Chemistry Matters: From a Putative Peptide to Effective Medicines for Diabetes and Obesity (Organic chemistry, biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry)

• Svetlana Mojsov (Rockefeller University, New York, USA)

Room: Biljana Hall In the 1960s and 1970s, considerable interest was directed toward understanding the role of peptides in glucose metabolism. Particular attention was given to incretins, intestinally secreted peptides that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β-cells following food intake, thereby regulating glucose homeostasis. In parallel, research efforts focused on glucagon, a peptide secreted by pancreatic α-cells that increases blood glucose levels. The presentation describes the research leading to the discovery of the biologically active sequence of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), identified as the 31-amino-acid peptide GLP-1(7–37), and demonstrates that this peptide functions as an incretin with therapeutic potential for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These findings are considered in the context of the broader body of work by other investigators that contributed to the understanding of GLP-1 biology.

Decoding Complex Mixtures: How LC-HRMS is Transforming the Detection of Emerging Contaminants (Analytical and environmental chemistry)

• Mira Petrovic (Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA))

Room: Biljana Hall The increasing complexity of environmental contamination, characterized by mixtures of hundreds to thousands of known and unknown compounds, poses significant challenges for effective monitoring and risk assessment. In this context, advances in liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) have transformed the field of environmental analysis by enabling comprehensive and highly sensitive detection of a wide range of contaminants and molecular signatures in complex environmental matrices. This talk will highlight the opportunities offered by HRMS for the identification of emerging contaminants, with a particular focus on suspect screening approaches. These strategies enable the systematic investigation of large numbers of compounds beyond conventional target analysis, substantially expanding the chemical space that can be explored in environmental samples. In addition, non-target HRMS approaches for the comprehensive molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) will be presented, illustrating how these methods can reveal previously uncharacterized fractions of natural and anthropogenic organic mixtures in aquatic systems. At the same time, the presentation will critically discuss the current challenges and limitations of LC-HRMS-based workflows. These include issues related to data complexity and dimensionality, compound annotation uncertainty, limited availability and quality of spectral libraries, false positives and negatives in suspect screening, and the lack of harmonized and reproducible data processing pipelines. Particular attention will also be given to the specific challenges associated with DOM analysis, including its intrinsic heterogeneity and the difficulty of assigning structural information to thousands of unresolved features. The importance of quality assurance, transparent reporting, and methodological standardization will also be addressed. Analytical workflows for suspect and non-target screening will be presented, illustrating case studies involving different environmental matrices, including domestic wastewater, lake water, and urban runoff, to demonstrate the applicability of these approaches to real-world complex mixtures. Overall, this presentation will showcase how LC-HRMS-based methodologies are advancing environmental monitoring towards more holistic and informative assessments of chemical contamination and organic matter complexity, while also highlighting the critical methodological challenges that must be addressed to fully realize their potential.

Life electric: from extracellular electron transfer to waste-to-value technologies (Physical, structural chemistry, spectroscopy and electrochemistry)

• Uwe Schröder

Room: Biljana Hall Life is fundamentally based on electrochemistry: in respiration, electrons from the oxidation of substrates are transferred to terminal electron acceptors, generating electrochemical gradients that drive ATP synthesis. Electrogenic microorganisms extend this principle beyond the cell membrane by transferring metabolic electrons to extracellular minerals or solid electrodes. This extracellular electron transfer forms the basis of microbial electrochemistry and enables the direct coupling of microbial metabolism to electrochemical systems. In this talk, I will introduce the basic principles of microbial electrochemical technologies, with a focus on microbial fuel cells. Starting from microbial respiration and electron transfer in organisms such as Geobacter sulfurreducens, I will show how electroactive biofilms can be cultivated on electrodes and studied using electrochemical and in operando techniques. Building on these fundamentals, the talk will discuss how microbial electrochemical technologies can contribute to sustainable water, energy, and material cycles1. Wastewater is not merely a stream to be treated, but a large resource containing chemical energy, nutrients, and reusable water. Microbial fuel cells can convert part of this energy into electricity, while related systems may produce hydrogen or methane and support nutrient recovery, sensing, and decentralized sanitation. Finally, I will critically address the challenges that still limit practical implementation, including scale-up, internal resistance, electrode materials, complex wastewater composition, long-term stability, and economic viability. Rather than replacing established treatment processes, microbial electrochemical technologies may find their future in targeted integration into circular, resource-oriented wastewater treatment schemes.

