In the study, a series of twelve ring-substituted 4-hydroxy-1H-quinolin-2-one derivatives were prepared. The procedures for synthesis of the compounds are presented. The compounds were analyzed using RP-HPLC to determine lipophilicity and tested for their photosynthesis-inhibiting activity using spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. All the synthesized compounds were also evaluated for antifungal activity using in vitro screening with eight fungal strains. For all the compounds, the relationships between the lipophilicity and the chemical structure of the studied compounds are discussed, as well as their structure-activity relationships (SAR).

A novel and selective sorbent for micro-solid phase extraction was synthesized by chemical functionalization of graphene oxide with glycine. The structure of this nanomaterial, referred to as GO-Gly, was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. GO-Gly was used for preconcentration of chromium, zinc, and copper ions from water samples prior to their determination by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). The proposed procedure is based on dispersion of micro amounts of GO-Gly in aqueous samples. After adsorption of metal ions on its surface, samples were filtered under vacuum and then membrane filters were directly submitted to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric measurements. In order to obtain optimal preconcentration conditions, some parameters affecting sorption process, such as pH, amount of GO-Gly, sorption times, and sample volume, were examined. Under optimal conditions the calibration curves were linear in a 1–150 ng mL⁻¹ range with recoveries higher than 97%. The obtained detection limits for Cr(III), Zn(II), and Cu(II) determinations are 0.15, 0.07, and 0.08 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. A relative standard deviation of the proposed procedure (at a 10 ng mL⁻¹ level for n = 10) is lower than 2.3%. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of Cr(III), Zn(II), and Cu(II) ions in water samples.

The sulfur-containing derivatives and their metabolites, regarded as ‘old devils of green’ chemistry, constitute a relevant class of air/water/soil contaminants in over-polluted world. In fact, some industrially-engineered solvents have become environmentally unfavorable. An attractive alternative to commonly used industrial liquids is sulfolane (C₄H₈SO₂), an anthropogenic medium. The main objective of this paper is the comprehensive review focusing mainly on the state-of-the-art aspects of the sulfolane synthesis, application of sulfolane as an extractive solvent due to its ‘unique’ physicochemical properties as well as the potential of sulfolane to cause equipment corrosion and subsequent spills. The potential risk for groundwater contamination, danger for human health and ways of sulfolane biodegradation were briefly reviewed as well. Interestingly, the analysis performed on data stored in the Reaxys database revealed an alternating tendency of waxing and waning interest in sulfolane during the space of the last fifty years. Moreover, the primary goal of the presented case study was to verify applicability of industrial, multi-electrochemical technique for reliable detection of corrosion in low conductive process fluids. Several aspects of corrosion measurement including the impact of process parameters (temperature) and impurities (oxygen and chlorides) on stainless steel corrosion in pure sulfolane were investigated briefly.