Curriculum Vitae Personal information First name(s) / Surname(s) Melike Fırlak Address Telephone +90 (212) 604 0100 Internal:1838 Mobile: +90 (535) 952 3353 Fax +90 (212) 445 9255 E-mail melike.firlak@kemerburgaz.edu.tr, melike_firlak@marmara.kimyager.org Nationality Turkish Date of birth 09/04/1984 Work experience Dates Occupation or position held Name and address of employer Type of business or sector April,2012 to date Teaching Assistant İstanbul Kemerburgaz University, School of Pharmacy Education Education and training BS : Marmara University, Faculty of Sciences and Letters, Department of Chemistry, 2002-2006, İstanbul, Turkey. M.Sc : Institute of Sciences, Marmara University, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 2006-2008, İstanbul, Turkey. Ph. D.: Institute of Sciences, Marmara University, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 2008-2013, İstanbul, Turkey. Personal skills and competences Mother tongue(s) Other language(s) Turkish English, German Organisational skills and competences Head of social activity commission of Chemist Society 1
Memberships and employments Member of Chemist Society, Board of Directors and Accountant Major subjects of interest Hydrogels, Adsorption, Solid phase extraction, Heavy metals and precious metals, Environment 2
Projects Preparation and Characterization of P(Penta3MP4/PEG-DA/AAc) Based Thiol-Ene Hydrogels: Adsorption of Gold Ions, Funded by Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council. Involved as researcher. In this project, we used thiol-ene based hydrogels P(Penta3MP4/PEG-DA/AAc) for adsorption. Therefore the main objectives of the study are as follows; synthesize a novel thiolene based hydrogel to use in adsorption studies, characterize the novel thiol-ene based hydrogel, determine the optimum conditions of maximum adsorption capacity. In this work, we reported the preparation and characterization of thiol-ene based hydrogel and gold ion adsorption capacity of the hydrogel. In this project, all the products were characterized by FT-IR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques and swelling behaviour of hydrogels were investigated. The data obtained from the experiments were used to calculate adsorption isotherms. The selectivity of the thiol-ene based hydrogel towards the different metal ions were also tested. The usability of the hydrogels for preconcentration studies were also investigated. The reuseability and applicability of thiol-ene based hydrogel were investigated for reference standart materials and real samples. Screening of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in İstanbul and Their Removal by Advanced Oxidation Techniques, Funded by Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council. Involved as researcher. (Collobration with Environmental Engineering Department of Marmara University) In this study it is especially aimed to measure these compounds using solid phase extraction, derivatization and GC/MS. In this project, we monitored estrogenic hormones like estrone (E1), 17 β-estradiol (E2), 17 α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and estriol (E3); synthetic chemicals like nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates; pesticides like atrazine, metolachlor. EDCs were measured in the samples collected from the inlet and outlets of the municipal wastewater treatment plants in Istanbul. Additionally, EDCs were monitored in various treatment steps to evaluate the effects of conventional treatment units on EDC removal efficiencies. For this purpose, it was planned to collect samples from different treatment steps of Pasakoy Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is known that conventional treatment steps are not effective for the removal of all EDCs, furthermore some persistent EDCs like pesticides remain unchanged in the effluent. It is necessary to use chemical and advanced oxidation techniques for the removal of EDCs. For this purpose, within the scope of this project, oxidation techniques like O3, O3/H2O2, UV, UV/H2O2 were applied in pilot scale plants in Pasakoy Wastewater Treatment Plant and their EDC removal efficiencies were compared. In recent years, wastewater reuse gained a lot of attention due to the decreases in water resources. Since the reclaimed water is mostly considered to be used for irrigation purposes, the priority is given to the microbiological parameters. However, when it is considered that eventually the reclaimed water will also reach the water resources it is very important to assess it in terms of chemical micropollutants, too. In İstanbul wastewater reuse is planned, therefore removal of chemical micropollutants, among which the EDCs are most important, should be considered for the protection of clean water sources. Adsorption of Au(III) Ions by Using Ion Imprinted Hydrogels and Its Applications, Funded by Commission of Scientific Research Projects of Marmara University. Involved as researcher. In this project, we synthesized Au(III)-imprinted hydrogels and characterized by using FT-IR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques and swelling behaviour of hydrogels were also investigated. Effects of some parameters such as ph, time, initial metal ion concentration, were investigated and the optimum parameters for maximum adsorption capacity were determined. The selectivity of the Au(III)-imprinted hydrogel towards the different metal ions were also tested. The usability of the hydrogels for preconcentration studies were also investigated. The reuseability and applicability of hydrogel were investigated for reference standart materials and real samples. 3
