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Analysis of biochar aqueous extracts by separation methods
Tučková, Dominika ; Čáslavský, Josef (referee) ; Mravcová, Ludmila (advisor)
This master's thesis deals with the analysis of biochar extracts by separation methods. All analyzed biochar was produced from waterworks sludge by microwave pyrolysis. The aim of the thesis is the optimization of the sample preparation method and its analysis in a laboratory environment. With the ever-growing world population, the problem of a sustainable economy in both agriculture and waste management is becoming increasingly urgent. This fact has led most countries to consider promoting the so-called Circular Economy. The use of sewage sludge as a feedstock for biochar production is perfectly in line with this strategy. So far, however, the short term and the long term benefits and risks of using biochar have not been sufficiently described. Potentially hazardous organic substances were extracted from the biochar extracts by three techniques: liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, and solid- phase micro-extraction. The obtained samples were analyzed using the GS-MS/TOF method. The individual methods were compared. Several biochar samples from WWTP Brno and WWTP Drahovice were selected and analyzed to verify the suitability of the selected sample analysis method.
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Mycotoxins in Brewing Materials and Beer
Běláková, Sylvie ; Vávrová, Milada (referee) ; Márová, Ivana (referee) ; Kráčmar, Stanislav (referee) ; Čáslavský, Josef (advisor)
The presented thesis deals with the issue of mycotoxins in brewing materials and beer. Attention was devoted mainly to the selected fusarium mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, zearalenol, T-2 toxin, and HT-2 toxin) ochratoxin A and aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2. The aim of the thesis was to optimize and validate analytical methods for the determination of the above mentioned mycotoxins in the brewing materials and beer. Analytes were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography with mass – spectrometric detection (HPLC-MS/MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (UPLC/FLR). These analytical methods were then applied for mapping the occurrence of fusarium mycotoxins in malting barley crops in the Czech Republic and monitoring the level of contamination with mycotoxins in malting and brewing industries. In addition, experiments studying over-foaming of beer were conducted as primary gushing – over-foaming of beer – is connected, similarly as mycotoxins, with the presence of microscopic filamentous fungi in the raw materials for beer production. Studies describing in detail these methods are part of this thesis (Annex I – V). From all published results, it is evident that the occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals including barley is natural and cannot be completely prevented, not even if all conditions of correct agricultural practice are observed. It is known that some mycotoxins present in contaminated malting barley pass to the final product – beer due to their chemical and physical properties. However, the mycotoxin concentrations found do not mean any significant health risk for consumers.
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Degradation of Heat Transfer Fluids in Thermal Solar Systems and Propane-1,3-diol as a New Option
Mikšík, František ; Professor, Takahiko Miyazaki, (referee) ; Skolil, Jan (referee) ; Tocháček, Jiří (referee) ; Čáslavský, Josef (advisor)
Stárnutí teplonosných kapalin na organické bázi je dlouhodobým problémem, který je znám od počátku jejich používání. První část této disertační práce je tak věnována případové studii funkčního experimentálního systému, který byl jako nový naplněn teplonosnou kapalinou na bázi propan-1,2-diol a pozorován po období 7 let. Pro analýzu stárnutí kapaliny v tomto systému byly sledovány základní provozní vlastnosti kapaliny jako jsou hustota, viskozita, teplota tuhnutí, pH a obsah kovů. Skrze tyto vlastnosti tak bylo sledováno stárnutí kapaliny nepřímo. Přímé sledování stárnutí bylo posléze provedeno analýzou degradačních produktů, jako jsou organické kyseliny a změny ve složení směsi pomocí izotachoforézy a hmotnostní spektrometrie. Pro srovnání byly taktéž analyzovány vybrané vzorky z několik dalších systémů plněných identickou kapalinou s prokazatelně pokročilou formou degradace. V druhé části práce jsou představeny základní fyzikálně-chemické vlastnosti směsí propan-1,3-diolu s vodou a jejich analytické hodnocení a matematické modelování pro universální použití jakožto nového základu pro nemrznoucí teplonosné kapaliny. Na základě dostupných informací je pak hodnocena použitelnost této směsi. Výhoda propan-1,3-diolu je spatřována především ve výrobě z obnovitelných zdrojů a v některých fyzikálních a chemických vlastnostech, které dle dosavadních poznatků předčívají doposud používané glykolové směsi.
