Nova Gorica Polytechnic; Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Contact

Mladen Franko, PhD

Head

Laboratory for environmental research conducts basic and applied research in different areas of environmental sciences.

Basic Research

Development of new instrumentation and methodologies for measurement of environmental pollution is one of our main interests. This is directed primarily into the development of new laser methods based on photothermal effects, such as thermal lens spectrometry, photothermal beam deflection spectrometry and photoacoustic spectrometry. The development techniques which are characterised particularly by high sensitivity are being successfuly applied to the measurements of environmental pollution by toxic substances (i.e. Cr(VI) in water) and to the measurements of essential elements and compounds in environmental samples and biological systems (i.e. Cr(III) in water, carotenoids in fruit juices, biological tissues tissues and fluids, and in marine plankton). Furthermore, non-destructive determination of concentrations in solid samples is possible by photothermal techniques. This is being exploited in densitometric measurements of thin layer chromatographic plates by photoacoustic spectroscopy and other photothermal techniques.

As part of the research on transformations of some organic polutants in the environment we are particularly interested in bio- and photochemical degradation of different pesticides. Our investigations are oriented to the kinetics of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticide transformations, and degradation of organochlorine pesticides. They include studies of fast photochemical reactions by laser based spectroscopic techniques and application of biosensors developed in our lab.

In the field of ecotoxicology we focus our research on toxicity of organophosphorus insecticides and their effects on terestrial invertebrates, such as terrestrial isopoda. The importance of exposure route during the pesticide toxicity testing and the possible metabolic changes in the organisms are the main interests of our work.

Applied Research

The activity of the Laboratory in the field of applied research is oriented towards the environmental pollution problems in Primorska region, where the Laboratory is successfully collaborating with local industry and other organisations. At present, the most intensive research is being carried out on the pollution of Soca river. In this regard, the concentrations of heavy metals and toxic organic pollutants in sediments and their effect on drinking water quality in Nova Gorica area are of our main concern.

Expertise

Since the establishment of the Laboratory its expertise in the area of Environmental Risk Assesment and Environmental Pollution has been frequently requested by public and private enterprises and industry from Primorska region. This resulted in the engagement of the Laboratory in projects like the validation of the present status of the environment in view of the construction of Plave II and Doblar II hydroelectric power plants on Soca river, as well as in the preparation of the strategy and introduction of new technologies for local municipal waste incineration.