Formulation Design and Evaluation of Polymeric Hydrogel for Topical Application, Funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Company. Involved as researcher. (Collobration with School of Pharmacy of Ege University) This project was awarded the third place by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Company. In this project, we synthesized hydrogels including pharmaceutical active substance and characterized. Then drug release studies were done. Adsorption of Heavy Metals by Using 2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid Based Hydrogels, Funded by Commission of Scientific Research Projects of Marmara University. Involved as researcher. In this project, were modified 2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid (AMPS) by using thiourea (TU), urea (U) and guanidine(g) synthesized and obtained three different monomers called AMPSTU, AMPSU and AMPSG. The monomers and hydrogels were characterized by different techniques such as FT-IR, SEM, TGA techniques. Then prepared three different hydrogel formulations and the Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption capacities of these hydrogels were investigated. Preparation of Thiol-Ene Based Adsorbens: Removal of Au(III) and Ag(I) Ions from Aqueous Solutions, Funded by Commission of Scientific Research Projects of Marmara University. Involved as researcher. In this project, we prepared a novel thiol-ene based hydrogel by using UV-curing technique and characterized the hydrogels. Optimum conditions for maximum adsorption capacity were investigated. The selectivity of hydrogels towards the different metal ions were also tested. The usability of the hydrogels for preconcentration studies were also investigated. The reuseability and applicability of hydrogel were also investigated for reference standart materials and real samples. 4
Publications Removal of Lead and Cadmium ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Sulphur and Oxygen Donor Ligand Bearing Hydrogels, Separation Science and Technology, M. Fırlak, E. Kök Yetimoğlu, M. V. Kahraman, S. Deniz, N. Kayaman Apohan, 45: 1, 2010, 116-128. Removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Guanidine Modified Hydrogels E. Kök Yetimoğlu, M. Fırlak, M. V. Kahraman, S. Deniz, Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 22:5,2011, 612-619. Uptake of Pb2+ Using A N-Vinyl Imidazole Based Uniform Porous Hydrogels, M. Fırlak, S. Çubuk, E. Kök Yetimoğlu, M. V. Kahraman, Separation Science And Technology, 46, 2011, 1984-1993. Preparation and Characterization of Photocured Thiol-ene Hydrogel: Adsorption of Au(III) Ions From Aqueous Solutions, M. Fırlak, E. Kök Yetimoğlu, M. V. Kahraman, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Article in press, DOI: 10.1002/app.36887 Removal and Recovery of Au(III) ions from Aqueous Solutions by Thiol-Ene Based Hydrogel, M. Fırlak, E. Kök Yetimoğlu, M. V. Kahraman, Polymer Bulletine, under review. Removal of Ag(I) from Aqueous Solutions by Thiol-Ene Based Hydrogel and Its Application to Radiograhic Films, M. Fırlak, M. V. Kahraman, E. Kök Yetimoğlu, Water, Air and Soil Pollution, under review. Adsorption of Ag (I) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Photocured Thiol-Ene Hydrogel, M. Fırlak, M. V. Kahraman, E. Kök Yetimoğlu, B. Zeytuncu, Separation Science and Technology, under review. Removal of Bismuth, Indium and Gallium Ions from Aqueous Solutions by photocrosslinked hydrogel, M. Fırlak, Ö. Ercan, M. V. Kahraman, Journal of Water, Air and Soil Pollution, under review. Endocrine disrupting compound treatment performances of three wastewater treatment plants in Istanbul employing different treatment techniques, Z. S. Can, M. Fırlak, A. Kerç, S. Evcimen, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, under review. Development of a Novel Polymer Based Optical Sensor for the Analysis of Glucose and Application to Real Samples, P. Demirbilek, S. Çubuk, E. Kök Yetimoğlu, M. V. Kahraman, M. Fırlak, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, under review. Selected Proceedings Ketoprofen Loaded Buccal Hydrogel Formulations: Preparation and In Vitro Evaluation, M.Özyazıcı, M. Fırlak, S. Rençber, S. Y. Karavana, S. Tuncay Tanrıverdi, M. V. Kahraman, 16th International Pharmaceutical Technology Symposium, 10-12 September 2012 Antalya, Turkey. Evaluation of Bioadhesive Buccal Hydrogel Formulations of Ketoprofen, M. Özyazıcı, M. Fırlak, S. Rençber, S. Y. Karavana, S. Tuncay Tanrıverdi, M. V. Kahraman, ISOPS-10, 10th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical Sciences, 26-29 June 2012, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. 5
Preparation and Characterization of P(Penta3MP4/PEG-DA/AAc) Thiol-Ene Based Hydrogels and Their Application on Adsorption of Gold Ions, Melike Fırlak, M. Vezir Kahraman, Ece Kök Yetimoğlu, One-Day Workshop Recent Advances in Synthetic and Biological Gels, 21 September 2011, İstanbul Technical University, İstanbul, Turkey. Screenıng Of Endocrıne Dısruptıng Compounds In Paşaköy Munıcıpal Wastewater Treatment Plant And Theır Removal By Ozonatıon, Melike FIRLAK, Zehra Semra CAN, Serkan EVCİMEN, Aslıhan KERÇ, 5th Black Sea Conference on Analytical Chemistry, 23-26 September 2009, Ordu-Turkey. Pb 2+ Imprinted UV Cured Hydrogels, Melike Fırlak, Ece Kök Yetimoğlu, M. Vezir Kahraman, Sabahattin Deniz. 8th Chemical Physics Congress, İstanbul Technical University, 24-25 April 2008 İstanbul-Turkey. Molecular Imprıntıng Technology In Analytical Chemistry, Melike Fırlak, Ece Kök Yetimoğlu, M.Vezir Kahraman, 8th Chemical Physics Congress, 8th Chemical Physics Congress, İstanbul Technical University, 24-25 April 2008 İstanbul-Turkey. 6