Prof. Dr. Mladen Franko

Biography

Mladen Franko, is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nova Gorica, in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, where he currently serves as the Vice-rector for education and Head of the Laboratory for Environmental and Life Sciences. His current research interests and expertise include: development and application of new analytical methods based on laser photothermal spectroscopy for detection of heavy metals and their species and organic compounds following chromatographic separation and FIA including microfluidic systems; development of new biosensors and laser detection techniques for determination of toxic and essential compounds in environmental and biological samples; and investigations of photochemical degradation of organic environmental pollutants and related toxicity.

Research Interest

Analytical chemistry: development and application of new analytical methods based on laser photothermal spectroscopy for detection of heavy metals and their species (Cr(III), Cr(VI), Fe(II), Fe(III), Fe-pyoverdine, nano-Ag, Ag+ ...) and organic compounds (pesticides, fatty acids, antioxidants, …) following chromatographic separation and flow injection analysis (FIA); development and application of bioanalytical methods and laser detection techniques in combination with FIA and microfluidic systems for determination of toxic (organophosphates, neonicotinoids, allergens, biogenic amines, cyanotoxins …) and essential compounds (carrotenoids, anthocyanins) in food and environmental samples, as well as biomarkers in medical diagnostics (NGAL, cholinesterases, viruses and pseudovirions);