One Framework, Many Insights: A Unified Vision Of Voltammetry (Physical, structural chemistry, spectroscopy and electrochemistry)

• Rubin Gulaboski (Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Stip, Macedonia)

Room: Biljana Hall Electrochemistry is far more than corrosion and batteries, it is embedded in entire life on Earth and in our environment.1 Breathing involves electrochemical oxygen reduction, while cellular energy production via Adenosine Triphosphate arises from electron-transfer reactions in the Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain. While the Membrane Potential governs cellular communication, redox enzymes drive biochemical transformations, and ion transport sustains homeostasis. Drug action is also rooted in electrochemical interactions, highlighting electrochemistry as a universal language of charge transfer and energy conversion. Voltammetry is recognized as the most prominent electrochemical technique and it is often seen as indispensable tool in modern laboratories, enabling direct probing of electron-transfer processes through current–potential measurements.2 It has provided fundamental mechanistic insights into various chemical and biochemical systems, allowing kinetic, thermodynamic, and quantitative analysis, with its importance reflected in several Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognitions. Since the charge transfer is involved in vast majority of chemical and biological processes,3 voltammetry serves as a unifying platform across chemistry, pharmacy, biomedicine, physics, and environmental sciences. While voltammetry is easily achievable experimental technique, interpretation of voltammetric results often requires rigorous theoretical models. This talk presents voltammetry as a unified framework addressing phenomena related to charge and mass transfer, and many other aspects such as adsorption, coupled chemical reactions, drug–drug interactions, nano-electrochemistry, and energy systems such as biofuel cells. By integrating experiments with theory, voltammetry emerges as one of the most versatile techniques, offering a unique perspective on electrochemical phenomena.

Industrial Symbiosis through Secondary Gypsum Resources for Circular Construction (Inorganic chemistry and technology, inorganic materials and metallurgy)

• Diana Bajare (Riga Technical University)

Room: Biljana Hall Industrial Symbiosis through Secondary Gypsum Resources for Circular Construction Diana Bajare1, Girts Bumanis1 e-mail: diana.bajare@rtu.lv 1 Riga Technical University, Faculty of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Sustainable Building Materials and Engineering Gypsum-containing waste is a valuable secondary resource that supports circular construction and reduces landfill disposal. Three circular gypsum streams were assessed: synthetic gypsum (SG), phosphogypsum (PG), and recycled plasterboard gypsum (RPG). SG exhibits a considerably finer particle-size distribution than commercial gypsum (58–78% vs. ~4% below 63 μm). While this enables binder production at relatively low calcination temperatures (105–120 °C), excessive fineness may increase water demand and limit direct utilization in conventional gypsum products.1 PG consists predominantly of calcium sulfate dihydrate (D50 ≈ 74 μm; commercial gypsum ≈ 140 μm) and contains residual phosphorus compounds (P₂O₅ ≈ 0.6 wt.%), which may affect hydration kinetics and prolong setting times.² RPG exhibits the highest compositional variability due to differences in plasterboard composition and additives. Following calcination at 160–180 °C, RPG can be converted into a secondary gypsum binder, while high-temperature treatment (~700–800 °C) may provide a route to more uniform anhydrite binders.1 The suitability of SG, PG, and RPG as substitutes for natural gypsum was evaluated in commercial gypsum products with replacement levels ranging from 0 to 30 wt.%. Secondary gypsum resources were also incorporated into gypsum–cement–pozzolan (GCP) systems, achieving compressive strengths of up to 50 MPa after 28 days.2 These materials demonstrated potential for additive manufacturing applications, partly due to their favourable pore structure, as revealed by micro-computed tomography.2 The findings highlight the potential of secondary gypsum resources to contribute to circular construction by reducing reliance on virgin raw materials and promoting the valorization of industrial and construction waste streams.3,4 Keywords: secondary gypsum, synthetic gypsum, phosphogypsum, recycled plasterboard gypsum, industrial symbiosis, circular economy, sustainable construction. References: 1. G. Bumanis, et.al, Processing of gypsum construction and demolition waste and properties of secondary gypsum binder, Recycling, 7 (2022) 30. 2. G. Sahmenko, et.al, Gypsum–cement–pozzolan composites for 3D printing: Properties and life cycle assessment, J. Compos. Sci., 8 (2024) 212. 3. G. Bumanis, et.al, Circular economy in practice: A literature review and case study of phosphogypsum use in cement, Recycling, 9 (2024) 63. 4. K. Weimann, et.al, Environmental evaluation of gypsum plasterboard recycling, Minerals, 11 (2021) 101.

