Book of Scientific Research Achievements of Program Group Textile Chemistry and Advanced Textile Materials P2-0118 1st Annual Meeting 2024 Editors Tatjana Kreže Lidija Fras Zemljič April 2024 Title Book of Scientific Research Achievements of Program Group Textile Chemistry and Advanced Textile Materials Naslov Zbornik znanstvenoraziskovalnih dosežkov programske skupine Tekstilna kemija in napredni tekstilni materiali Subtitle P2-0118, 1st Annual Meeting 2024 Podnaslov P2-0118, 1. letno srečanje 2024 Editors Tatjana Kreže Lidija Fras Zemljič Urednici (University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) (University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) Language editing Lektoriranje Shelagh Margaret Hedges Technical editors Tatjana Kreže Jan Perša Tehnična urednika (University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) (University of Maribor, University Press) Cover designer Jan Perša Oblikovanje ovitka (University of Maribor, University Press) Cover graphics Three clear beakers placed on tabletop, photo: Hans Reniers, unsplash.com, 2018; Grafika na ovitku Other photos by Kerže, Fras Zemljič (editors), 2024 Graphic material Sources are own unless otherwise noted. Grafične priloge Authors & Kerže, Fras Zemljič (editors), 2024 Conference Konferenca 1. letno srečanje programske skupine P2-0118 Tekstilna kemija in napredni tekstilni materiali Conference date & location Datum in kraj konference 9th May 2024, Maribor, Slovenia Program comitte Lidija Fras Zemljič, Simona Strnad, Julija Volmajer Valh, Manja Kurečič, Selestina Gorgijeva, Alenka Ojstršek, Matjaž Finšgar, Programski odbor Olivija Plohl Organization comitte Lidija Fras Zemljič, Matej Bračič, Olivija Plohl, Selestina Gorgijeva, Alenka Ojstršek, Tanja Kos, Klementina Črešnar Pušnik, Tjaša Organizacijski odbor Kraševac Glaser, Alen Erjavec Kaja Kuzmič, Saša Kaloper, Urška Jančič, Laura Jug Published by University of Maribor Issued by University of Maribor Založnik University Press Izdajatelj Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Slomškov trg 15, 2000 Maribor Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor Slovenia Slovenia https://press.um.si, zalozba@um.si https://fs.um.si, fs@um.si Edition Izdaja 1st Published at Izdano Maribor, April 2024 Publication type Vrsta publikacije E-book Available at Dostopno na http://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/862 The publication is co-financed by the European Union - NextGenerationEU and the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. © University of Maribor, University Press CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji / Univerza v Mariboru, Univerzitetna založba Univerzitetna knjižnica Maribor 677.01/.02(082)(0.034.2) Text / besedilo © authors and Kerže, Fras Zemljič (editors), 2024 BOOK of Scientific Research Achievements of This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Program Group Textile Chemistry and Advanced Textile Materials [Elektronski vir] : P2-0118 : This book is published under a Creative Commons 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0). This 1st Annual Meeting 2024 / editors Tatjana Kreže, license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial purposes, Lidija Fras Zemljič. - Maribor : University of as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. This Maribor, University Press, 2024 license is often compared to “copyleft” free and open source software licenses. Način dostopa (URL): Any third-party material in this book is published under the book’s Creative Commons https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/862 licence unless indicated otherwise in the credit line to the material. If you would like to ISBN 978-961-286-857-4 reuse any third-party material not covered by the book’s Creative Commons licence, you doi: 10.18690/um.fs.3.2024 wil need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. COBISS.SI-ID 192194307 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by /4.0/ ISBN 978-961-286-857-4 (pdf) 978-961-286-858-1 (mehka vezava) DOI https://doi.org/10.18690/um.fs.3.2024 Price Prof. Dr. Zdravko Kačič, Cena Free copy For publisher Odgovorna oseba založnika Rector of University of Maribor Attribution Kreže, T., Fras Zemljič, L. (eds.) (2024). Book of Scientific Research Achievements of Program Group P2-0118 Textile Chemistry and Citiranje Advanced Textile Materials: P2-0118, P2-0118, 1st Annual Meeting 2024. University of Maribor, University Press. doi: 10.18690/um.fs.3.2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface/Predgovor 0 Tatjana Kreže, Lidija Fras Zemljič 1 Functional Starch Based Films 1 Lidija Fras Zemljič, Tatjana Kreže, Klementina Pušnik Črešnar 5 Development of Active, Biodegradable PLA Packaging Using Natural Fil ers and 2 Coatings 6 Lidija Fras Zemljič, Athira John, Klementina Pušnik Črešnar, Sonja Smole Možina Effect of Ageing Treatment of PLA-Based Lignocellulosic Composites on the 3 Microstructure and Thermal Behaviour 7 Klementina Pušnik Črešnar, Lidija Fras Zemljič Enhancing the Properties of PLA Using Coffee Waste Extracts By Surface and Bulk Modifications 4 Athira John, Klementina Pušnik Črešnar, Dimitrios Bikiaris, Cláudia Pereira Passos, 9 Lidija Fras Zemljič A Battle Against Hospital-Acquired Infections With Antiviral Polysaccharide-Based Coatings as Strategic Protective Textile Development: A Detailed Physicochemical Characterisation of 5 Liquid Media 10 Saša Kaloper, Olivija Plohl, Arijana Filipić, Lidija Fras Zemljič New Antimicrobial Cationic Polymers 6 Lucija Jurko, Damjan Makuc, Alja Štern, Janez Plavec, Bojana Žegura, 12 Perica Bošković, Rupert Kargl Functional Surface Coatings for Catheters 7 Lidija Fras Zemljič, Katja Kuzmič, Tjaša Glaser Kraševac, Alenka Vesel, Janez Rebol 13 The Use of Poultry Feathers and Wool Isolates for the Development of Keratin-Based 8 Nanofibre Structures 15 Lidija Fras zemljič, Mojca Škerget, Maja Čolnik, Andreja Dobaj Štiglic, Simona Strnad Predicting the Structural Changes of Textile Materials Appearing in the Household 9 Tumble-Drying Process Using the XRD Analytical Method 16 Manja Kurečič, Branko Neral The Analysis of Epinephrine, Uric Acid, and Methyl Parathion Using Screen-Printed 10 Carbon Electrodes 18 David Majer, Matjaž Finšgar Bioactive Bacterial Nanocel ulose as a Promising Strategy for Enzymatic Burn 11 Debridement 19 Urška Jančič, Janja Trček, Selestina Gorgieva ICP-MS Elemental Analysis of Food Samples via Homogenisation and Acid Digestion 12 Using HNO3 and H2O2 21 Matjaž Rantaša, David Majer, Matjaž Finšgar High-Performance Chitosan/Nanocel ulose-Based Composite Membrane for Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells 13 Maša Hren, Michaela Roschger, Viktor Hacker, Boštjan Genorio, Darinka Fakin, 23 Selestina Gorgieva Development of a New Grape Waste Culture Medium and Its Influence on the Bacterial 14 Nanocel ulose Properties 24 Selestina Gorgieva, Urška Jančič, Eva Cepec, Janja Trček The Role of Cellulose as an Additive in the Deacidification of Books 15 Matej Bračič, Jasna Malešič, Mihael Brunčko, Doris Bračič, Tamilselvan Mohan 26 Zeta Potential Analysis of Functionalised Monolithic Columns for Chromatography of Biomolecules 16 Thomas Luxbacher, Rok Miklavčič, Urh Černigoj, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Tjaša Kraševac 27 Glaser 2D Transitional Metal Carbides for Advanced Functionalisation of Fibrous Polymers - 17 Optimisation of the Synthesis Conditions 28 Laura Jug, Silvo Hribernik, Alenka Ojstršek Spray-Dried Lignin and Tannic Acid Particles: The Influence of Size and Composition on 18 the Processing and Functional Properties of Biomass-Based Resins 30 Silvo Hribernik, Tanja Kos, Manja Kurečič 3D Printed Porous Nanocellulose-Protein Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications 19 Tamilselvan Mohan, Andreja Dobaj Štiglic, Chandran Nagaraj, Karin Stana Kleinschek 32 Significant Fragmentation of Disposable Surgical Masks - An Enormous Source for 20 Problematic Micro/Nanoplastics` Pol ution in the Environment 33 Alen Erjavec, Olivija Plohl, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Julija Volmajer Valh The Morphological, Surface and Thermal Properties of Polylactic Acid Foils, Melamine-Etherified Resin, and Polyethylene Terephthalate Fabric During (Bio)Degradation in 21 Soil 34 Olivija Plohl, Alen Erjavec, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Alenka Vesel, Maja Čolnik, Mojca Škerget, Yee Van Fan, Lidija Čuček, Gregor Trimmel, Julija Volmajer Valh Residues of Pharmaceuticals in Drinking and Wastewater 22 Urška Rozman, Boštjan Križanec, David Haložan, Sonja Šostar Turk 35 Influence of Magnetic-Based Nanoparticles on the Efficacy of Carboxymethyl Dextran Coating as a Prospective Modifier for Electrochemical Sensors 23 Olivija Plohl, Maša Vračevič, Sašo Gyergyek, Tjaša Kraševac Glaser, Matej Bračič, 36 Alenka Vesel, Lidija Fras Zemljič PREFACE The Programme Group (PG) Textile Chemistry has a rich history, and was established in 1999. In 2021, we changed our name to PG Textile Chemistry and Advanced Textile Materials, as we focus on developing advanced textile materials and technologies, not only for the garment and textile industry, but also for promising industrial sectors, such as automotive, polymer, electrical engineering, construction, agriculture, medicine, etc. Throughout our history we have been one of the most successful groups at the University of Maribor and in Slovenia, as well as internationally. Our research guidelines are aligned constantly with the latest global trends and requirements. We focus on developing textiles and textile composites for various applications, with an emphasis on creating multifunctional and smart textiles, which is a major challenge, especially for obtaining simultaneous functionalities while maintaining the basic required material properties. To achieve these objectives, we use advanced technologies such as Nanotechnology and Biotechnology, and concentrate on the principles of a green and sustainable economy. Fundamental research plays an important role in our research work, analysing the physical, chemical, structural, thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of fibres, focusing on surface chemistry. We also study the interaction phenomena between textiles and functional liquids, and between functional textiles and microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. Understanding these surface and interaction phenomena al ows us to optimise materials for different functionalities and applications. The main objectives of our research work are defined in two pillars:  PILLAR I. presents the development of smart and multifunctional textiles and composite materials for packaging, medical and technical/engineering applications.  PILAR II. is dedicated to circular and sustainable approaches. A specific part of the research found in both pillars focuses on the care of textiles. In both pillars we integrate nanotechnologies and biotechnologies, and develop new methods and analytical tools to understand the interactions between materials better. In the field of Functional Textiles and Composites, we develop high-performance, multifunctional and smart fibres, based on advanced technologies such as Nanotechnology (the production and use of functional nanoparticles, nanocapsules, and the production of nanofibres, nanosensors, etc.), Biotechnology (enzymatic processing, microbial products, microbiota, cell wall biopolymers, molecular microbiology, microbial engineering, synthetic biology and environmental biotechnology), and advanced surface functionalisation and "bulk functionalisation" techniques, where we integrate functional materials into the material (electrospinning, extrusion, 3D/4D printing, etc.). In addition, we perform surface modifications such as plasma treatments and coating applications, using state-of-the-art techniques including impregnation, dipping under control ed conditions, various printing techniques (matrix printing, screen printing, inkjet printing and 3D printing), as wel as spraying, sputtering and electrospraying, depending on the chemical and process conditions, to achieve an optimal coating on the surface. The integration of al these processes is key to the development of intelligent, functional and high-performance textiles and other textile composites with antimicrobial, bactericidal, biofilm-inhibiting, self-cleaning, fire retardant, hydrophilic/hydrophobic, antistatic properties, magnetic, electrically conductive and cosmetic properties, depending on the end use in different industries, such as textiles, chemicals, medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, transport, plastics, agriculture, dyes, cultural heritage, construction and architecture. 