In the frame of the REP-LECOTOX Project (Contract No. INCO-CT-2006-043559-REP-LECOTOX), in the  period of August-September 2009 I have completed two-week training at the Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany, under the supervision of Dr. Werner Brack.

     The main purpose of the training was to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge concerning application of chemical-analytical methods of the effect-directed identification of the xenobiotics in complex environmental samples. This was achieved through the involvement in the ongoing research activities at the UFZ, practical work concerning investigation of contaminants in environmental samples, and discussions with the researchers about their topics of investigation and methods they use to complete the research tasks.

     My practical work was oriented on sediment samples from highly polluted locality in Serbia. Samples used for testing were previously collected from contaminated wastewater channel in industrial zone of Pančevo, Serbia. During the previous M&T visit to UFZ by fellow researcher, the samples were prepared and fractionated according to appropriate procedures. My task was to  perform more detailed fractionation of two fractions of sediments which were previously obtained by my colleagues. The aim of this part of experiment was better understanding of xenobiotics structures present in fractions. Automated on-line fractionation procedure on reverse phase HPLC was conduced, which enables fractionation of contaminants into 10-13 sub-fractions, each containing different type of pollutants based on their structure, physical and chemical properties. 

     This visit helped in strengthening the existing cooperation between LECOTOX group and UFZ, thus  providing a good basis for future research projects. Also, it was of grate benefit for my professional experience.

     Acknowledgement: I would like to thank Dr. Werner Brack and other members of the Department for Effect- Directed Analysis for the shown hospitality and help during my work in Leipzig and Prof. Radmila Kovačević for inviting me to participate in REP-LECOTOX project.