Watching Nanomaterials Transform on Atomic Scale: In-Situ Environmental TEM of Redox and Phase Dynamics (Physical, structural chemistry, spectroscopy and electrochemistry)

• Vlado Lazarov (University of York)

Room: Biljana Hall In-situ environmental scanning transmission electron microscopy (e-STEM) provides a powerful platform for atomic-scale characterisation of materials under realistic and dynamic conditions. Such approaches are increasingly critical for advancing functional materials in energy applications, including nuclear and fusion systems, photovoltaics, batteries, and heterogeneous catalysis. At York, we have developed open-cell environmental TEM/STEM methodologies, recently implemented on a double aberration-corrected JEOL NeoARM cold field-emission gun instrument (ARTEMIS). This system builds on our earlier environmental TEM developments and enables a broad range of in-situ experiments, combining variable accelerating voltage, controlled gas and vapour environments, 4D-STEM diffraction, and atomic-resolution EDX and EELS spectroscopy. In this work, we highlight the capabilities of the ARTEMIS platform through three representative case studies. First, we examine redox processes in Ni/NiO and Fe nanoparticles under H₂, H₂O vapour, and O₂ environments, achieving single-atom sensitivity using HAADF-STEM under controlled temperature and gas conditions. Second, we investigate structural phase transformations in TiO₂ nanoparticles, including the formation of Magnéli phases, driven by electron-beam irradiation and influenced by environmental and thermal parameters. Third, we demonstrate in-situ, electron-beam-directed three-dimensional atomic restructuring of NiO nanoflowers via precursor-mediated β-hydroxide and nitrate–hydroxide intermediates. These studies illustrate the unique capability of in-situ e-STEM to directly resolve dynamic processes at the atomic scale, providing insights into reaction pathways and structural evolution that are essential for the rational design of next-generation functional nanomaterials.

From Natural Polymers to Functional Adsorbents for Water and Wastewater Treatment (Polymers and polymer materials)

• Monika Wawrzkiewicz (Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland)