1 Circular economy concepts are the key to sustainable development, and include the use of bio-waste for functionalisation, green production technologies, reuse of materials, development of advanced recycling processes, isolation of secondary raw materials, and the use of natural fibres. At the same time, we are developing purification technologies for textile hygiene, and the reduction of impurities and emissions of micro- and nano-plastics in wastewater. Our research takes into account the entire product life cycle and supports circular business models. Our programme is highly interdisciplinary, combining the fields of Fibre-forming and other polymeric materials, Chemistry, Chemical Technology, Environmental Science, Textile Chemistry and Technology and Biotechnology. We work with experts in Microbiology, Biology, Physics, Medicine, Pharmacy, Food Biotechnology, and many more, both at the national and European levels. The proceedings we are presenting provide an overview of our research achievements from 2021 to 2023. Members of the Programme Group present their research stories and innovations, as well as the progress made within the Programme Group's activities. We would like to thank all those whose efforts have contributed to the visibility and excellence of our work. We are particularly proud of the younger researchers, who bring freshness and innovation to our programme. Thanks also to the Organising, Programme and Editorial Committees for their contribution. We look forward to the challenges ahead, and especially to our first in-house conference, where we wil also present our results to industry, promote knowledge transfer to industry, promote our equipment and expand our research network. Thank you all again! Let's step forward boldly on our research path and spread our creative wings, and let's bring the importance of textile and composite materials, which are versatile, creative and advanced, just like us, closer to the younger generations in particular. Head of the Programme Group Textile Chemistry and Advanced Textile Materials P2-0118 Prof. Dr. Lidija FRAS ZEMLJIČ 2 UVODNA BESEDA Programska skupina (PS) Tekstilna kemija ima bogato zgodovino, saj je bila ustanovljena že leta 1999. Leta 2021 smo se preimenovali v PS Tekstilna kemija in napredni tekstilni materiali, saj se osredotočamo na razvoj naprednih tekstilnih materialov in tehnologij ne le za oblačilno in tekstilno industrijo, temveč tudi za perspektivne industrijske panoge, kot so avtomobilska industrija, polimerna industrija, elektrotehnika, gradbeništvo, kmetijstvo, medicina itd. Skozi celotno obdobje našega delovanja smo bili med najuspešnejšimi skupinami na Univerzi v Mariboru in v Sloveniji, kot tudi v mednarodnem prostoru. Naše raziskovalne smernice se nenehno usklajujejo z najnovejšimi svetovnimi trendi in zahtevami. Osredotočamo se na razvoj tekstilij in tekstilnih kompozitov za različne namene, s poudarkom na ustvarjanju multifunkcionalnih in pametnih tekstilij, kar predstavlja velik izziv zlasti za pridobivanje sočasnih funkcionalnosti ob ohranjanju osnovnih zahtevanih lastnosti materialov. Za doseganje teh ciljev uporabljamo napredne tehnologije, kot sta nanotehnologija in biotehnologija, ter se koncentriramo na načela zelenega in trajnostnega gospodarstva. Pomembno vlogo v našem raziskovalnem delu igrajo temeljne raziskave, ki zajemajo analize fizikalnih, kemijskih, strukturnih, termičnih, mehanskih in morfoloških lastnosti vlaken, pri čemer se osredotočamo na površinsko kemijo. Preučujemo tudi interakcijske pojave med tekstilijo in funkcionalnimi tekočimi sredstvi ter funkcionalno tekstilijo in mikroorganizmi, kot so bakterije, glive in virusi. Razumevanje teh površinskih in interakcijskih pojavov nam omogoča optimizacijo materialov za različne funkcionalnosti ter namembnosti. Glavni cilji našega raziskovalnega dela so opredeljeni v dveh stebrih:  I. STEBER predstavlja razvoj pametnih in večfunkcionalnih tekstilij ter kompozitnih materialov za embalažo, medicinsko uporabo in tehnično/inženirsko uporabo.  II. STEBER je namenjen krožnim in trajnostnim pristopom. Poseben del raziskovanja, ki ga najdemo v obeh stebrih, se osredotoča na nego tekstilij. V obeh stebrih integriramo nanotehnologije in biotehnologije ter razvijamo nove metode in analitična orodja za boljše razumevanje interakcij med materiali. Na področju funkcionalnih tekstilij in kompozitov razvijamo visoko zmogljiva, večnamenska in pametna vlakna, ki temeljijo na naprednih tehnologijah, kot je nanotehnologija (proizvodnja in uporaba funkcionalnih nanodelcev, nanokapsul in proizvodnja nanovlaken, nanosenzorjev itd.), biotehnologija (encimska obdelava, mikrobni proizvodi, mikrobiota, biopolimeri celičnih sten, molekularna mikrobiologija, mikrobno inženirstvo, sintetična biologija in biotehnologija okolja) ter napredne tehnike površinske funkcionalizacije in »bulk funkcionalizacije, kjer integriramo funkcionalne snovi v material (elektropredenje, ekstrudiranje, 3D/4D tiskanje itd.). Poleg tega izvajamo površinske modifikacije, kot so plazemske obdelave in nanašanje premazov z najsodobnejšimi tehnikami, vključno z impregnacijo, omakanjem pod nadzorovanimi pogoji, različnimi tiskarskimi tehnikami (matrični tisk, sitotisk, brizgalni tisk in 3D tiskanje), ter brizganje, razprševanje in elektropršenje, odvisno od kemijskih in procesnih pogojev, da dosežemo optimalni premaz na površini. Vključitev vseh teh postopkov je ključna za razvoj inteligentnih, funkcionalnih in visoko zmogljivih tekstilij ter drugih tekstilnih kompozitov s protimikrobnimi, baktericidnimi, biofilm zaviralnimi, samočistilnimi, ognjevarnimi, hidrofilnimi/hidrofobnimi, antistatičnimi, magnetnimi, elektroprevodnimi in kozmetičnimi lastnostmi, odvisno od končne uporabe v različnih industrijah, kot so tekstilna industrija, kemična industrija, medicina, farmacija, kozmetika, promet, plastika, kmetijstvo, barvila, kulturna dediščina, gradbeništvo in arhitektura. 3 Koncepti krožnega gospodarstva so ključni za trajnostni razvoj in vključujejo uporabo bioloških odpadkov za funkcionalizacijo, zelene proizvodne tehnologije, ponovno uporabo materialov, razvoj naprednih postopkov recikliranja, izolacijo sekundarnih surovin in uporabo naravnih vlaken. Hkrati razvijamo čistilne tehnologije za tekstilno higieno in zmanjševanje nečistoč ter emisij mikro in nanoplastike v odpadnih vodah. Pri raziskavah upoštevamo celoten življenjski cikel izdelka in podpiramo krožne poslovne modele. Naš program je izrazito interdisciplinaren, združuje področja vlakno tvornih ter drugih polimernih materialov, kemije, kemijske tehnologije, okoljevarstva, tekstilne kemije in tehnologije ter biotehnologije. Sodelujemo s strokovnjaki s področij mikrobiologije, biologije, fizike, medicine, farmacije, živilske biotehnologije in še mnogih drugih, tako na nacionalni kot evropski ravni. Zbornik, ki ga predstavljamo, prinaša pregled naših raziskovalnih dosežkov od leta 2021 do 2023. Člani programske skupine predstavljajo svoje raziskovalne zgodbe in novosti ter napredek, dosežen v okviru delovanja programske skupine. Zahvaljujemo se vsem, ki so s svojim trudom prispevali k prepoznavnosti in odličnosti našega dela. Posebej smo ponosni na mlajše raziskovalce, ki prinašajo svežino in inovativnost v naš program. Hvala tudi organizacijskemu, programskemu in uredniškemu odboru za njihov prispevek. Veselimo se prihodnjih izzivov in predvsem naše prve interne konference, kjer bomo rezultate predstavili tudi industriji, spodbujali prenos znanja v gospodarstvo, promocijo naše opreme ter širjenje raziskovalne mreže. Še enkrat se zahvaljujem vsem! Pogumno stopimo naprej po naši raziskovalni poti in razširimo ustvarjalna krila ter približajmo predvsem mlajšim generacijam pomen tekstilnih in kompozitnih materialov, ki so vsestranski, ustvarjalni in napredni, tako kot mi. Vodja programske skupine Tekstilna kemija in napredni tekstilni materiali P2-0118 Red. prof dr. Lidija FRAS ZEMLJIČ 4 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES - PACKAGING Functional Starch Based Films Lidija Fras Zemljič,1 Tatjana Kreže,1 Klementina Pušnik Črešnar 1 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Characterisation and Processing of Polymers, Maribor, Slovenia In the last decade there has been renewed interest in converting starch into a plastic material known as thermoplastic starch, which can replace materials made from fossil sources that currently pose an enormous ecological footprint [1]. In this research work we developed biodegradable starch films, and improved their properties by incorporating various natural plant extracts. Potato starch served as the primary raw material. We combined this with three types of natural substances, i.e. extracts of rosemary, thyme, and biopolymer chitosan-in different ratios, both with and without glycerol (Table 1). Additionally, a control sample was prepared without extracts. The objective of this study was to determine how different natural extracts (see Table 1) and chitosan, along with varying ratios and the addition of glycerol, influence the final material properties. The methods employed included determining the melting point using a melting table, measuring the Contact Angle using a goniometer, assessing the antioxidation percentage via the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) ABTS assay, and identifying functional groups through Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared ATR-FTIR analysis. It was demonstrated that the extracts were incorporated successfully into the starch films, resulting in excellent antioxidant activity (Figure 1). Our findings suggest promising initial points for potential practical applications, particularly due to their strong alignment with the principles of the bioeconomy and the circular economy. Table 1: Description of the samples Figure 1: Antioxidant activity of the samples References: 1. Jiménez, A., Fabra, M.J., Talens, P. et al. Edible and Biodegradable Starch Films: A Review. Food Bioprocess Technol 5, 2058– 2076 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-012-0835-4 Acknowledgement: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (Grant Numbers: P2-0118) and the project 'Advanced research and Training Network in Food quality, safety and security' —FoodTraNet — H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020. 5 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES - PACKAGING Development of Active, Biodegradable PLA Packaging Using Natural Fil ers and Coatings Lidija Fras Zemljič,1 Athira John,1 Klementina Pušnik Črešnar,1 Olivija Plohl,1 Saša Kaloper,1 Sonja Smole Možina 2 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Characterisation and Processing of Polymers, Maribor, Slovenia; 2University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Food Science and Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia The demand from consumers and packaging producers for innovative packaging has driven the emergence of solutions like active packaging. This packaging type focuses on enhancing shelf life and safety without compromising quality, achieved by tailoring active packaging systems to specific food needs, thereby notably mitigating food quality degradation [1]. These systems encompass various functionalities, such as oxygen scavengers, carbon dioxide emitters and scavengers, ethylene scavengers, ethanol emitters, moisture absorbers, antimicrobial agents, flavour/odour absorbers and temperature-controlled packaging [1]. Our research approach involves integrating active substances derived from natural sources, such as biopolymers and certain plant extracts rich in polyphenols, into packaging materials. These substances offer antioxidative, antimicrobial, or barrier properties that engage actively with the packaged contents [2]. By utilising natural polymers and polyphenols in coatings, this concept aims to create a protective layer that interacts actively with the packaged product, thereby improving its quality and safety while reducing waste. Developing multifunctionality (Figure 1) was a key aspect considered and evaluated in this work through several parameters, including elemental composition, wettability, zeta potential measurements, oxygen barrier properties, and bioactivity such as antioxidant and antimicrobial efficiency. Additionally, the influence was examined of the surface properties on the final packaging bioactivity. This exploration aimed to assess if the manipulation of surface properties could serve as a driving force for efficiency and packaging usability. Figure 1: Packaging multifunctionality References: 1. John, Athira & Pušnik Črešnar, Klementina & Bikiaris, Dimitrios & Zemljič, Lidija. (2023). Col oidal Solutions as Advanced Coatings for Active Packaging Development: Focus on PLA Systems. Polymers. 15. 273. 10.3390/polym15020273. 2. Abdullah, Cai, J., Hafeez, M. A., Wang, Q., Farooq, S., Huang, Q., Tian, W., & Xiao, J. (2022). Biopolymer-based functional films for packaging applications: A review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, Article 1000116. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1000116. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the PRIMA programme under BioProMedFood (Project ID 1467). The PRIMA programme is supported by the European Union H2020 programme. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (Grant Numbers: P2-0118, including the Young Researchers Programme P2-0082, and J1-4416) and the project 'Advanced research and Training Network in Food quality, safety and security' —FoodTraNet — H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020. 6 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES - PACKAGING The Effect of Ageing Treatment of PLA-Based Lignocel ulosic Composites on the Microstructure and Thermal Behaviour Klementina Pušnik Črešnar,1,2 Lidija Fras Zemljič 1 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 Faculty of Polymer Technology, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia Poly(lac�c acid) (PLA) is known as the packaging polymer of the 21st century, due to its biodegradability, biocompa�bility and bioabsorbability. The limita�ons of PLA have been studied, atributed to poor hydrophilicity and toughness, inadequate gas barrier proper�es, slow degrada�on rate, low thermal conduc�vity, as well as the weak crystallisa�on addi�on of a natural filler such as Kra� lignin (KL) [1,2]. Their unknown long-term proper�es exposed in the natural environment may cause changes in the chemistry of composites through the degrada�on process. Therefore, polymer composites (PLA-KL) based on polylac�de (PLA, molar mass 75 kg/mol) filled with natural lignocellulosic par�cles, KL at 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 wt% and prepared by melt extrusion and thermal pressing, were studied here. The main scope is to evaluate the effect of the accelerated weathering of PLA-KL composites on the structural and thermal proper�es. In addi�on, accelerated ageing of PLA-KL was carried out according to the ASTM D 4329 Standard. A�er accelerated ageing, the structural proper�es were measured by atenuated total reflec�on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), while differen�al scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to evaluate the changes in the thermal proper�es. A�er accelerated ageing, the results by ATR-FTIR analysis for neat PLA and all the PLA-KL composites showed an increase of the characteris�c vibra�on peaks of the main characteris�c vibra�on of KL, namely, 3390 cm-1, 1600 cm-1, 1500 cm-1 and 1450 cm-1, known as characteris�c vibra�on of the aroma�c structure of KL. An increase in the intensity of these peaks may indicate the presence of KL on the surface of the PLA-KL film due to accelerated weathering. Figure 1: Graphical abstract The results obtained by DSC showed compara�ve changes in either glass transi�on temperature, mel�ng or crystallisa�on temperature, indica�ng the degrada�on process of PLA-KL composites that leads, in general, to rearrangement of the semi-crystalline to the amorphous phase of the composites. Furthermore, the effect of ageing on the thermal degrada�on of PLA-KL composites fil ed with the three different contents of polyphenolic fillers was found and studied by TGA analysis. The PLA-KL composites showed worse 7 thermostability than the composites before accelerated weathering. In addi�on, the neat PLA, PLA-KL, before weathering, showed no significant mass loss up to 390 °C. On the other hand, the PLA-KL, a�er ageing, started to degrade from 350 °C for neat PLA and 325 °C for PLA-KL. Thus, the thermal degrada�on temperature of PLA-KL composites decreases with the addi�on of filler, probably due to the cataly�c effect of KL, and may reduce the thermal stability of PLA-KL composites. References: 1. Bal a, Evangelia, et al. Poly ( Lactic Acid ): A Versatile Biobased Polymer for the Future with Multifunctional Properties — From Monomer Synthesis , Polymerization Techniques and Molecular Weight Increase to PLA Applications. 