**About the Editors**

#### **Magdalena Kr ´ol**

Magdalena Krol is a professor at the Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramic at the AGH ´ University of Science and Technology (AGH-UST) in Poland. Her scientific activities are focused on the structural study of silicate and aluminosilicate materials using vibrational spectroscopy, application of natural sorbents for immobilization of dangerous ions, and obtainment of new composite materials. She pays attention to materials for the protection of the environment, with particular emphasis on minerals from the zeolite group. Magdalena Krol has co-authored more than ´ 70 publications in scientific journals, several book chapters, and many conference presentations.

#### **Paulina Florek**

Paulina Florek completed her M. Eng. in 2019 and is currently a PhD student of chemical sciences at the University of Science and Technology in Krakow. She conducts research with professor Włodzimierz Mozgawa and professor Magdalena Krol at the Department of Silicates Chemistry and ´ Macromolecular Compounds. Together with the team, she studies the properties of geopolymers and the immobilization of heavy metal ions in ceramic materials. Her research is mainly based on structural studies using research techniques such as FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
