New approaches for acceleration of cloud point extraction of Rh, Pd and Pt by microwave and ultrasound irradiation have been investigated. 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole and Triton X-100 were used as ligand and non-ionic surfactant, respectively. Microwave irradiation substantially increased the procedure efficiency. In contrast no significant effect was observed when a micellar solution was treated with ultrasound energy. The acceleration of complex formation reactions by reducing agents (KI and SnCl₂) has also been studied. The use of SnCl₂ was a prerequisite for quantitative extraction of Rh. Since the extraction kinetics of platinum depends on its oxidation state and presence of Pd, the addition of SnCl₂ equalized the platinum extraction behavior. For the first time the whole cloud point procedure was successively accomplished in a microwave system. 10 min of irradiation were sufficient for gravimetrical phase separation and quantitative extraction of platinum group metals. As a result the procedure time was shortened by a factor of 9 in comparison to conventional hot plate cloud point extraction. The surfactant-rich phase was analyzed after dilution with 1 M HCl by continuous nebulization to ICP-MS. Quantitative recoveries and good plasma tolerance were reported. Detection limits of 1 ng.l⁻¹ (Rh), 5 ng.l⁻¹ (Pd), and 6 ng.l⁻¹ (Pt) were achieved regarding a preconcentration factor of 8. The microwave-assisted cloud point extraction has been successfully applied for simultaneous determination of trace amounts of platinum group metals in pharmaceutical products (Tritace, Vivace, Laprilen and Enalapril).

For the first time, transplants with moss-bags and mussels together were applied to study the water quality in standing water bodies. The tested species: Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. and Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) were collected from unpolluted sites and analyzed to obtain background levels. Then, the moss and mussels were left in cages for a period of 30 days in three reservoirs where both are not present naturally. Two of the reservoirs suffer from old industrial contamination and one is affected by untreated wastes. Twenty-four compounds were studied, among them trace elements Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and organic priority substances: six polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The trace element accumulation was significant after the exposition period in all studied stations. PBDEs and SCCPs were also accumulated up to two times more in the moss tissues. PBDEs in the mussels exceeded the environmental quality standard (EQS). The applied combined transplants, and especially the moss-bags, revealed severe contamination with heavy metals not detected by the water samples. The moss and the mussel followed a different model of trace element and PBDEs accumulation. The SCCPs levels were alarmingly high in all plant samples. The study confirmed PBDEs and SCCPs as bioaccumulative compounds and suggested that an EQS for SCCPs in biota needs to be established.