Room: Biljana Hall Increasing degradation of the global aquatic environment has intensified the search for new, low-cost adsorbents with reduced toxicity, particularly those derived from natural and renewable sources. In response to these challenges, growing attention has been directed toward sustainable and biodegradable materials such as lignin, cellulose, and starch. These biopolymers, due to their abundance, low environmental impact, and favorable physicochemical properties, represent promising alternatives to conventional synthetic polymers, especially those derived from petrochemical sources. Their use aligns with the principles of green chemistry and circular economy, which aim to minimize waste generation and promote the use of renewable resources. Numerous studies have demonstrated that polymers of natural origin can effectively replace synthetic counterparts while maintaining high adsorption efficiency. Moreover, the incorporation of such biopolymers into advanced material systems allows for the design of functional adsorbents with tunable properties, improved selectivity, and enhanced environmental compatibility. This study presents a comprehensive approach to the development of eco-friendly adsorbents based on natural and renewable biopolymers, including lignin, cellulose, and starch, incorporated into functional polymer matrices. These materials were synthesized using monomers such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), vinyl acetate (VA), and triethoxyvinyl silane (TEVSi), enabling the formation of crosslinked, porous microspheres with tailored surface properties. The obtained materials were thoroughly characterized and demonstrated effective removal of toxic dyes, such as C.I. Basic Yellow 2, C.I. Basic Blue 3, C.I. Basic Red 46, and C.I. Acid Violet 1. The adsorption behavior was found to be influenced by factors including lignin content, the presence of surfactants and electrolyte, confirming the strong potential of these materials as sustainable and cost-effective adsorbents for wastewater treatment applications.

Influence of Moisture on the Molecular Structures of Pyrazole-Based Cadmium Halide Complexes (Physical, structural chemistry, spectroscopy and electrochemistry)

• Berta Barta Holló (University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences)

Room: Biljana Hall Due to the aromatic nature of the pyrazole ring, pyrazole derivatives are potentially applicable as luminescent materials, sensors, and functional materials. The flexible coordination behavior of Cd(II), combined with the tunable electronic properties of pyrazole-based ligands, enables the formation of different structures with attractive photophysical characteristics. In this work, a series of cadmium halide complexes (CdX₂, X = Cl, Br, I) with ethyl 5-amino-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate was synthesized under different reaction conditions and characterized by structural, spectroscopic, and thermal methods. Structural investigations revealed that the presence of water significantly affects the coordination environment of the Cd(II) centers and the resulting crystal structures, leading to the formation of different compounds from the same precursors. These moisture-induced differences demonstrate the sensitivity of the complexes to environmental conditions and highlight the role of water in the formation of the coordination compounds. Except for CdI2, synthesis with other halides yielded the coordination polymers, promising for light-harvesting applications. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between synthesis conditions, solid-state structure, and material properties, which is essential for the rational design of coordination compounds with tailored functionalities and potential applications in optical and advanced functional materials. Acknowledgement: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (Grants No. 451-03-33/2026-03/ 200125 & 451-03-34/2026-03/ 200125).‬‬‬ Keywords: pyrazole derivative, cadmium complex, moisture, structure.

CONTROLLING REACTIVITY IN MECHANOCHEMISTRY: FROM ADVANCED MOFS TO SCALABLE MATERIALS (Inorganic chemistry and technology, inorganic materials and metallurgy)

• Bahar Karadeniz (Rudjer Boskovic Institute)

Room: Biljana Hall Mechanochemistry has emerged as a sustainable and versatile platform for the synthesis of functional materials, offering solvent-free and energy-efficient alternatives to conventional synthetic approaches.1 Beyond its green metrics, mechanochemistry provides unique opportunities to control chemical reactivity by tuning parameters such as temperature, mechanical input, and reaction environment. Here we highlight recent advances in controlling mechanochemical reactivity for the synthesis of advanced materials, including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs),2 MOF-based composites,3 and scalable inorganic–organic systems.4 Recent studies demonstrate how controlled mechanochemical methods can modulate reaction pathways, rates, and selectivity, often enabling access to products unattainable by conventional solution-based synthesis.2,3 Mechanochemical approaches have enabled precise control of composition and phase purity in porous materials, facilitating the incorporation of guest species and the formation of functional composites with tailored properties. Finally, the scalability of these processes will be discussed by examining the translation of laboratory-scale milling to continuous production methods, demonstrating improved energy efficiency, throughput, and prospects for industrial implementation.