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Application of Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometric Detection for the Assessment of Drug-residue Contamination of Wastewaters and Surface Waters
Lacina, Petr ; Čáslavský, Josef (referee) ; Hajšlová, Jana (referee) ; Sokol,, Jozef (referee) ; Vávrová, Milada (advisor)
This work is based on the current issue of increasing concentrations of pharmaceutical residues in various components of the environment. These new environmental contaminants continuously enter the environment. The most affected environmental component is the aquatic environment. This study is focused on the development and optimization of reliable analytical method, which can determine selected drugs in the aquatic environment (waste waters and surface waters) qualitatively and quantitatively. The target compounds were selected mainly from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID): salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, clofibric acid, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, caffeine, naproxen, mefenamic acid, ketoprofen and diclofenac. NSAIDs are one of the most used drugs in Czech Republic. For the final analysis of this study was used the comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection Time-of-Flight (GCxGC-TOF MS). It is a very sensitive and reliable analytical method for trace and ultra-trace analysis. Simultaneously, solid phase extraction (SPE) and derivatization are optimized in this work. Optimized analytical method including SPE, derivatization with MSTFA (N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide) and final analysis by GCxGC-TOF MS were applied successfully for the analysis of real samples. Samples of waste water were collected from the waste water treatment plant in Brno – Modřice and samples of surface water were collected from two river streams Svratka and Svitava in Moravian region. The range of concentrations of selected drug residues varied from one to tens of g/L in wastewater and from tens to hundreds of ng/L in surface waters. The degree of wastewater and surface waters contamination by drug residues is assessed in conclusions of the work. Simultaneously, spontaneous degradation of selected drugs in water and removal efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant is assessed in conclusions of the work. The developed method is usable for monitoring and environmental analysis of water ecosystems. It is usable not only for selected drugs, but even for other organic compounds with similar properties.
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Analysis of tar formed by combustion of biomass
Chytil, Václav ; Čáslavský, Josef (referee) ; Vávrová, Milada (advisor)
This bachelor's thesis is focused on the analysis of the tar formed during combustion of biomass. Samples of the tar were provided by Energy Institute, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. BTEX, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes were chosen as groups of target compounds. Samples (tar solutions in acetone) were refined before the final analysis. In the case of BTEX and n-alkanes, only filtration and dilution were used. In the case of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, samples were filtered and then cleaned-up by column chromatography using silica gel. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was chosen as an appropriate analytical method for the determination of target compounds from selected groups of BTEX and n-alkanes. Target compounds from the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS).
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Multidimensional Liquid Phase Separations
Šesták, Jozef ; Čáslavský, Josef (referee) ; Pulkrabová, Jana (referee) ; Česla, Petr (referee) ; Kahle, Vladislav (advisor)
This dissertation is dedicated to the topic of multidimensional liquid phase separations. This separation techniques are developed for analysis of complex samples containing thermally labile, low volatile or high molecular weight components that can´t be analysed by two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatography. Concepts of peak capacity and orthogonality are explained and various methods of their determination are stated in theoretical part of dissertation. High performance column liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) are suggested as the most suitable methods for automated multidimensional liquid phase separations on-line coupled to mass spectrometry. Configuration of simplified miniaturized liquid chromatograph is described in experimental part of this thesis. Original concept of the system has been extended by simple mobile phase gradient generation technique. Correct function was demonstrated on repeatable separation of alkylphenones, peptides, nitroaromatics, and nitroesters. This system has been utilized as a base for a couple of simple two-dimensional separation platforms for HILIC-MALDI-MS analysis of glycans, for separation of peptides based on off-line coupling of isoelectric focusing and capillary liquid chromatography, and finally for on-line IEC×RPLC, RPLC×RPLC, and HILIC×RPLC two-dimensional liquid chromatography. Correct operation of submitted platforms has been proved.
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The role of p130Cas substrate domain mediated signaling in cancer cell migration, invasiveness and metastasis of cancer cells
Zemanová, Kateřina ; Brábek, Jan (advisor) ; Čáslavský, Josef (referee)
p130Cas (Crk-associated substrate) was first described over 30 years ago as a protein that associates with the v-src and v-crk oncoproteins and undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation. Proteins of the CAS family are an important part of cellular biological processes in normal and pathological situations. The existence of 15 YXXP repetitive motifs is characteristics for substrate domain. p130Cas is an adapter protein that allows interactions between proteins that lead to assembly of multiprotein complexes. The p130Cas protein regulates these multiprotein complexes, which further drive chemotaxis, apoptosis, differentiation and migration. Overproduction of CAS proteins was found in connection with a poor prognosis and an increased incidence of metastases. Also, the elevated expression of proteins of the CAS family is related to resistance to some types of chemotherapeutics.
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Short-term application of elevated temperature and drought influences the isotopic composition of winter wheat grains
Pernicová, Natálie ; Urban, Otmar ; Čáslavský, Josef ; Klem, Karel ; Trnka, Miroslav
The study aimed to determine the differences in carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope ratios in grains of three winter wheat varieties grown under optimal and stress conditions. We found that the wheat variety has a significant effect on both δ13C and δ15N isotope ratios. Short-term (nine days) exposure to drought and high temperature during the heading or stem extension development phase significantly enhanced δ13C values, but only high temperature affected δ15N values. Enhanced δ15N values support the assumption that global warming causes a higher representation of the 15N isotope in plants. Moreover, significant interactive effects of temperature and water availability on the values of both isotopes were found implying that C and N metabolisms have been altered under the investigated stress conditions. We conclude that δ13C and δ15N isotope ratios of cereal grains are sensitive indicators of stress conditions, even short-term ones
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