2021. 2. Črešnar, Klementina Pušnik, et al. “Structure-Properties Relationships in Renewable Composites Based on Polylactide Fil ed with Tannin and Kraft Lignin - Crystallization and Molecular Mobility.” Thermochimica Acta, vol. 703, no. June, 2021, doi:10.1016/j.tca.2021.178998. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by financial support from the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (Grant Numbers: P2-0118) and the project 'Advanced research and Training Network in Food quality, safety and security' —FoodTraNet — H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020. The authors would also like to acknowledge the financial support from the Faculty of Polymer Technology, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia. 8 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES - PACKAGING Enhancing the Properties of PLA Using Coffee Waste Extracts By Surface and Bulk Modifications Athira John,1 Klementina Pušnik Črešnar,1 Dimitrios Bikiaris,2 Cláudia Pereira Passos,3 Lidija Fras Zemljič 1 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Characterisation and Processing of Polymer Materials, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Thessaloniki, Greece; 3 University of Aveiro, Department of Chemistry ,LAQV-REQUIMTE, Aveiro, Portugal Coffee waste extracts are recognised as a rich source of an�oxidants with impressive thermal stability [1]. These extracts also demonstrate an�bacterial proper�es, making them a promising choice for enhancing food packaging materials and extending the shelf life of food products [2]. This study focuses specifically on func�onalising poly(lac�c acid) (PLA), a versa�le biodegradable material used extensively in food packaging, which lacks inherent an�oxida�ve and an�bacterial proper�es. To address these limita�ons, two approaches were explored: firstly, the in-situ addi�on of coffee extract powder to L-lac�de during polymerisa�on to create PLA granules, used subsequently for film produc�on; secondly, surface coa�ng of neat PLA films with coffee extract solu�ons using the spray coa�ng technique [3]. The resul�ng ac�ve PLA materials from both methods underwent thorough analysis through various techniques. These included Contact Angle measurements to assess their wetability, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Atenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy for surface composi�on analysis, Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) measurements to evaluate barrier proper�esìmprovement, and the ABTS assay to determine an�oxidant ac�vity. Addi�onally, an�bacterial ac�vity against Gram-posi�ve S. aureus was examined, while Zeta poten�al measurements were employed to monitor the charge of the PLA films. These findings underscore the poten�al of coffee waste extracts as ac�ve compounds, offering significant promise in enhancing the shelf life and quality of food products packaged using func�onal PLA films. This eco-friendly approach presents a func�onal solu�on for the food packaging industry. Moreover, the compara�ve analysis between the two produc�on methods highlights the superior efficiency of surface-modified films in enhancing shelf life. Figure 1: Schematic representation of active agents coated and integrated into bulk of PLA films References: 1. S. S. Arya, R. Venkatram, P. R. More, P. Vijayan, “The wastes of coffee bean processing for utilization in food: a review,” J. of Food Science and Technology, 2022, 429 2. S. Parham,A Z Kharazi, HR Bakhsheshi-Rad, H Nur , AF Ismail , S Sharif , S Rama Krishna , F Berto ., “Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Antiviral Properties of Herbal Materials,” Antioxidants, 2020,1 3. A. Miletić, I. Ristić, M. B. Coltel i, and B. Pilić, “Modification of PLA-based films by grafting or coating,” J Funct Biomaterial, 2020, 1 Acknowledgement: This work was supported by financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (Grant Numbers: P2-0118) and the project 'Advanced research and Training Network in Food quality, safety and security' -FoodTraNet - H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020. 9 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – MEDICAL APPLICATIONS A Battle Against Hospital-Acquired Infections With Antiviral Polysaccharide-Based Coatings as Strategic Protective Textile Development: A Detailed Physicochemical Characterisation of Liquid Media Saša Kaloper,1 Lidija Fras Zemljič,1 Arijana Filipić,2 Olivija Plohl 1 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Characterisation and Processing of Polymers, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 National Institute of Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia The 2019 Coronavirus pandemic outbreak, and many others caused by enveloped viruses, highlighted the cri�cal need for strategic an�viral coa�ngs on tex�le personal protec�ve equipment (PPE), the first line of defence during global outbreaks. Hospital environments, which, due to their func�on, have a high level of risk for the cross-spread of pathogenic micro-organisms, commonly experience costly and deadly hospital-acquired infec�ons (HAIs) [1]. Studies report of viral persistence on porous surfaces, such as tex�les, from 48 h to 7 days [2]. Tex�le surfaces are favourable substrates for microbial adherence and colonisa�on, and PPE lacks inherent an�viral ac�vity, serving solely as a subop�mal physical barrier against viral par�cles, making it a reservoir for indirect transmission (i.e., a fomite) [3]. Ins�gated by recent health and environmental concerns with exis�ng an�viral PPE coa�ngs (e.g., based on an�viral metal nanopar�cles and synthe�c compounds), natural polysaccharides with promising an�viral potency and atributes, such as bioac�vity, affordability, water solubility, film-forming capability, nontoxicity, biocompa�bility and biodegradability, have become the subject of vigorous research [4]. The strategic design of an�viral biobased PPE coa�ngs is complex, due to the intricate physicochemical and structural proper�es of liquid and coated media, the surface and specific virus, marking every PPE-virion interac�on as individually unique [5]. However, a severe research gap persists in this area, with incomplete understanding of such interac�ons on the molecular level. U�lising fundamental knowledge in Surface and Colloid Chemistry to comprehend, modify and regulate molecular-level interac�ons at the coated PPE-virion interface could aid researchers in cra�ing more efficient an�viral biobased coa�ngs for PPE [5]. Thus, this work is the first phase of this endeavour, wherein we have characterised the key physicochemical proper�es of differently concentrated aqueous solu�ons of polysaccharides (1-5 mg/mL) with promising an�viral ac�vity that are either anionic or ca�onic (poly)electrolytes, i.e., dextran sulfate, λ-carrageenan, chondroi�n sulfate A, fucoidan, quaternary chitosan, carboxymethyl chitosan and carboxymethyl dextran. We u�lised the techniques of polyelectrolyte and poten�ometric �tra�on, molecular composi�on, zeta poten�al and hydrodynamic diameter determina�on, bioac�vity assessments (i.e., an�oxidant and an�microbial ac�vity), and determina�on of the physical proper�es (i.e., thermal stability, viscosity, surface tension). Atenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), �tra�ons and zeta poten�al (ZP) determina�ons confirmed that the polysaccharides contain characteris�c ac�ve func�onal groups (e.g., carboxyl, sulfate, sulfonic acid, hydroxyl, primary and quaternary amino, etc. groups), mostly between 1-6 mmol of charge per gram of polysaccharide, and moderate to high values of ZP in the pH range between 3 and 9, respec�vely. Due to the nature of the PPE applica�on, the ZP value is most important around pH 6.7, i.e., the average pH of saliva. High ZPs (≥ +/-25 mV), sugges�ng dispersion stability, were expressed by dextran sulfate, quaternary chitosan, fucoidan and λ-carrageenan solu�ons, as shown in Fig. 1. Par�cle size distribu�on, hydrodynamic diameter and turbidimetry assessments revealed that the solu�ons contained heterogeneous colloidal par�cles. The polysaccharide solu�ons did not show significant an�oxidant (concentra�ons between 0.01-1 %) or an�microbial ac�vity (≤ 0.5 %), thus, we may combine certain plant polyphenols for addi�onal func�onality. The further aim of this work includes assessing the polysaccharide solu�ons for an�viral ac�vity as a key parameter for the an�viral PPE concept. 10 Figure 1: Exemplarily shown zeta potential [in mV] of dextran sulfate, quaternary chitosan, fucoidan and λ-carrageenan solutions in the pH range between 3 and 9. References: 1. G. Suleyman, G. Alangaden, and A. C. Bardossy, “The Role of Environmental Contamination in the Transmission of Nosocomial Pathogens and Healthcare-Associated Infections,” Curr Infect Dis Rep, vol. 20, no. 6, p. 12, Jun. 2018, doi: 10.1007/s11908-018-0620-2. 2. P. Vasickova, I. Pavlik, M. Verani, and A. Carducci, “Issues Concerning Survival of Viruses on Surfaces,” Food Environ Virol, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 24–34, Mar. 2010, doi: 10.1007/s12560-010-9025-6. 3. M. Karmacharya, S. Kumar, O. Gulenko, and Y.-K. Cho, “Advances in Facemasks during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era,” ACS Appl Bio Mater, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 3891–3908, May 2021, doi: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01329. 4. H. Claus-Desbonnet et al., “Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives as Potential Antiviral Molecules,” Viruses, vol. 14, no. 2, p. 426, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.3390/v14020426. 5. N. Castaño et al., “Fomite Transmission, Physicochemical Origin of Virus–Surface Interactions, and Disinfection Strategies for Enveloped Viruses with Applications to SARS-CoV-2,” ACS Omega, vol. 6, no. 10, pp. 6509–6527, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c06335. Acknowledgement: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (Young Researchers Programme, Grant number: P2-0082). 11 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – MEDICAL APPLICATIONS New Antimicrobial Cationic Polymers Lucija Jurko,1 Damjan Makuc,2 Alja Štern,3 Janez Plavec,2 Bojana Žegura,3 Perica Bošković,4 Rupert Kargl 1,5 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Characterisation and Processing of Polymers, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 Slovenian NMR Centre, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 3 National Institute of Biology, Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 4 University of Split, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Split, Croatia;5 Graz University of Technology, Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Biobased Systems, Graz, Austria New antimicrobial molecules and materials are in high demand, due to the spread of resistant bacterial, fungal and viral strains attributed to many factors.[1] A large group among antimicrobials are cationic polymers, which can be used in the form of functional coatings, or liquid formulations.[2] A cationic charge is very often provided by protonated amino groups or quaternary nitrogen groups, favourably amine or ammonium ions. Many amine or ammonium containing polymers exist, including those with a synthetic or biological origin.[3, 4] Among the known ammonium containing compounds in living cel s are choline and betaine, which make up important osmolytes and chemical neurotransmitters. Polymers containing those two monomers could, therefore, be of interest as new antimicrobial agents. Betaine and choline contain, beside amino groups, either a carboxylate or hydroxyl group, which can be bound covalently to various polymer backbones by polymer analogous reactions alternatively to the polymerisation of monomers.[4] In this work, both molecules were attached to the backbone on either polyvinyl alcohol or hydroxyethyl cellulose using carbonyl diimidazole as a coupling agent (Figure 1).[4] The optimum yields and reaction conditions were found and the chemical structure revealed by NMR, IR spectroscopy and charge titrations. Subsequently, the antimicrobial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested, and choline HEC was found to inhibit the former, but not the latter, strain at a polymer concentration of 0.08 mg/ml. While the mechanism of antimicrobial inhibition still needs to be studied and could be attributed to the presence of imidazole traces, betaine containing PVA and choline containing HEC turned out to be relatively toxic for mouse fibroblast cells.