Tracking PFAS in Water: From Monitoring to Risk Prioritisation

• Igor Antić (University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

Room: Biljana Hall Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the most challenging contaminants of emerging concern due to their persistence, structural diversity, and complex toxicological profiles. Their widespread use has led to global occurrence in aquatic environments, while differences in physicochemical properties across the PFAS class complicate both monitoring and environmental interpretation. This lecture presents a stepwise framework for tracking PFAS in surface waters, beginning with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based suspect screening analysis to expand PFAS coverage beyond conventional target lists and capture known, emerging, and previously overlooked PFAS. Screening results are then linked to hazard- and exposure-based prioritisation, integrating QSAR-derived indicators of persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity with occurrence-related metrics such as detection frequency and concentration magnitude. This prioritisation step supports the identification of the most relevant PFAS for follow-up analysis. A subset of prioritised compounds was then selected for targeted (semi)quantification based on both prioritisation outcomes and the availability of analytical standards, enabling experimental confirmation and refinement of the assessment. The approach is illustrated through recent investigations¹ of urban-impacted river systems in Serbia, representing one of the first comprehensive PFAS assessments in this part of the Danube River Basin. Initial HRMS screening revealed additional PFAS beyond the conventional target list, including ultra-short-chain compounds i.e. trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which has recently gained particular regulatory relevance in the EU and was often detected at higher levels than legacy PFAS. Overall, the lecture demonstrates how a workflow progressing from broad screening to prioritisation and targeted confirmation can strengthen PFAS monitoring and provide a more robust basis for environmental risk assessment and regulatory decision-making.

Closing the Water Loop in Mineral Processing: Iimpatcos of Recycled-Process-Water on (Cu-Mo) Sulfide Mineral Flotation (Inorganic chemistry and technology, inorganic materials and metallurgy)

• Maria Sinche-Gonzalez (University of Oulu)

Room: Biljana Hall Flotation remains the primary technique for extracting valuable sulphide minerals, but its reliance on water presents a massive challenge amid rising global water scarcity and environmental restrictions. While recycling process water offers a sustainable path forward, accumulated species like metal ions, sulphates1, and natural organic materials2 fundamentally alter water properties and threaten flotation performance3–5. This presentation delivers a comprehensive evaluation of how recycled and low-quality water influences the floatability of sulphide minerals (copper and molybdenum). From the lab-scale to full-scale operation, the underlying mechanisms using a dual approach were investigated: laboratory single-mineral flotation of chalcopyrite and molybdenite, and complex ore testing using process water sourced from real beneficiation plant in Peru. Utilizing surface-sensitive analytical techniques such as zeta potential and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the physicochemical characterization was mapped driving the mineral-water-bubble interactions. The findings establish a predictive workflow for identifying how specific water-borne species impact positively or negatively metallurgical performance. Keywords: process water, mineral flotation, recycled water, sulphides References: (1) Sinche-Gonzalez, M.; Fornasiero, D. Understanding the Effect of Sulphate in Mining-Process Water on Sulphide Flotation. Miner. Eng. 2021, 165, 106865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.106865. (2) Sinche-Gonzalez, M.; Fornasiero, D.; Zanin, M. Flotation of Chalcopyrite and Molybdenite in the Presence of Organics in Water. Minerals 2016, 6 (4). https://doi.org/10.3390/min6040105. (3) Schumann, R. , L. G. and D. R. Process Water Chemistry Influences in Base Metal Sulphides Flotation, Report to Newcrest Mining Ltd. ; Adelaide, 2002. (4) Espinosa-Gomez, R.; Finch, J. A.; Laplante, A. R. Effects of the Type of Water on the Selective Flotation of Pyrochlore from Niobec. Colloids and Surfaces 1987, 26, 333–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-6622(87)80125-7. (5) Rao, S. R.; Espinosa-Gomez, R.; Finch, J. A.; Biss, R. Effects of Water Chemistry on the Flotation of Pyrochlore and Silicate Minerals. Miner. Eng. 1988, 1 (3), 189–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/0892-6875(88)90041-6.

