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This study is focused on the determination of some important antibiotics from different classes in waste water samples using solid phase extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography with two detectors, diode array and mass spectrometer in positive ionisation mode. The investigated antibiotics include three penicillins (amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G), two cephalosporins (ceftazidime, ceftriaxone), and two tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline). The studied antibiotics were extracted from waste water samples using hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced cartridges. The extraction of antibiotics from water matrices was tested at several pH values. The best recoveries were obtained at pH 3 and 7 respectively. Depending on the nature of antibiotic, the limits of detection and quantification were obtained in the range of 0.07–0.92 µg mL−1 and 0.21–2.77 µg mL−1 respectively. Influent and effluent waste water samples were collected from a Waste Water Treatment Plant from Romania in order to detect the studied antibiotics. The antibiotics detected in the influent waste water samples were ceftriaxone (334 µg L−1), tetracycline (146 µg L−1) and doxycycline (110 µg L−1). In effluent waste water samples no target antibiotics were detected.

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Although a vast number of Aloe species are known, only the Aloe vera and Aloe arborescens species are currently used by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, the current study aims to complete the existent literature data with new information on the phytochemical composition of some lesser-known Aloe species, with the main focus on carotenoids and fatty acids. Among the analyzed species, Aloe aculeata and Aloe ferox had the highest content in carotenoids, the major pigments being lutein and β-carotene (according to HPLC analysis). The fatty acid profile of each Aloe species was analysed by GC–MS. Linolenic and linoleic acids were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids found in higher percent in Aloe ferox, Aloe spectabilis and Aloe marlothii. Instead, Aloe aculeata proved to have a distinct fatty acid profile, rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. Species such as Aloe arborescens and Aloe marlothii proved to have the highest antioxidant potential according to data of DPPH, ORAC, HPS assays, even if the richest one in vitamin C was found to be Aloe spectabilis. Though the scientific research is mainly focused on the common species Aloe barbadensis, the current data suggests that other Aloe species could receive more attention from industry part, being great sources of bioactive compounds.

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The textile industry uses many raw materials (natural and synthetic dyes and fibers) and different dyeing techniques that can be considered important pollutants with a negative impact on the environment (toxic working conditions, discharged wastewater, and contamination). Although synthetic dyes are intensively used, offer a wide range of colors and hues and properties of adhesion, longevity, and resistance to sunshine and chemical processes, and are cost-effective, they have begun to be restricted by many textile producers because they are nonbiodegradable and have toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects that generate some imbalances in plant, animal, and human life. Natural dyes of plant and animal origin exhibit very good tolerance to washing, rubbing, and light and are biodegradable and nontoxic; these properties have led to a call for the renewed use of these dyes. Modern analytical techniques (solid-phase extraction, spectrophotometry, HPLC, HPTLC, capillary electrophoresis) with different spectroscopy (UV-Vis, diode-array detection, pulsed amperometric detection) and/or MS/tandem mass spectrometry detectors have an important role in the textile industry in obtaining essential information about dyeing techniques, material origin, historical trade routes of ancient textiles, and environmental pollution. For this purpose, isolation, separation, and quantification methods of natural and synthetic textile dyes from various matrices (ancient and modern fabrics, water, biota, etc.) are presented.