Possibilities of application of transmembrane enzymes as a biological component of a biosensor for water quality control and detection of toxical substances were performed. Synaptic plasma membranes (SPMs) were adsorbed on nitrocellulose filters. The adsorption of SPMs was followed by determination of the transmembrane enzyme Na,K-ATPase. The optimal conditions for SPM adsorption on nitrocellulose filters were determined: 25 microgram per nitrocellulose filter disc during 1 hour of incubation, on - 20 deg C. The ATPase activity of adsorbed SPM showed, that almost 30% of enzymic activity was detected on nitrocellulose filters in mentioned conditions. This results showed that adsorption of SPM on solid support enhancing enzymatic stability and enable its industrial and analytical application.

Sawdusts of hardwood - oak and black locust, modified with formaldehyde and/or alkali solution, were used as adsorbents zinc ions from model water. The influence of concentration of alkali solution for modification, on zinc ions adsorption efficiency were investigated. Batch adsorption tests were conducted on ambient temperature. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm equations were determinated for some adsorbents investigated. Good improvement of adsorption characteristics is achieved by modification of sawdust with alkali. Modification of sawdusts only with formaldehyde results with good prevention of leaching of organic substances as well as poor increase of adsorption efficiency.

Over the last several years, the investigations of the natural zeolites application in the sorption processes have been intensified. Purification of waste waters in order to remove lead, cadmium, copper and other heavy metals, is one significant example of such application. In this paper, the investigations results on characteristics of the natural and chemically activated zeolites from the region of Vranje (Serbia, Yugoslavia), are presented. The experiments with zeolites were performed after determination of their physico-chemical characteristics. Adsorptive characteristics were investigated under laboratory conditions, in a liquid medium, depending on granulation and concentration of the heavy metals. As the obtained results show, these natural materials can be used to remove heavy metals from the waste waters.

In the 21 century drinking water of acceptable quality should be available to every person. Numerous investigations are on-going worldwide around the world, to develop innovative and cost attractive approaches for production of high quality drinking water. To allow application of new treatment technology in practice, pilot testing under field conditions are required. Groundwater used for drinking water productions in the Subotica municipalities (Serbia) contains elevated concentrations of arsenic, iron and ammonia, and therefore provided a good basis for continuation of research of UNESCO-IHE, the Netherlands Institute for Water Education, that has been developing innovative water treatment technologies specifically in the field of groundwater treatment and specifically arsenic removal. Objective of this project presented in this paper were to test under field conditions IHE ADART, the innovative adsorptive arsenic removal technology. The pilot project has demonstrated that in addition to conventional approach based on coagulation and break-point chlorination, there is and alternative treatment approach based on biological ammonia removal and adsorptive removal of arsenic that could be economically and ecologically attractive.

A batch adsorption test was conducted to examine the adsorption characteristics of cadmium and copper on bed sediments of the Sava river and its relation to the concentration of dissolved metals. The adsorption of ions were studied using equilibrium technique as a function of adsorbate concentration. The adsorption data, over the whole range of concentrations used, follow the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Cu2+ and Cd2+ adsorption isotherms were measured on some sediment samples obtained from 3 different sites.

Coagulation and flocculation can be efficiency applied in drinkling water treatment, in order to remove natural organic matter (NOM). However, in the experiments presented in this paper, the water used is very rich in NOM, and required investigations of additional processes. In order to increase the efficiency of coagulation and flocculation processes in removing NOM from groundwater, the following processes were investigated: adsorption on powdered activated carbon (5-30 mg PAC/l) and preozonation with applied ozone doses of 1.1-6.3 mg O3/l. The parameters used to evaluated the changes in NOM content during the experiment were: KMnO4 consumption, UV absorbance at 254 nm, pH and turbidity.

In this study, the possibility of application of agricultural lignocellulosic waste materials as adsorbents of different heavy metals ions from water was investigated. As adsorbents, wastes of widely cultivated plant cultures in our country were used. They were wheat straw, cornstalk, corn cob and soybean straw. These materials were showed as good adsorbents in most cases. But, leaching of organic matters from them during adsorption was observed. It was unfavourable. Because of that, adsorbents washed and dried. After that leaching of organic matters was significantly decreased, but also adsorption efficiencies slightly decreased, too.