[4] Related cationic polymers can be processed into solid materials by electrospinning, probably making them useful as medical wound dressing materials.[3] Figure 1: Coupling of choline chloride to previously activated hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) leading to a cationic HEC. References 1. B. Aslam, W. Wang, M.I. Arshad, M. Khurshid, S. Muzammil, M.H. Rasool, M.A. Nisar, R.F. Alvi, M.A. Aslam, M.U. Qamar, M.K.F. Salamat, Z. Baloch, Antibiotic resistance: a rundown of a global crisis, Infection and drug resistance 11 (2018) 1645-1658. 2. A.M. Carmona-Ribeiro, L.D. De Melo Carrasco, Cationic Antimicrobial Polymers and Their Assemblies, International journal of molecular sciences 14(5) (2013) 9906-9946. 3. L. Jurko, M. Bračič, S. Hribernik, D. Makuc, J. Plavec, F. Jerenec, S. Žabkar, N. Gubeljak, A. Štern, R. Kargl, Succinylation of polyallylamine: Influence on biological efficacy and the formation of electrospun fibers, Polymers 13(17) (2021). 4. L. Jurko, D. Makuc, A. Štern, J. Plavec, B. Žegura, P. Bošković, R. Kargl, Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Efficacy of Betaine- and Choline-Substituted Polymers, ACS Applied Polymer Materials 5(7) (2023) 5270-5279. 12 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – MEDICAL APPLICATIONS Functional Surface Coatings for Catheters Lidija Fras Zemljič,1 Katja Kuzmič,1 Tjaša Kraševac Glaser,1 Alenka Vesel,2 Berti Kurinčič,3 Janez Rebol4 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Engineering Materials and Design, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Surface Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 3 TIK d.o.o. Production of Medical Devices, Kobarid, Slovenia,4 University Medical Centre Maribor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cervical and Maxil ofacial Surgery, Maribor, Slovenia In the landscape of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) make up a staggering 80%. Within long-term hospital care, 10-25% of patients utilise catheters, amounting to an annual cost of around 395 mil ion EUR, with each treatment episode averaging approximately 2,550 EUR [1-2]. Among residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), 5-10% rely on urinary catheters, mainly men dealing with urinary retention and women managing incontinence. Notably, during hospitalisation, 25% of individuals coping with urinary incontinence receive urinary catheters, impacting nearly half of the elderly population. Given the prevalence of biofilm-related infections, particularly CAUTIs, and the ageing population, numerous preventive strategies have emerged over the last two decades. Future strategies are concentrated on modifying medical device surfaces, especially catheters [3]. This is crucial, because oral antibiotic therapy is becoming less effective due to bacterial resistance, posing a significant global health threat.Surface functionalisation of materials plays a pivotal role in determining material activity and functionality when in contact with biological environments. Meeting various criteria, such as biocompatibility, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity, and antifouling properties, is essential. Introducing properties like antifouling presents a strategic approach to combat CAUTIs and biofilm formation. Therefore, in this study, different colloidal systems based on polysaccharides and natural polyphenols, used individually or in synergy, were developed as surface coatings for catheters. The primary objective of this research was to explore the anti-infection capabilities (controlled prevention) of novel biomimetic and multi-functional coatings for urethral catheter production. These coatings, based on natural, biocompatible organic biopolymers like chitosan/chitosan derivatives and alginates, serve as carriers for the immobilisation and distribution of antimicrobial/antioxidant-active plant polyphenols. The aim is to ensure hydrophilicity, prevent infections due to friction issues, and deter bacterial adhesion. The focus was on the functionality of two catheter materials (Figure 1): polyvinylchloride (PVC) and Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomer (TPE). The coatings were applied to these surfaces, and their physicochemical properties were examined, including their elemental composition (using ATR-FTIR and XPS). Figure 1: Schematic presentation of our research 13 The study evaluated hydrophilicity using Contact Angle, antioxidant activity via the ABTS assay, and antimicrobial activity. Additionally, TIK d.o.o., Slovenia's largest company producing medical disposable devices and wel -known in the EU, participated in the research to assess catheter usability properties (friction test) and the practical application of this technology in their production processes. The results showed the improved surface hydrophilicity of catheters and introduction of microbial inhibition regarding S.aureus. References: 1. Puro, V., Coppola, N., Frasca, A. et al. Pil ars for prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections: an Italian expert opinion statement. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 11, 87 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01125-8 2. Alamer A, Alharbi F, Aldhilan A, Almushayti Z, Alghofaily K, Elbehiry A, Abalkhail A. Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs): Challenges and Measures Taken by the Radiology Department to Control Infection Transmission. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Nov 30;10(12):2060. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10122060. PMID: 36560470; PMCID: PMC9781912 3. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/driven-growing-demand-medical-devices-novel-coatings-providing-kaur 14 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – MEDICAL APPLICATIONS The Use of Poultry Feathers and Wool Isolates for the Development of Keratin-Based Nanofibre Structures Lidija Fras Zemljič,1 Mojca Škerget,2 Maja Čolnik,2 Andreja Dobaj Š�glic,1 Simona Strnad1 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Engineering Materials and Design, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; Keratin is one of the most important proteins, useful in various fields, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, medicine, and cosmetics [1]. Rich sources of keratin include poultry feathers, wool, hair, etc. The main challenges in extracting keratin from these sources stil lie in the extraction processes and the need for harsh and environmentally harmful chemicals [2]. Therefore, supercritical water is becoming increasingly important as an environmentally friendly medium for the extraction of high-value ingredients in this field [3]. In this study, we investigated the extent to which hydrothermal degradation of poultry feathers and/or wool is a good source of keratin for the production of nanofibres. To this end, the products obtained from hydrothermally degraded poultry feathers and wool waste were analysed in terms of pH, conductivity, turbidity and particle size, and then used in combination with polyethylene oxide (PEO) to produce composite nanofibres using a needleless electrospinning process. The chemical and physical analyses of the products from the hydrothermal degradation of feathers and wool have shown that the extracted solutions are col oids with a particle size of about 700 nm to 2 µm. Due to the low average values and the wide range of molecular weights of keratin, the addition of at least 50 % PEO is required for the successful production of nanofibres. It has also been shown that the presence of larger particles in non-dialysed samples hinders the successful formation of nanofibres. However, the ATR-FTIR spectra of the produced nanofibres show all the typical peaks of keratin. In addition, the optical microscopy and preliminary SEM analysis confirmed the formation of nanofibres. In the further study the purification methods of the isolate will be investigated, to find out which are the most suitable to enable a more successful production of nanofibres. In addition, analyses of different crosslinking processes of PEO will be carried out, in order to reduce the water solubility of the nanofibres produced, and thus improve their usability. This improvement is particularly important for their potential applications as air filters, or medical devices such as wound dressings or fibre systems for controlled drug delivery, etc. References: 1. B. Wang, W. Yang, J. McKittrick, and M. A. Meyers, "Keratin: Structure, mechanical properties, occurrence in biological organisms, and efforts at bioinspiration," Progress in Materials Science, vol. 76, pp. 229-318, 2016/03/01/ 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2015.06.001. 2. S. Strnad, T. Kreze, L. F. Zemljic, Z. Oberhol enzer, and O. Sauperl, "Modifying Properties of Feather Keratin Bioplastic Films using Konjac Glucomannan," (in English), Cel ulose chemistry and technology, Journal Article vol. 53, no. 9-10, pp. 1017-1027, 2019-09-01 2019, doi: 10.35812/Cel uloseChemTechnol.2019.53.100. 3. I. Pavlovič, Ž. Knez, and M. Škerget, "Hydrothermal Reactions of Agricultural and Food Processing Wastes in Sub- and Supercritical Water: A Review of Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and State of Research," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 61, no. 34, pp. 8003-8025, 2013/08/28 2013, doi: 10.1021/jf401008a. 15 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – MEDICAL APPLICATIONS Predicting the Structural Changes of Textile Materials Appearing in the Household Tumble-Drying Process Using the XRD Analytical Method Manja Kurečič, Branko Neral University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia The majority of EU28 households own a tumble dryer, which they use 2.05 times/week [1]. In addition to significant energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, the household drying process is also a source of other pollutants, such as wastewaters and microfibres, which are released into the air during and after the drying process and contaminate the household environment. The fact is that existing household textile tumble-drying procedures are based on intensive, and sometimes even aggressive, mechanical actions, such as beating, falling and rubbing of the fabric itself, or with the metal surface of the perforated drying drum. These factors can cause damage down to the molecular scale of fabrics, and, thus, consequently, shorten the lifespan of household textiles, and, at the same time, increase textile waste. One of the research phases of the “Low emission household tumble-drying with an evaluation of damage to textile materials“ project was dedicated to investigating and evaluating changes at the fibres’ molecular scale after increased dying cycles with the help of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analytical method. The research was focused on the most used household fabrics, such as cotton (CO), polyester (PES), a PES/CO blend and viscose (CV). The process, simula�ng different we�ng/drying procedures, was designed as 25 cycles (imita�ng the household tex�le care) of repeated sample we�ng and drying procedures. The we�ng process was conducted by an impregna�on padder. A�er the we�ng, the standardised fabrics were exposed to different drying procedures: photothermal, microwave and hot air drying. The XRD method is used for inves�ga�ons of solid crystalline samples (iden�fica�on and quan�ta�ve analysis of the degree of crystallinity, crystal la�ce dimensions and crystal sizes), whereby the study is based on the coherent scatering of X-rays by electrons in atoms. Data from the XRD analysis were used to determine the changes at the macromolecular level of the fibres, mainly their arranged crystalline and disordered amorphous regions. The ra�o between these regions can give us informa�on regarding the structural damages in the tex�le material, occurring during the household tumble drying. In all samples, regardless of their fibre composi�on, we could observe that the photothermal and microwave drying processes did not influence the ra�o between the crystalline and amorphous domains in the fibres significantly. However, the applica�on of hot air drying, performed at 80°C, did show crystalline/amorphous ra�o changes above the Standard Devia�on, calculated from the raw, photothermal and microwave values. In the case of PES/CO, PAN, WO, SE, and CV changes in the crystallinity were detected, while, in the case of the PA and CO samples, the crystallinity value was in the area of Standard Devia�on. It was also expected that the drying process using hot air would not influence the highly crystalline structure characteristic for PA fibres (51.3%), as well as a cotton sample (32.9%) resistant to heat at 80°C, due to its cellulose crystalline structure The major change in crystallinity was observed in the wool and silk samples, known as materials with low resistance to high heat treatments. In the case of wool, we observed the increase in crystallinity, which can be attributed to the shrinkage and felting of wool fibres during the wetting. In the silk sample, we observed a drastic decrease in crystallinity, from 27.8% in the raw sample, to 8.5% in the hot air-dried sample. Silk and wool fibres are known for their high water and moisture absorbency and shrinking ability, and, therefore, the obtained results were expected. According to the results obtained during the study, we can conclude that the XRD method shows potential in predicting the structural changes appearing in the tumble drying process of textile materials. References: 16 1. Maya-Drysdale, L., Iversen, N.H., Gydesen, A., Skov Hansen, P.M. (2019) Review study on household tumble driers – Final report. European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy, European Union. Available online: https://www.review-tumbledriers.eu/ (accessed on 9 February 20212 Acknowledgement: This research was funded by the Slovenian Research Agency, P2.14- Engineering sciences and technologies/ Textile and Leather, applied project L2-3174, and by the company Gorenje d.o.o. Slovenia. 