KONCENTRACIJE TEŠKIH METALA TIJEKOM PRERADE VOSKA

master's thesis

• Title (english): THE CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS DURING WAX PROCESSING
• Author: Lidija Klobučar
• Mentor: Ivana Tlak Gajger (mentor)
• Mentor: Nina Bilandžić (mentor)
• Committee member: Andreja Prevendar Crnić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nina Bilandžić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivana Tlak Gajger (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Krešimir Matanović (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-05-08, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Animal Production and Biotechnology

Abstract

Vosak, proizvod voštanih žlijezda pčela radilica u dobi 12 do 18 dana, je građevni materijal saća. U saće pčele radilice pohranjuju hranu (nektar, med, pelud), a matica polaže jaja iz kojih se razvija leglo. Specifična kemijska struktura voska omogućuje taloženje štetnih spojeva iz okoliša, uključujući i teške metale. S obzirom da svaki član pčelinje zajednice, leglo te svi pčelinji proizvodi dolaze u dodir sa saćem, štetni spojevi koji se u njemu nalaze mogu ugroziti funkcioniranje i zdravlje cijele zajednice, a posredno, putem pčelinjih proizvoda, i zdravlje ljudi. Starenjem saća smanjuje se njegova kvaliteta pa ga je potrebno prerađivati. Tijekom prerade rastaljeni vosak nakon homogenizacije je potrebno podvrgnuti sterilizaciji kako bi se spriječilo širenje uzročnika opasnih bolesti.
Tijekom procesa prerade voska metodom produljenog hlađenja i sedimentacije uzeti su uzorci voska s različitih razina (slojeva) iz spremnika. U uzrocima su određene koncentracije arsena, kadmija, olova i žive te su uspoređene s preporučenim koncentracijama prema europskoj legislativi. Od svih metala i slojeva voska samo je koncentracija olova veća od dopuštene koncentracije 5 mg/kg, i to u S4, a iznosi 13,39 mg/kg. S obzirom da se taj sloj voska prije faze sljedeće sedimentacije i hlađenja odbacuje, ne postoji opasnost od pojave nedopuštene koncentracije olova u prerađenom vosku/novim satnim osnovama. Stoga ovu metodu možemo smatrati učinkovitom i poželjnom za smanjivanje koncentracije teških metala u prerađenom vosku.

Abstract (english)

Wax, a product of the wax glands of 12 to 18-days-old honey bee workers, is a building block of the comb. The workers store food (nectar, honey, pollen) in the combs, and the queen bee stores the eggs from which the bees’ nest is developed. The specific chemical structure of wax enables the deposition of harmful compounds from the environment, including heavy metals. Given that every member of the honeybee colony, the nest and all the honeybee products come into contact with the wax, the harmful compounds contained in it can threaten the functioning and health of the entire colony, and indirectly, through the honeybee products, the health of human consumers. As the wax (honeycomb) ages, its quality decreases, so it necessity to be processed in order to be purified. Moreover, it must be sterilized to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases.
During the wax processing, using the method of extended cooling and sedimentation, the wax samples were taken from different levels (layers) of the tank. We determined the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in the samples using inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mercury levels were tested on a mercury analyzer and compared the results with the concentrations allowed according to European legislation. Of all the metals and wax layers, only the concentration of lead exceeded the permissible concentration of 5 mg/kg in S4, and peaked at 13.39 mg/kg. Given that this wax layer is discarded before the new sedimentation and cooling phases, there is no danger of an impermissible concentration of lead in the processed wax or in the new comb foundations. Therefore, we can consider this method effective and desirable for reducing the concentration of heavy metals in processed wax.

• Keywords: vosak; prerada voska; teški metali
• Keywords (english): wax; wax processing; heavy metals
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:565719
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-05-22 11:42:38