Response surface methodology applied to SPE for the determination of ibuprofen in various types of water samples

Over the last few years, there has been a growing concern about the presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment. The main objective of this study was to develop and validate an SPE method using surface response methodology for the determination of ibuprofen in different types of water samples. The influence of sample pH and sample volume on the ibuprofen recovery was studied. The effect of each studied independent variable is pronounced on the dependent variable (ibuprofen recovery). Good selectivity, extraction efficiency, and precision were achieved using 600 mL of sample volume with the pH adjusted to 2.2. LC with fluorescence detection was employed. The optimized method was applied to 20 water samples from the North and South of Portugal.

Processing of continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics

Towpregs based on different fibres and thermoplastic matrices were processed for highly demanding and more commercial applications by different composite processing technologies. In the technologies used, compression moulding and pultrusion, the final composite pr ocessing parameters were studied in order to obtain composites with adequate properties at industrial compatible production rates. The produced towpregs were tested to verify its polymer content and degree of impregnation. The obtained results have shown t hat the coating line enabled to produce, with efficiency and industrial scale speed rates, thermoplastic matrix towpregs that may be used to manufacture composites for advanced and larger volume commercial markets.