17 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – MEDICAL APPLICATIONS The Analysis of Epinephrine, Uric Acid, and Methyl Parathion Using Screen-Printed Carbon Electrodes David Majer, Matjaž Finšgar University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia This work demonstrates the development of electro-analytical methods for the determination of epinephrine (EP), uric acid (UA), and methyl parathion (MP) using unmodified and modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) in real samples, such as drugs, human urine and drinking water. Quantitative analysis of EP, UA and MP in different samples is crucial, as both high and low mass concentrations (γ) can have an impact on human health [1]. Accurate and precise measurement of these compounds is essential to ensure pharmaceuticals' safety and efficacy, and monitor their impact on the environment [1-3]. Abnormal γ of these compounds can lead to significant health risks, underlining the importance of reliable analytical methods for their detection and quantification [3]. The SPCEs offer fast analysis, low costs and the ability to perform on-site analysis without extensive sample preparation [2]. Individual analysis of EP and UA was performed using an unmodified SPCE (BVT Technologies, Brno, Czech Republic) and a single-drop analysis, where only one drop of 50 µL was required. Simultaneous analysis of EP and UA was performed using a poly-L-cysteine-modified SPCE (pLC-SPCE). An L-cysteic acid-modified SPCE (LCA-SPCE) was used to determine the MP. All three sensors were validated and used for real sample analysis without any sample pretreatment. The γ of EP in an EP-auto-injector and UA in human urine was determined using unmodified SPCE and pLC-SPCE. The γ of MP in drinking water was determined with LCA-SPCE. The γ of EP in the EP auto-injector and UA in human urine, determined using unmodified SPCE with single-drop analysis, were 478.4 mg/L (the declared γ was 500.0 mg/L) and 316.3 mg/L (within the limits for healthy individuals), respectively. No MP was detected in the drinking water using the LCA-SPCE. Using pLC-SPCE, the γ of EP in the EP-auto-injector was 491.50 mg/L (the declared γ was 500.00 mg/L). The γ of UA in human urine for four different samples, measured with pLC-SPCE, were in the range of 123.4–582.7 mg/L. Three of these samples were within the limits for healthy individuals, while one sample was below. All the results were accurate and precise, as the average recoveries were within 80.0–120.0%, and the relative Standard Deviations were below 20.0 %. The synthesis of LCA-SPCE and pLC-SPCE included activation of SPCE in 0.1 M H2SO4 and electro-deposition in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution, containing 2 mM LCA (for LCA-SPCE) [2] and 2 mM L-cysteine (for pLC-SPCE) [3]. The unmodified SPCE was activated in 0.1 M HCl [1]. The unmodified SPCE is suitable for individual analysis of EP in an EP-auto-injector and UA in human urine. The LCA-SPCE is suitable for the determination of MP in drinking water. The pLC-SPCE is suitable for the simultaneous analysis of EP in the EP-auto-injector and UA in human urine. Future prospects include expanding the range of analytes, including those currently chal enging in electrochemistry, and exploring the commercialisation of these methods. Integrating portable potentiostats/galvanostats into smartphones should make electrochemical analysis more accessible and user-friendly. References: 1. Majer, D. and M. Finšgar, Single-Drop Analysis of Epinephrine and Uric Acid on a Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode. Biosensors, 2021. 11(8): p. 285. 2. Majer, D. and M. Finšgar, An l-cysteic acid-modified screen-printed carbon electrode for methyl parathion determination. Microchemical Journal, 2022. 183: p. 108098. 3. Majer, D. and M. Finšgar, The development, validation, and optimization of a SWAdSV method for the simultaneous determination of epinephrine and uric acid in real samples using a poly(L-cysteine) modified SPCE sensor. Microchemical Journal, 2023. 193: p. 109142. Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Slovenian Research Agency (Grants Nos. P2-0414, P2-0118, J1-2470, and J1-4416). 18 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – MEDICAL APPLICATIONS Bioactive Bacterial Nanocel ulose as a Promising Strategy for Enzymatic Burn Debridement Urška Jančič,1 Janja Trček,2 Liliana Verestiuc,3 Selestina Gorgieva 1 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 2University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Biology, Maribor, Slovenia; 3Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iasi, Romania Surgical debridement (tangential excision) is today's most commonly employed method for burn eschar removal. Unfortunately, it leads to the unintended removal of viable tissue, thus prolonging wound healing time and treatment costs. In contrast, enzymatic debridement offers selective removal of non-viable tissue, thus preserving enough viable dermis in the wound bed to support spontaneous re-epithelialization and reduced need for subsequent skin grafting [1-2]. In the field of Burns, bacterial nanocellulose (BnC) stands out as an exceptional material, due to its remarkable properties (high water-holding capacity, biocompatibility, high purity level, non-toxic nature and mechanical stability [3-4]). However, its lack of biological activity, specifically in terms of its ability to break down proteins, can be overcome by immobilising specific bioactive components. In this work, the proteolytic enzyme bromelain (Br) was immobilised within BnC membranes produced under static fermentation conditions by the addition of various concentrations of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to the culture RAE media, to develop a proteolytic active wound dressing that can be used for eschar removal in burn injuries. The obtained BnC-CMC membranes were ex situ modified through bromelain entrapment and covalent binding, using 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl) carbodiimide (EDC) crosslinker in the presence of N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design was employed, to achieve the highest specific proteolytic activity by investigating Br, CMC and EDC concentrations. The physicochemical, morphological, mechanical, bioactive and cytotoxic properties of the membranes were evaluated. Hyperactivation of the immobilised Br was observed under optimal immobilisation conditions (cCMC=8.8 mg/mL, cEDC=0 mg/mL, and cBr=10 mg/mL, Fig. 1), resulting in a specific proteolytic activity of 2.3 U/mg, a more compact arrangement of fibrils with stronger affinity for water, as well as an improved water rehydration ratio and elasticity compared to an unmodified BnC membrane. The in vitro cytocompatibility was observed for the BnC-Br and non-bioactive BnC membranes after 24h exposure to normal human dermal fibroblasts. Overall, the results suggested that a combination of BnC membrane with bromelain has the potential to be used as an effective non-surgical debridement agent. a) b) c) Figure 1: a) BnC membrane produced over 4 days of sta�c fermenta�on, b) SEM image of BnC-CMC membrane with the hydrophilic nature of the BnC/BnC-CMC membrane, c) 3D RSM plots for specific proteoly�c ac�vity of bromelain as a func�on of Br and CMC concentra�on References 19 1. A. A. Alekseev et. al., Life, vol. 13, no. 2, 2023. 2. K. Claes et al., Burns, vol. 49, no.1, 2023. 3. S. Gorgieva, Processes, vol. 8, no. 5, 2020. 4. S. Gorgieva, U. Jančič, E. Cepec, J. Trček, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. Vol. 244, 2023. Acknowledgements: Financial support was received in the framework of the Young Researcher Programme P2-0118/0795 and Project J2-2487, both financed by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS). 20 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – ENIGNEERING APPLICATIONS ICP-MS Elemental Analysis of Food Samples via Homogenisation and Acid Digestion using HNO3 and H2O2 Matjaž Rantaša, David Majer, Matjaž Finšgar 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia This study demonstrates a protocol explaining the step-by-step process and theory for the preparation of food samples (homogenisation and acid digestion) and subsequent elemental analysis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) [1]. Currently, elemental analysis is an important technique for the quality control of food samples. ICP-MS is employed frequently for this purpose, due to its advantages, such as low limit of detection (LOD) and a wide linear concentration range for various elements [2]. To analyse samples with ICP-MS, they need to be converted to a liquid state, converting metal analytes into water-soluble salts simultaneously. Thus, microwave-assisted wet acid digestion (MAWD) is used widely for the digestion of food samples, as it enables rapid digestion at high temperatures and pressure and low reagent consumption [3]. The samples need to be homogenised properly before digestion. Food samples (i.e. broccoli, mushrooms, sausages, noodles) were cut manually with a ceramic knife, and then dried in a laboratory dryer at 105 °C until a constant weight was obtained. The samples were then homogenised using a laboratory mixer (BÜCHI Mixer B-400) with ceramic blades. A mass of 250 mg of the homogenised samples was transferred to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) reaction vessels, followed by the addition of 5.0 mL of 68 wt.% HNO3 and 1.0 mL of 30 wt.% H2O2. The saamples were digested by MAWD using an ETHOS LEAN microwave system. The digestion protocol was: 10 min increase to 160 °C, 10 min increase to 200 °C, and 15 min at 200 °C. The digested samples were diluted with ultrapure water and filtered through polyamide syringe filters (25 mm diameter, 0.20 µm pore size). ICP-MS analysis of the samples was performed using an ICPMS-2030 (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). Quantification of 4 elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) was performed with the ICP-MS. The linear concentration range for al the elements was 1.0 µg/L to 50.0 µg/L. The determined LODs were 0.5 ng/L, 2.8 ng/L, 2.8 ng/L, and 3.2 ng/L for Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn, respectively, while the limits of quantification were 1.6 ng/L, 9.2 ng/L, 9.5 ng/L, and 10.8 ng/L for Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn, respectively. Broccoli contained an average concentration of 5.9 ± 0.5 µg/g (Standard Deviation), 32.5 ± 2.7 µg/g, 42.8 ± 0.2 µg/g, and 63.0 ± 1.9 µg/g of Cu, Mn, Zn, and Fe, respectively. For mushrooms, the content of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn was 35.6 ± 1.4 µg/g, 30.4 ± 1.3 µg/g, 18.5 ± 1.0 µg/g, and 5.4 ± 0.3 µg/g, respectively. The sausages contained 0.9 ± 0.3 µg/g of Mn, 42.2 ± 0.9 µg/g of Fe, 25.1 ± 2.6 µg/g of Zn, and 1.0 ± 0.1 µg/g of Cu. The contents of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn in the noodles were 5.4 ± 2.8 µg/g, 10.3 ± 1.2 µg/g, 1.6 ± 0.3 µg/g, and 7.5 ± 0.2 µg/g, respectively. Several critical steps influenced the preparation of food samples and subsequent ICP-MS analysis. The samples need to be completely dry before weighing. Homogenisation was performed with ceramic blades to eliminate possible contamination caused by the abrasion of metal blades. High-purity chemicals were used for the MAWD. H2O2 was added to the HNO3, to improve the oxidation conditions while allowing the regeneration of acid [4]. The solutions of samples were diluted with ultrapure water, to decrease the concentration of residual acid and the concentration of the component of the sample matrix before the ICPMS analysis. Filtration was done, to eliminate possible particulates from the solution of the sample. The ICPMS analysis was performed using a collision cell, which minimised the spectral interferences (polyatomic ions). Homogenisation with a laboratory mixer and MAWD with 5.0 mL of 68 wt.% HNO3 and 1.0 mL of 30 wt.% H2O2 is an effective method for the preparation of food samples for ICP-MS analysis. By following the instructions given in the protocol, one should be able to prepare food samples for elemental analysis with ICP-MS. 21 With slight modifications (different homogenisation processes, the use of different acids in different ratios for acid digestion, modified temperature step), the protocol can be used for the preparation of other samples, such as inorganic samples (soil, sediments, and electronic waste). References: 1. Rantaša, M., D. Majer, and M. Finšgar, Preparation of Food Samples Using Homogenization and Microwave-Assisted Wet Acid Digestion for Multi-Element Determination with ICP-MS. Journal of Visualized Experiments, accepted for publication (2024). 2. Bressy, F.C., et al., Determination of trace element concentrations in tomato samples at different stages of maturation by ICP OES and ICP-MS fol owing microwave-assisted digestion. Microchemical Journal, 2013. 109: p. 145-149. 3. Pardinho, R.B., et al., Determination of toxic elements in yerba mate by ICP-MS after diluted acid digestion under O2 pressure. Food Chemistry, 2018. 263: p. 37-41. 4. Bizzi, C.A., et al., Microwave-assisted oxidation of organic matter using diluted HNO 3 under O 2 pressure: rationalization of the temperature gradient effect for acid regeneration. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2017. 28: p. 1673-1681. Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Slovenian Research Agency (Grants Nos. P2-0414, P2-0118, J1-2470, NK-0001, and J1-4416). 