In addition to the naturopathic medicines based on the antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, or antioxidant properties of plant extracts that have been capitalized upon through the pharmaceutical industry, the increasing interest of the food industry in this area requires potent new materials capable of supporting this market. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro amino acid contents and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts from sixteen plants. Our results show high accumulated amino acid contents, mainly of proline, glutamic, and aspartic acid. The most consistent values of essential amino acids were isolated from T. officinale, U. dioica, C. majus, A. annua, and M. spicata. The results of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay indicate that R. officinalis was the most potent antioxidant, followed by four other extracts (in decreasing order): T. serpyllum, C. monogyna, S. officinalis, and M. koenigii. The network and principal component analyses found four natural groupings between samples based on DPPH free radical scavenging activity content. Each plant extracts’ antioxidant action was discussed based on similar results found in the literature, and a lower capacity was observed for most species. An overall ranking of the analyzed plant species can be accomplished due to the range of experimental methods. The literature review revealed that these natural antioxidants represent the best side-effect-free alternatives to synthetic additives, especially in the food processing industry.

On the evening of 5 April 2014, at a building located on 122 Tomis Boulevard, Constanta Municipality, Constanta County, Romania, a restaurant with its kitchen on the ground floor and a lounge bar located on the first floor experienced a fire, one that resulted in four victims and total building destruction. An important step in the technical-scientific expertise was the investigation of the incident based on the elaboration of two fire scenarios using the Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS) model, which observed the fire propagation, the generation of toxic gases (carbon monoxide that disoriented and intoxicated the victims, three of whom could not save themselves) depending on the location of the plausible ignition sources, and explained the destructive effects. This paper focuses on the steps required to identify the critical conditions that led to the occurrence of the unwanted event. Based on the calculations, hypothesis, and FDS simulations, the mechanism of the event occurrence was considered to be strongly related to the onsite observations and criminal file issued by the state authorities.

Methane is one of the most common gaseous fuels that also exist in nature as the main part of the natural gas, the flammable part of biogas or as part of the reaction products from biomass pyrolysis. In this respect, the biogas and biomass installations are always subjected to explosion hazards due to methane. Simple methods for evaluating the explosion hazards are of great importance, at least in the preliminary stage. The paper describes such a method based on an elementary analysis of the cubic law of pressure rise during the early stages of flame propagation in a symmetrical cylindrical vessel of small volume (0.17 L). The pressure–time curves for lean, stoichiometric and rich methane–air mixtures were recorded and analyzed. From the early stages of pressure–time history, when the pressure increase is equal to or less than the initial pressure, normal burning velocities were evaluated and discussed. Qualitative experiments were performed in the presence of a radioactive source of ⁶⁰Co in order to highlight its influence over the explosivity parameters, such as minimum ignition energy, maximum rate of pressure rise, maximum explosion pressure and normal burning velocity. The results are in agreement with the literature data.

In the present paper, the use of programmable microprocessors to develop a computerized stand for the preparation of a mixture of flammable/toxic/explosive gases in order to obtain mixtures at concentrations in explosive range is presented. The operating principle of the stand is based on the mixing of two volumetric flows, controlled with the help of microprocessors, where gases are stored and circulated at atmospheric pressure through cylindrical injectors, driven by stepper motors so that the gas circuit does not require valves. The exit of the stand is a homogenization chamber, with agitator and sensor to confirm the desired concentration of the mixture. This automated stand eliminates mechanical, electric or pneumatic valves from the gas circuits, avoiding elements with high mechanical resistance suitable for high pressures/depressions, removing the possibility of the return of the gas flow, without sensitivity to sudden pressures variations.

First responders employ field-portable gas chromatograph - mass spectrometers (GC-MS) to chemically evaluate compounds that may be drugs, explosives, poisonous industrial chemicals or materials, chemical warfare agents, or other dangerous substances. They can measure a wide range of gases, volatile and semi-volatile liquids, and some solids' vapor emissions. Field-portable instrumentation is easily deployable to identify hazardous substances in-situ during an incident response. Using this strategy, real-time targeted risk mitigation and management decisions may be taken to put stronger safety precautions in place and help resolve incidents. The portable GC-MS was able to provide preliminary analytical data on the volatile organic chemicals present in air samples taken from both active and extinguished fires, according to controlled field testing.

Particles in suspension come mainly from pollutant emissions generated by industry, traffic, home heating, etc. Due to these particles, various diseases can occur, such as lung cancer, asthma, cardiovascular diseases. An important problem is represented by the particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 micrometers, which pass through the nose and throat and enter the alveoli of the lungs causing inflammation and intoxication. This paper aimed to establish the chemical composition of residual powders in a production hall from the automotive industry, to identify the source of release. For this, the infrared spectrometry (FTIR) method, the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method, and the x-ray spectrometry (XRF) method were used. Two samples of dust from different locations of the production hall were analyzed, as well as a substance used in the process, to determine whether the dust came from its use. A series of safety data sheets for substances used in the technological process was also analyzed. The results obtained from the qualitative and quantitative determinations were evaluated considering the chemical composition of all substances involved, leading to the identification of the residual dust release source.