surface waters and communal waters from sewage treatment plants were analyzed. These herbicides are included in the group identified as environmental quality standards. Some of herbicides (2,4-D and MCPA) were selected because their consumption in the Czech Republic exceeds 30 tons a year. Samples were collected prom three rivers near town of Jaroměř (Elbe, Úpa and Metuje Rivers), from one river near the town of Brno (Svratka River) and from inflow and outflow of two sewage treatment plants (WWTP Jaroměř, WWTP Brno – Modřice). Particular rivers were chosen for monitoring due to the probability of occurrence of herbicides, because they flow through agriculturally cultivated areas. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for the isolation of target compounds and their concentration. Gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) was used for the determination of target analytes in surface and waste waters. Selected herbicides were detected in all collected samples.

This diploma thesis deals with the determination of macrolide antibiotics in wastewater, especially with erythromycin, clarithromycin and roxithromycin. In this time are these pharmaceuticals prescribed quite frequently. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for the isolation and the purification of selected analytes from an aqueous matrix; as the suitable procedure was found the using Oasis HLB cartridges. High performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (HPLC-MS) was optimized for its analysis of selected pharmaceuticals. The optimized method was used for the determination of pharmaceuticals in real water samples, which was taken at the inflow and the outflow of the urban wastewater treatment plant in Brno-Modřice.