22 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – ENIGNEERING APPLICATIONS High-Performance Chitosan/Nanocel ulose-Based Composite Membrane For Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cel s Maša Hren,1 Michaela Roschger,2 Viktor Hacker,2 Boštjan Genorio,3 Darinka Fakin,1 Selestina Gorgieva 1 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 2Graz University of Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Graz, Austria; 3University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia Fuel cells, such as alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells (ADEFCs), are effective energy conversion devices that have attracted increasing research interest in recent years, due to the growing demand for renewable resource technologies and the depletion of fossil fuels. [1] This work focused on the fabrication of high-performance biopolymer-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for ADEFCs, produced by a simple and low-cost solution casting process using green chemistry principles. The current, commercially available AEMs, the heart of a fuel cell, are inadequate, pointing to the need to develop new highly efficient, easy-to-manufacture, environmentally friendly and economically viable AEMs. Naturally derived materials such as chitosan (CS) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are of great potential, as CS is insoluble at alkaline conditions, resulting in high alkali resistance. [2]–[5] The composite membranes prepared by the solvent casting method were analysed extensively for morphology, alkaline uptake, swelling ratio, ethanol permeability, mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, and tested in a single lab-scale ADEFC system. The prepared CS-based composite AEMs with CNF-based fillers were superior to the commercial Fumatech membrane in terms of Young's modulus and tensile strength (69 % and 85 % higher, respectively), ion exchange capacity (169 % higher) and ionic conductivity (228 % higher). Single fuel cell tests have shown excellent performance of the CS-based AEMs with CNF and modified CNF fil ers, as they exhibited up to 86 % higher power density at 80 °C compared to the commercial membrane (65.1 mW/cm2 vs. 35.1 mW/cm2), and higher maximum power density at all test conditions. The data obtained indicate the applicability of the newly fabricated CS-based composite membranes as AEMs in ADEFCs. In the future durability tests would provide valuable information on the lifetime of such an ADEFC. References: 1. M. Hren, M. Božič, D. Fakin, K. S. Kleinschek, and S. Gorgieva, “Alkaline membrane fuel cel s: Anion exchange membranes and fuels,” Sustain. Energy Fuels, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 604–637, 2021. 2. M. Hren et al., “Efficiency of Neat and Quaternized-Cel ulose Nanofibril Fil ers in Chitosan Membranes for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cel s,” Polymers, vol. 15, no. 5, p. 1146, 2023. 3. M. Hren, M. Roschger, V. Hacker, B. Genorio, D. Fakin, and S. Gorgieva, “High performance chitosan/nanocel ulose-based composite membrane for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cel s,” Int. J. Biol. Macromol., vol. 253, no. July, 2023. 4. M. Hren et al., “Chitosan-Mg(OH)2 based composite membrane containing nitrogen doped GO for direct ethanol fuel cel ,” Cel ulose, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 1599–1616, 2021. 5. S. Gorgieva et al., “Efficient chitosan/nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide composite membranes for direct alkaline ethanol fuel cel s,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 22, no. 4, p. 1740, 2021. Acknowledgements : Financial support was received in the frame of the Slovenian Research Agency Young Researcher Programme (P2-0118/0795) and Project “GO DEFC” (Grant number N2-0087). 23 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – ENIGNEERING APPLICATIONS Development of a Novel, Grape Waste Culture Medium and Its Influence on Bacterial Nanocellulose Properties Selestina Gorgieva,1 Urška Jančič,1 Maša Hren,1 Janja Trček 2 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Maribor, Slovenia Bacterial nanocellulose (BnC) represents an exopolysaccharide synthesised extracellularly by various bacterial strains, undergoing static cultivation to generate a 3D gelatinous pellicle comprising entangled cellulose nanofibre[1,2]. The cost-effectiveness of this biotechnological process is tied intricately to the culture medium selection, with the carbon source constituting approximately 30% of the overal expenditure, where the sugar-rich waste and by-products present viable alternatives to the defined media in terms of cost and availability, where diverse BnC applications [3–5] necessitate specific quality attributes influenced mainly by the biotechnological process itself. Our work describes BnC produced by the bacterial strain K. melomenusus AV436T from the microbial culture collection at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, using grape extract (GP) as the culture medium. The GP was derived from Slovenian grapes (2021 season) through a controlled process of grape waste hydrolysis (Patent pending). The morphological examination of BnC membranes through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (Fig. 1) unveiled ribbon-like microfibrils interwoven randomly into a dense network-like structure. In the GP medium the nanofibrils were twice as wide, attributed to a "glueing" effect induced by specific components in the culturing medium. The X-ray diffraction data displayed peaks at 2θ = 14.4°, 16.8°, and 22.6°, corresponding to the (101), (101̅), and (002) planes of cellulose I, where the amorphous segment at 2θ ~18° was notably higher in the samples produced in the GP extract, and the crystallinity index (CI %), calculated through deconvolution, was significantly lower (< 50%) compared to 72% as in the case of the reference culture medium. It is postulated that different types of reducing sugars in the culture medium can impact the arrangement of cellulose chains. The organisation of BnC fibrils within the network facilitates stress transfer and cohesion, whereas non-cellulosic components may disrupt compactness, leading to the loosening of the BnC network. In comparison to the reinforced acetic acid-ethanol (RAE) medium, lower tensile strength and elongation were measured in the GP extract BnC. This study highlights substantial differences in the properties of BnC membranes produced by the same bacterial strain when using different culture media, particularly in terms of morphology and crystallinity, which can be utilised in the preparation of new hybrid materials for diverse applications, uncluding, but not limited to, medicine, food, pharmacy, cosmetics, etc. Figure 1: SEM micrographs from the BnC membrane produced by K. melomenusus AV436T, using RAE and GP extract as culture medium. 24 References 1. S. Gorgieva, U. Jančič, E. Cepec, J. Trček, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 244 (2023) 2. S. Gorgieva, J. Trček, Nanomaterials. 9 (2019). 3. S. Gorgieva, Processes. 8 (2020). 4. S. Gorgieva, S. Hribernik, Nanomaterials. 9 (2019). 5. A. Żywicka, D. Ciecholewska-Juśko, M. Charęza, R. Drozd, P. Sobolewski, A. Junka, S. Gorgieva , Carbohydr. Polym. 302 (2023). Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge the Slovenian Research Agency (ARIS) funding: Project J2-2487 and Young Researcher programme (P2-0118/0795) and HORIZON-CL4-2022-RESILIENCE-01 (Grant Agreement n°101092269). 25 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – ENIGNEERING APPLICATIONS The Role of Cellulose as an Additive in Deacidification of Books Matej Bračič, 1 Jasna Malešič,2 Mihael Brunčko,1 Doris Bračič 1 Tamilselvan Mohan 1,3 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 National and University Library, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 3 Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 3 Graz University of Technology, Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Biobased System (IBioSys), Graz, Austria Degradation of paper artifacts is a cause for great concern, as the information about our cultural heritage needs to be preserved in its original form for a core of valid reasons, like national, political, legal, historical, economic, scientific and emotional.[1] The degradation of paper is caused by physical, chemical and biological factors. Endogenous factors, e.g., the pH value of the paper, are crucial determinants for paper degradation and its longevity.[1] Paper acidity arising from the addition of aluminium sulphate Al2(SO4)3·18H2O (alum), as a sizing agent in the final stages of paper making from the mid-19th century until the final decades of the 20th century, is generally accepted as a main cause of paper degradation. Consequentially, enormous effort and financial resources are put into the development of special deacidification treatments to preserve paper artefacts. The potential for such treatments is huge in Slovenia alone, as 230 km of bookshelves full of archival material exist and ≈ 80% of it was produced after 1830. The role of cellulose in the preparation of non-aqueous colloidal dispersions of alkaline particles and their role in preserving the mechanical integrity of compromised paper artefacts is presented in this work. The stability and particle size in the colloidal dispersions of alkaline particles are evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and turbidimetry. The successful application of the dispersions on model paper artefact was evaluated by chemical analysis (Attenuated total reflectance – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; ATR-FTIR) and penetration depth using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) of paper cross-sections. Neutralisation of the paper’s acidity and the added alkaline reserve were determined by standard acid-base titration methods and new protocols for pH measurement and alkaline reserve determination using an automated titrator and a phototrode for the colourimetric determination of the titration end-point. Finally, the visual appearance of the paper artefacts was evaluated by UV-VIS spectroscopy. New perspectives of using functional polysaccharides to achieve the multifunctionality of speciality treatments for acidic paper artefacts will be presented briefly as well. Figure 1: The many roles of cellulose in preserving the mechanical integrity of damaged paper fibres References 1. Strlič, M. & Kolar, J. (National and university library, 2005) 26 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – ENIGNEERING APPLICATIONS Zeta Potential Analysis of Functionalised Monolithic Columns for Chromatography of Biomolecules Thomas Luxbacher,1,3 Rok Miklavčič,2 Urh Černigoj,2 Lidija Fras Zemljič,1 Tjaša Kraševac Glaser1 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Characterisation and Processing of Polymers, Maribor, Slovenia; 2Sartorius BIA Separations d.o.o., Ajdovščina, Slovenia; 3Anton Paar GmbH, Graz, Austria Chromatography is a well-known method for the separa�on and purifica�on of biomolecules such as proteins, an�bodies, DNA, or viruses. Unlike chromatography columns that contain par�culate gels for separa�on, porous monolithic columns represent a promising alterna�ve approach with superior proper�es and ease of handling for a scalable purifica�on process. The homogeneity and integrity of the surface-ac�ve groups determine the applicability of such monolithic columns. Zeta poten�al analysis provides insight into the surface charge under various condi�ons and is a versa�le technique for studying the surface and interfacial proper�es of materials. Surface charge is an essen�al property of chromatographic materials for op�mizing their performance in various separa�on and purifica�on applica�ons [1]. Using the streaming poten�al method to determine the zeta poten�al has been employed for the characteriza�on of func�onal groups of monolithic chromatographic columns used in the purifica�on of biomolecules. In our study, zeta poten�al analysis aimed at selec�ng appropriate chromatographic monoliths and inves�ga�ng their stability in contact with an aqueous solu�on. With the streaming poten�al method, it was possible to es�mate the performance of ca�onic monolithic columns based on the loca�on of their isoelectric points in the alkaline pH range. The monolithic materials differ in the type of surface-conjugated ligands [2, 3] and the difference between them is observable. The strong anion exchanger shows a constant posi�ve zeta poten�al of about 11 mV, while the weak anion exchanger shows a decrease in surface charge with IEP at pH about 9.3 (Figure 1). The applicability of the streaming poten�al method as a sensi�ve and robust analy�cal tool for selec�ng the appropriate chromatographic monolith for a specific purifica�on applica�on could be demonstrated. Figure 1: Surface characterisa�on of two different chromatographic monoliths by the zeta poten�al as a func�on of pH. References: 1. Buszewski, B., et al., Application of the zeta potential for stationary phase characterization in ion chromatography. Journal of separation science, 2013. 36(1): p. 156-163. 2. Miklavčič, R., et al., High Recovery Chromatographic Purification of mRNA at Room Temperature and Neutral pH. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023. 24(18): p. 14267. 3. Megušar, P., et al., Scalable multimodal weak anion exchange chromatographic purification for stable mRNA drug substance. Electrophoresis, 2023. 44(24): p. 1978-1988. 27 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – ENIGNEERING APPLICATIONS 2D Transitional Metal Carbides for Advanced Functionalisation of Fibrous Polymers - Optimisation of Synthesis Conditions Laura Jug,1 Silvo Hribernik,2 Alenka Ojstršek 1 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Engineering Materials and Design, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Institute of Automation, Maribor, Slovenia Two-dimensional (2D) transitional metal carbides and nitrides, also known as MXenes, have gained tremendous research interest recently, due to their unique properties such as high electrical conductivity (up to 20,000 S/cm), pseudocapacitance, excel ent dispersion in aqueous solutions, excel ent ion intercalation behaviour, and mechanical strength and stiffness, making them ideal candidates for diverse applications, including wearable electronic textile devices. Therefore, the main goal of the presented study was to synthesise stable Ti3C2Tx MXenes with high capacitance by selective etching of A-element layers (the top-down approach) from the smal -size (40 µm) and large-size (100 µm) MAX phase precursor for further advanced functionalisation of fibrous polymers. Herein, different process parameters were varied, i.e., time, temperature, the ratio between solvents and their concentrations. The as-prepared MXene nanosheets were characterised according to their morphology, structure, composition, flake size/distribution, chemical bond action, etc., using various analytical skills, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray powder Diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR) and zeta potential measurements. Selected results are presented in Figure 1. Figure 1: XRD (above-left), DLS (above-right) and SEM (below) of differently prepared MXenes. 