Perovskites: From Synthesis to Functional Properties (Physical, structural chemistry, spectroscopy and electrochemistry)

• SLOBOTKA ALEKSOVSKA (University Ss Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Institute of Chemistry)

Room: Biljana Hall Over the last few decades, perovskite-type compounds (ABX₃) have attracted considerable scientific interest owing to their remarkable structural versatility and wide range of functional properties. Despite the apparent simplicity of the ideal perovskite crystal structure, this class of materials exhibits enormous compositional and structural flexibility, giving rise to a variety of intriguing physical and chemical properties. Consequently, they find applications in many fields, including catalysis, electrocatalysis, electronics, energy conversion and storage, sensing, and information technologies. Depending on their composition and structure, they may exhibit ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity, high-temperature superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance, and many other technologically relevant properties. More recently, hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites have emerged as a new generation of semiconducting materials with outstanding performance in photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. The first part of this lecture will provide a general overview of the perovskite structure, major classes of perovskite materials, commonly used synthesis methods, and selected functional properties. The second part will focus on our research on complex inorganic perovskites synthesized by the solution combustion method using different fuels. Their crystal structures were refined by the Rietveld method using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data, while various crystallographic parameters related to structural stability and distortion were calculated and analyzed. Structural, compositional, morphological, electrical, and electrocatalytic properties were systematically investigated using complementary characterization techniques. Particular attention was devoted to understanding how structural and microstructural factors influence the electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic performance of the synthesized materials, especially in reactions relevant to sustainable energy technologies, such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The final part of the lecture will present selected results from our studies on bulk materials and thin films of hybrid organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites containing different organic cations. Their composition, crystal structure, morphology, optical properties, and electrochemical stability were investigated. Optical band-gap energies were determined from UV–Vis absorption spectra of the thin films using Tauc analysis, and the potential of these materials for photovoltaic applications was evaluated. Keywords: perovskites, solution combustion synthesis, crystal structure, electrocatalysis, hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites, photovoltaic applications

Industrial Waste as a Secondary Raw Material and Its Application in Accordance with the Circular Economy (Inorganic chemistry and technology, inorganic materials and metallurgy)

• Biljana Angjusheva (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University "Ss Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje)

Room: Biljana Hall The transition toward a circular economy requires the transformation of industrial waste streams into valuable secondary raw materials, reducing dependence on primary resources while minimizing environmental impacts associated with waste disposal. Among industrial by-products, coal fly ash represents one of the most significant residues generated from thermal power production and has considerable potential for resource recovery and sustainable material production. This study aims to evaluate the potential of Macedonian coal fly ash as a secondary raw material through quantitative assessment and comprehensive chemical characterization, with particular emphasis on its suitability for the recovery of valuable elements and its further application within circular economy strategies. The estimated volume of fly ash generated from the investigated thermal power plant reaches 106.8 ± 5.1 million m³, indicating a significant secondary resource base. Chemical characterization revealed that the investigated fly ash samples are predominantly silicate-based materials, containing approximately 50 wt.% SiO₂, 19–20 wt.% Al₂O₃, and 15–16 wt.% Fe₂O₃, together with other alkali and alkaline earth metal oxides. The assessment of potentially valuable and critical elements demonstrated the presence of significant concentrations of selected metals, including manganese (1100–5038 mg kg⁻¹), arsenic (31–191 mg kg⁻¹), gallium (30–35 mg kg⁻¹), as well as rare earth elements such as cerium (147–153 mg kg⁻¹) and lanthanum (60–78.1 mg kg⁻¹). These findings indicate that coal fly ash may represent a promising alternative source of valuable elements and contribute to the diversification of critical raw material supply chains. Furthermore, after the selective extraction of rare earth elements and other valuable metals, the remaining aluminosilicate-rich fraction retains significant potential for the synthesis of geopolymer materials, enabling a sequential valorization pathway and maximizing resource utilization. These findings provide relevant information for researchers, industrial stakeholders, and potential investors interested in developing sustainable recovery and utilization technologies.