Organic contaminants from building materials negatively affect the health of people. This study presents an analytical method for the simultaneous identification and quantification of 9 phenolic compounds, i.e., phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol, 4-chloro-3- -methylphenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrahlorophenol and pentachlorophenol, in concrete by a gas chromatographic method with mass spectrometric detection (GC?MS). By comparing the MS spectra of the test compounds with MS spectra of analytical standards, reliable identification was achieved. The method could be applied in a given range (from 0.01 to 7.5 mg kg-1) with appropriate parameters of precision, accuracy, repeatability and linearity. The developed method could be used for quality control testing of phenols in concrete during the construction of new buildings, old residences and construction waste. The measurement uncertainty of the phenolic compounds in concrete was evaluated using two approaches, i.e., GUM recommendations and a Monte Carlo method. Disagreement of those methods was observed. The Monte Carlo method could be used in the evaluation of combined measurement uncertainty for the determination of phenolic compounds in concrete.

This study focuses on enhancing the efficiency of alkaline water electrolysis technology, a key process in green hydrogen production, by leveraging the synergy of magnetic fields and in situ electrode activation. Optimizing AWE efficiency is essential to meet increasing demands for sustainable energy solutions. In this research, nickel mesh electrodes were modified through the application of magnetic fields and the addition of hypo-hyper d-metal (cobalt complexes and molybdenum salt) to the electrolyte. These enhancements improve mass transfer, facilitate bubble detachment, and create a high-surface-area catalytic layer on the electrodes, all of which lead to improved hydrogen evolution rates. The integration of magnetic fields and in situ activation achieved over 35% energy savings, offering a cost-effective and scalable pathway for industrial green hydrogen production.

Electrodeposition of selected d-metals by in-situ electrodeposition as a method for improvement of electrocatalytic activity of conventional electrodes for alkaline hydrogen evolution has been attracting the attention of researchers for about two decades. The modification of metal electrodes by ionic activators as a combination of two (binary systems) or three (ternary systems) d-metal complexes added in electrolytic solution were represented in many studies. Better catalytic performances and higher energy efficiency compared to the common electrodes is provided by a number of affordable and inexpensive solutions resulting from this research. Based on the combinations of selected d-metal complexes added in-situ to the electrolyte during electrolysis, this work provides a systematic overview of the binary and ternary systems of ionic activators, that contribute to energy savings in alkaline electrolysers, with the particular attention paid to the discussion of similarities and universal principles. Theoretical background and the fundamental properties that lay beyond the observed improvements of electrode performance upon activation by ionic activators is also represented.