28 MXenes were prepared successfuly using the proposed procedure, as can be perceived from the XDR and SEM results. The process parameters influenced the size and morphology of the synthesised particles. References: 1. VahidMohammadi, A., Rosen, J., Gogotsi, Y., The world of two-dimensional carbides and nitrides (MXenes), Science, 372 (2021). 2. Chen, N., Yang, W., Zhang, C. Perspectives on preparation of two-dimensional MXenes, Science and Technology of Advanced Materials, 22 (2021) 917-930. Acknowledgements: The results leading to this work were funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) - a Research Core Programme Group for Textile Chemistry and Advanced Textile Materials P2-0118 within the Young Researchers Programme, and in the frame of Project no. J2-50087 . 29 PILLAR I: FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES AND COMPOSITES – ENIGNEERING APPLICATIONS Spray-Dried Lignin and Tannic Acid Particles: The Influence of Size and Composition on the Processing and Functional Properties of Biomass-Based Resins Silvo Hribernik,1 Tanja Kos,2 Manja Kurečič 2 1 University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Engineering Materials and Design, Maribor, Slovenia Urea formaldehyde (UF) and melamine urea formaldehyde (mUF) are the most used adhesive systems in European medium density fibreboard (MDF) and low-density fibreboard (LDF) production, especially in interior applications. Because of the nature of these adhesives, particularly the formaldehyde component, the re-use, incineration, recycling and land-filling of fibreboards is problematic. To tackle issues related to adhesives, there has been interest in using bio-based sources to replace fossil-based adhesives. Research into lignin, starch, tannins and plant proteins have been the main areas of interest for adhesive applications. Lignocellulosic biomass is the world’s most abundant renewable material that has been recognised as a potent feedstock to produce chemicals; as one of the three main components of lignocellulosic material, wood-based polyphenolics are among the most abundant biopolymers and the largest source of aromatic building blocks on the planet, with a great potential to serve as starting material to produce biobased products. Two types of wood-derived polyphenolic bio-macromolecules were employed - tannic acid and lignin - whose capacity to form different macromolecular architectures was employed in particle design. The spray drying technique was used for particle fabrication; here, a polymer solution is atomised into fine droplets and dried in a flow of drying gas to produce dry particles, ranging from 200 nm to 1 µm. The spray dried particles were used for the preparation of epoxy thermosetting resins. Epoxy thermosets are characterised by excellent mechanical properties, high chemical and thermal resistance and low water and moisture uptake. Conventionally produced from diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, which is a result of a reaction between epichlorohydrin with bisphenol A, and, in most cases, combined with hardeners to achieve the required properties, epoxy resins are burdened with fossil-fuel based constituents. In our work, we have used different types of lignin and tannic acid as molecules with an abundance of aromatic rings and glycerol diglycidyl ether as the carrier of epoxide moieties. Different ratios of both components were tested, as well as the addition of water to help facilitate the inclusion of water-soluble lignin (e.g. alkali lignin) and tannic acid. Fourier Transform InfraRed analysis was employed to confirm the ring-opening of the epoxide group of the glycerol diglycidyl ether, fol owed by the formation of covalent ether bonds with the admixed polyphenolic polymers. To quantify the rheological properties of bio-based epoxy resins prior to curing, which is important from the point of view of board manufacturing and the introduction of fibres into the adhesive resin formulations, we performed frequency sweep measurements. These are employed to describe the time-dependent behaviour of a sample, with high frequencies used to simulate fast motion on short time-scales (e.g. mixing of the fibre-adhesive formulation), while low frequencies replicate slow motion or rest (setting of the samples). Al bio-based epoxy samples possess a non-crosslinked structure before curing: G’ (loss modulus) was, in all cases, higher than G’ (storage modulus), but there were significant differences in the values of the moduli between samples; the tannic acid-based epoxy exceeded both lignin epoxies by exhibiting very high values of both moduli, which we ascribed to a multitude of pyrogallol catechol groups offering multiple bonding sites. The alkali lignin-based epoxy exhibited the second highest values for moduli, but, unlike the tannic acid and kraft lignin samples, these values (G’ and G’’) were much closer, indicating that the alkali lignin reaction with glycerol diglycidyl results in epoxy resin that, even prior to curing, possesses less of a viscous (liquid) component and a more pronounced elastic (solid) part. While not cross-30 linked in the wet state, since the lines for G’ and G’ never intersected, it does showcase a structure akin to a more fixed state, which is also evident from the complex viscosity results. Temperature-dependent oscillatory rheological analysis gave further insight into the influence of particle size on the process of epoxidation; smaller particles cross-linked at a lower temperature and exhibited a higher storage modulus, showing clearly the importance of particle morphology. In the present study we have shown that wood-derived polyphenolic polymers (lignin and tannic acid) can be employed in the formation of materials with different morphologies, which can serve as adhesives in fibre composites, as well as in other technical applications. Harnessing the chemical and structural features of these polyphenolic macromolecules in material design has proved to be a viable platform for the development of bio-based wood-derived products. Acknowledgement: Part of this research was funded by the European Commission for funding the InnoRenew Project (Grant Agreement #739574 under the Horizon 2020 WIDESPREAD-2-Teaming programme), Republic of Slovenia (investment funding from the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional Development Fund) and the Textile Chemistry P2-0118 Program, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor. 31 PILLAR II: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND CONCEPTS 3D Printed Porous Nanocel ulose-Protein Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications Tamilselvan Mohan,1,3 Andreja Dobaj Štiglic,1 Chandran Nagaraj,2 Karin Stana Kleinschek3 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering Materials and Design, Maribor, Slovenia; 2Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria; 3 Graz University of Technology, Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Biobased System, Graz, Austria Tissue Engineering has developed into a promising field of regenerative medicine that aims to develop functional replacements for damaged or diseased tissue [1]. In this context, the integration of nanomaterials in the design of scaffolds has gained considerable attention. This study investigated the application of scaffolds made of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and collagen (Coll), which combine the biocompatibility of collagen with the exceptional mechanical properties of NFC/CMC. The manufacturing process involves a novel approach that utilises chemical cross-linking and 3D printing technology to create biomimetic structures with enhanced structural integrity and tailored porosity. The NFC/CMC/Coll composite was produced through a careful mixing process, where the ratio was optimised to achieve an ideal balance between mechanical strength and biocompatibility [2]. Chemical cross-linking agents (CA: citric acid) were used to increase the stability and ensure the durability of the scaffold in a physiological environment. The scaffolds were produced by a combination of direct 3D printing, freeze-drying and dehydrothermal treatment methods [3,4]. The characterisation studies demonstrated the excellent mechanical properties, long-term dimensional stability and biocompatibility of the nanocellulose-collagen scaffolds. In vitro studies demonstrated the scaffold's ability to support cell viability and grow cells derived from bone tissue. The presented NFC-CMC-Coll scaffolds are promising for applications in various fields of Tissue Engineering, including the regeneration of bone or cartilage. This innovative approach, which combines polysaccharides and proteins, chemical cross-linking and 3D printing, represents a major step forward in the development of biomimetic scaffolds for advanced Tissue Engineering applications. References 1. K. Da Silva, P. Kumar, Y.E. Choonara, L.C. du Toit, V. Pil ay, Three-dimensional printing of extracel ular matrix (ECM)-mimicking scaffolds: A critical review of the current ECM materials, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A 108(12) (2020) 2324-2350. 2. A.D. Štiglic, Preparation of three dimensional structures of polysaccharide derivatives for application in regenerative medicine, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, University of Maribor, Maribor, 2022, p. 199. 3. T. Mohan, A. Dobaj Štiglic, M. Beaumont, J. Konnerth, F. Gürer, D. Makuc, U. Maver, L. Gradišnik, J. Plavec, R. Kargl, K. Stana Kleinschek, Generic Method for Designing Self-Standing and Dual Porous 3D Bioscaffolds from Cel ulosic Nanomaterials for Tissue Engineering Applications, ACS Applied Bio Materials 3(2) (2020) 1197-1209. 4. A.D. Štiglic, F. Gürer, F. Lackner, D. Bračič, A. Winter, L. Gradišnik, D. Makuc, R. Kargl, I. Duarte, J. Plavec, U. Maver, M. Beaumont, K.S. Kleinschek, T. Mohan, Organic acid cross-linked 3D printed cel ulose nanocomposite bioscaffolds with control ed porosity, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, iScience 25(5) (2022) 104263. 32 PILLAR II: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND CONCEPTS Significant Fragmentation of Disposable Surgical Masks - An Enormous Source for Problematic Micro/Nanoplastics` Pol ution in the Environment Alen Erjavec, Olivija Plohl, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Julija Volmajer Valh University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, , Maribor, Slovenia The pandemic of the COVID-19 disease has brought many chalenges in the field of Personal Protective Equipment. The amount of disposable surgical masks (DSMs) consumed increased dramatically, and much of it was disposed of improperly, i.e., it entered the environment [1-4]. For this reason, it is crucial to analyse the waste and identify all the hazards it poses accurately. Therefore, in the present work, a DSM was disassembled, and gravimetric analysis of the representative DSM waste was performed, along with detailed Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy of the individual parts and an in-depth analysis of the waste. Due to the potential water contamination by micro/nanoplastics, and also by other harmful components of DSMs generated during the leaching and photodegradation process, the artificial weathering by Xenontest alpha and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) were used to analyse and evaluate the leaching of the micro/nanoplastics. The micro/nanoplastic particles were leached from all five components of the mask in an aqueous medium, as shown in Figure 1. When exposed to artificial weathering conditions, a DSM loses up to 30% of its mass in just 1 month, while micro/nanoplastic particles are formed by the process of photodegradation. Improperly treated DSMs pose a significant hazardous risk to the environment, due to the release of micro/nanoparticles and chloride ion content. Figure 2: Analysis of the negative environmental impact of waste DSMs References: 1. Akber Abbasi, S.; Khalil, A.B.; Arslan, M. Extensive use of face masks during COVID-19 pandemic: (micro-)plastic pol ution and potential health concerns in the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi J Biol Sci 2020, 27, 3181-3186, doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.09.054. 2. Akhbarizadeh, R.; Dobaradaran, S.; Nabipour, I.; Tangestani, M.; Abedi, D.; Javanfekr, F.; Jeddi, F.; Zendehboodi, A. Abandoned Covid-19 personal protective equipment along the Bushehr shores, the Persian Gulf: An emerging source of secondary microplastics in coastlines. Mar Pol ut Bul 2021, 168, 112386, doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112386. 3. Al ison, A.; Ambrose-Dempster, E.; Domenech, T.; Bawn, M.; Arredondo, M.; Chau, C.; Chandler, K.; Dobrijevic, D.; Hailes, H.; Lettieri, P.; et al. The environmental dangers of employing single-use face masks as part of a COVID-19 exit strategy; 2020. 4. Erjavec, A.; Plohl, O.; Zemljič, L.F.; Valh, J.V. Significant Fragmentation of Disposable Surgical Masks—Enormous Source for Problematic Micro/Nanoplastics Pol ution in the Environment. Sustainability 2022, 14, 12625. 33 PILLAR II: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND CONCEPTS The Morphological, Surface and Thermal Properties of Polylactic Acid Foils, Melamine-Etherified Resin, and Polyethylene Terephthalate Fabric During (Bio)Degradation in Soil Olivija Plohl,1 Alen Erjavec,1 Lidija Fras Zemljič,1 Alenka Vesel,3 Maja Čolnik,2 Mojca Škerget,2 Yee Van Fan,5 Lidija Čuček,2 Gregor Trimmel,4 Julija Volmajer Valh 1 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 2University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 3Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Surface Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 4 Graz University of Technology, Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Materials, Graz, Austria; 5Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic The (bio)degradation of plastics in soil is a complex process that depends on several factors, such as the type of plastic, environmental conditions, microbial activity, and the presence of other organic matter in the soil. Ageing in soil thus also influences the physicochemical properties of plastic materials. To understand the mechanisms and investigate the changes in plastic properties in soil due to decomposition followed by fragmentation, the gravimetric, morphological, surface and thermal properties of plastics were studied, some of them for the first time [1]. The study was performed for three different plastic materials, polyethylene terephthalate (PET-fib) and melamine etherified resin (MER-fib) in the form of nonwoven fabrics and polylactic acid (PLA) in the form of foils. The materials were exposed to soil for one, three and six months, and, only in the case of PLA foil, for a final four months. The overall concept of this study is presented schematically in Figure 1. The results show that remarkable changes were observed, especially for MER-fib and PLA after exposure to soil, which is related to the bio and chemical degradation processes. The biodegradation process was indicated with the soil microorganisms used in the study (lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic organisms, yeasts, actinomycetes, and enzymatically active fungi), while the chemical degradation showed that it may occur at the surface of the material, with changes in the elemental composition and chemical functionality. The microbial end products of the biodegradation of MER-fib are presumably NH3 and CO2, while, for PET-fib it is CO2 and for PLA it is CO2 and H2O, including several proposed conversion products in partial pathways. The study represents an important contribution to understanding the behaviour of the analysed (bio)plastics and the changes in their properties after exposure to natural systems for pol ution countermeasures and cleaner production. Figure 1: The overall concept of the study References: 1. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138554 Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Slovenian Research Agency (Grants Nos. P2-0118 and J7-3149) and the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic under Project No. 21–45726L. 34 PILLAR II: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND CONCEPTS Residues of Pharmaceuticals in Drinking and Wastewater Urška Rozman,1 Boštjan Križanec,2 David Haložan,1 Sonja Šostar Turk 1 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Maribor, Slovenia; 2National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Centre for Chemical Analysis of Food, Water and Other Environmental Samples, Maribor, Slovenia Pharmaceu�cals are synthe�c or natural chemicals in prescrip�on, over-the-counter and veterinary drugs. In recent decades, traces of pharmaceu�cal products have appeared in the water cycle, including surface water, wastewater, groundwater, and, to a lesser extent, in drinking water. The advances in analy�cal technology have been a key factor driving their increased detec�on. Even at low concentra�ons, their presence in water has raised concerns among the professional public regarding possible risks to human health. Our research aimed to analyse data on the consump�on of prescribed medicines in hospitals and outpa�ent clinics in Slovenia. We also took samples of drinking and wastewater, to determine the presence of selected pharmaceu�cals. We used descrip�ve sta�s�cs to analyse the data on the consump�on of medicines. The drinking and wastewater samples were taken at the Central Water Treatment Plant Ptuj following the ISO 5667 1 and ISO 5667 3 Standards. The samples were analysed according to the EPA Method 1694 Pharmaceu�cals and Personal Care Products in Water, Soil, Sediment, and Biosolids by HPLC/MS/MS, EPA 821 R 08 002 (December 2007), using the method of LC/MS/MS and LC/HRMS (orbitrap). We determined the presence of 68 pharmaceu�cals in the drinking water and 59 pharmaceu�cals in the wastewater. The analysis of the drug consump�on data showed that rosuvasta�n, which belongs to drugs for changing serum lipid levels, was the most frequently prescribed outpa�ent drug. In contrast, in hospitals, vitamin D and its analogues were prescribed most frequently. In the wastewater the following pharmaceu�cals were detected: Paracetamol (0.035 mg/L), Caffeine (0.043 mg/L), Naproxen (0.018 mg/L), 1-H benzotriazole (0.020 mg/L). In the drinking water samples, all 68 inves�gated pharmaceu�cals were below the limit of quan�fica�on (< LOQ). Although the current published risk assessments indicate that trace concentra�ons of pharmaceu�cals in drinking water pose a low risk to humans, there are gaps in knowledge regarding the evalua�on of risks associated with long-term exposure to low concentra�ons of pharmaceu�cals and combina�ons of different drug mixtures. Future research in these areas could be helpful to characterise the poten�al health risks of long-term, low-level exposure to pharmaceu�cal products beter, especial y for sensi�ve sub popula�ons. One of the key challenges in assessing exposure to pharmaceu�cal products through drinking and wastewater is assessing possible risks to human health. It is also crucial to study new possibili�es for wastewater treatment procedures, which we want to inves�gate in the con�nua�on of the research. References: 1. Beek, T., Weber, F. A., Bergmann, A., Grüttner, G., & Carius, A. (2016). Pharmaceuticals in the environment: Global occurrence and potential cooperative action under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) 2. Focazio, M. J., Kolpin, D. W., Barnes, K. K., Furlong, E. T., Meyer, M. T., Zaugg, S. D., Thurman, M. E. (2008). A national reconnaissance for pharmaceuticals and other organic wastewater contaminants in the United States I ) Untreated drinking water sources. Science of The Total Environment, 402 (2), 201 216. 3. Heberer, T. (2002). Occurrence, fate, and removal of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment: a review of recent research data. Toxicol Lett, 131 (12), 5 17. doi:10.1016/s0378 4274(02)00041 3 4. Jones, O. A., Lester, J. N., & Voulvoulis , N. (2005). Pharmaceuticals: a threat to drinking water? Trends Biotechnol, 23 (4), 167. 5. Mons, M., Hoogenboom , A., & Noji, T. (2003). Pharmaceuticals and drinking water supply in the Netherlands Kiwa Report No. BTO 2003.040 ). Retrieved from Nieuwegein 6. Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje 2022 a) Poraba ambulantno predpisanih zdravil v Sloveniji v letu 2021 Ljubljana, Ljubljana. 7. Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje 2022 b) Poraba zdravil v bolnišnicah v Sloveniji v letu 2021 Ljubljana, Ljubljana. 8. World Health Organization 2012 Pharmaceuticals in drinking water Geneva, Geneva. 35 PILLAR II: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND CONCEPTS The Influence of Magnetic-Based Nanoparticles on the Efficacy of a Carboxymethyl Dextran Coating as a Prospective Modifier for Electrochemical Sensors Olivija Plohl,1 Maša Vračevič,1 Sašo Gyergyek,2 Tjaša Kraševac Glaser,1 Matej Bračič,1 Alenka Vesel,3 Lidija Fras Zemljič 1 1University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia; 2 Jožef Stefan Institute, Department for Materials Synthesis, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 3 Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Surface Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia The escalation of antibiotic discharge into wastewater has emerged as a pressing contemporary public concern. Consequently, there is a critical need for electrochemical sensors, incorporating precisely and controllably designed nanomaterials to enhance the detection of antibiotics in contaminated environments. While numerous nanomaterials have been explored for their heightened sensitivity and unique functionalities, conventional modifications of the working electrode surface involve primarily materials like graphene, carbon nanotubes, metals and conductive polymers. Chal enges such as expensive synthesis routes, challenging removal of metal catalysts, hydrophobicity, agglomeration issues and induced defects have limited the promise of these nanomaterials in designing highly efficient modified electrochemical sensors [1,2]. In contrast, the utilisation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) presents a promising avenue, due to their control ed synthesis conditions and subsequent functionalisation with biopolymers. This approach offers advantages, such as a large surface area, good electron conductivity, and increased electroactive interaction sites. However, there are still considerable gaps in research in this area, particularly in the preparation of MNPs functionalised with polysaccharides with specific properties that are intended to serve as modifiers for electrochemical sensors. This study aimed to fabricate magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) functionalised with carboxymethyl dextran (CMD), a polysaccharide with specific functional target groups. The objective was to use this modified material as a potential electrochemical sensor modifier, ultimately enhancing the electrochemical sensing capabilities. Two distinct modification procedures were employed to evaluate the impact of magnetic-based nanoparticles on CMD coating efficiency. Firstly, MNPs were synthesised through hydrothermal synthesis using iron sulphate salts, fol owed by stabilisation with citric acid, and, further, coated with a roughly 2 nm thick porous silica (SiO2) layer, to augment the effective specific surface area through porosity. Subsequently, the MNPs were functionalised with aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APS) to introduce -NH2 groups, ensuring a positive charge under moderately acidic conditions. The biopolymer CMD was then attached electrostatically to the MNPs@SiO2@APS (termed MNPs@SiO2@APS-CMD). In the second procedure, the MNPs were silanised directly with APS, fol owed by CMD functionalisation (termed MNPs@APS-CMD). The resulting nanocomposites underwent characterisation through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to assess their morphology, size and the success of the silica coating. Infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential electro-kinetic measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed for further characterisation, along with thermogravimetric and magnetic property assessments. The results of two different MNPs` functionalisation approaches demonstrated the successful formation of all layers on the MNPs, with the final CMD layer exhibiting functional groups (i.e., hydroxyl and carboxyl groups) that can improve the adsorption of antibiotics, and, consequently, a better electrochemical response. This outcome holds promise for the potential application of CMD-functionalised MNPs as effective modifiers for electrochemical sensors targeting antibiotics. References: 1. R. Jain, N. Jadon and A. Pawaiya, TrAC - Trends Anal. Chem., 2017, 97, 363–373. 2. E. Asadian, M. Ghalkhani and S. Shahrokhian, Sensors Actuators, B Chem., 2019, 293, 183–209. Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Slovenian Research Agency (Grants Nos. P2-0118 and J1-4416). 36 NOTES: 37 NOTES: 38 NOTES: 39 NOTES: 40 NOTES: 41 NOTES: 42 BOOK OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DOI https://doi.org/ 10.18690/um.fs.3.2024 ACHIEVEMENTS OF PROGRAM GROUP ISBN 978-961-286-857-4 TEXTILE CHEMISTRY AND ADVANCED TEXTILE MATERIALS: P2-0118 1ST ANNUAL MEETING 2024 TATJANA KREŽE, LIDIJA FRAS ZEMLJIČ (EDS.) University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Maribor, Slovenia tatjana.kerze@um.si, lidija.fras@um.si The publication presents an overview of the research achievements Keywords: advanced textile of Program Group P2-0118 Textile chemistry and advanced textile materials, materials from 2021 to 2023 in the field of development of smart composites, nanotechnology, and multifunctional textiles and composite materials as well as biotechnology, surface functionalization and circular economy concepts. Members of the program group present modification circular economy their research innovations and progress achieved within the framework of the program group's activities. DOI https://doi.org/ ZBORNIK ZNANSTVENORAZISKOVALNIH 10.18690/um.fs.3.2024 ISBN DOSEŽKOV PROGRAMSKE SKUPINE TEKSTILNA 978-961-286-857-4 KEMIJA IN NAPREDNI TEKSTILNI MATERIALI: P2-0118 1. LETNO SREČANJE 2024 TATJANA KREŽE, LIDIJA FRAS ZEMLJIČ (ED.) Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za strojništvo, Maribor, Slovenija tatjana.kerze@um.si, lidija.fras@um.si Ključne besede: Publikacija predstavlja pregled raziskovalnih dosežkov Programske napredni tekstilni materiali, skupine P2-0118 Tekstilna kemija in napredni tekstilni materiali od kompoziti, nanotehnologija, leta 2021 do 2023 s področja razvoja pametnih in večfunkcionalnih biotehnologija, površinska tekstilij ter kompozitnih materialov kot tudi konceptov krožnega funkcionalizacija in gospodarstva. Člani programske skupine predstavljajo svoje modifikacija, krožno gospodarstvo raziskovalne novosti in napredek, dosežen v okviru delovanja programske skupine. Document Outline TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE UVODNA BESEDA Blank Page Blank Page