Info for Authors

1. General information

The Bulletin of the Chemists and Technologists of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Glasnik hemičara i tehnologa Bosne i Hercegovine) is a semiannual international, peer-reviewed journal publishing original research and scholarly contributions from chemistry, chemical technology, pharmacy, environmental sciences, materials science and related disciplines. Manuscripts must be written in clear English and should be accessible to readers beyond a narrowly specialized field. Either British or American English may be used, but usage must be consistent throughout the manuscript. The title should be concise, informative and preferably not exceed 18 words. Unexplained abbreviations, unnecessary formulae and generic expressions such as “A study of” or “Investigation of” should be avoided. Submission of a manuscript implies that the work is original, has not been published previously in substantially the same form, is not under consideration elsewhere, and has been approved by all authors.

2. Categories of contributions

Category

Recommended length

Description

Original Scientific Paper

approximately 10 manuscript pages

Reports original, unpublished research with sufficient methodological detail to support scientific evaluation and reproducibility.

Short Communication

approximately 5 manuscript pages

Reports concise and timely original findings, including preliminary results of clear scientific significance.

Note

approximately 3 manuscript pages

Presents short but complete original research, a new analytical or laboratory technique, or a technically important observation.

Systematic Review and/or Meta-analysis

length appropriate to scope

Uses a reproducible search strategy, explicit eligibility criteria, transparent study selection and appropriate critical appraisal. PRISMA reporting and prospective protocol registration are expected where applicable.

Narrative Review

approximately 30 manuscript pages

Provides a critical and balanced synthesis of a defined research area. Narrative reviews may be invited or submitted after consultation with the Editor.

Book or Website Review

approximately 2 manuscript pages

Evaluates a relevant scholarly book, database, digital resource or scientific website.

Extended Abstract

approximately 2 manuscript pages

Summarizes invited lectures or contributions presented at international scientific meetings, subject to editorial approval.

3. Submission and editorial assessment

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system. Submission by e-mail should be used only when specifically requested by the Editorial Office. Each manuscript undergoes an initial editorial assessment for scope, originality, scientific quality, ethical compliance, technical completeness and conformity with these instructions. Manuscripts may be rejected without external review when they are outside the journal’s scope, lack sufficient novelty or technical merit, are methodologically unsound, ethically non-compliant or inadequately prepared. Suitable manuscripts are evaluated through double-anonymized peer review, normally by at least two independent reviewers. The final publication decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor. The Journal aims to complete the initial technical and editorial screening within seven working days and to communicate the first decision as efficiently as possible. Review times may vary according to manuscript complexity and reviewer availability; stated timelines are editorial targets rather than guarantees.

4. Cover letter

A cover letter must accompany each submission and should contain:

  • the full title of the manuscript;
  • the type of contribution;
  • the full names and affiliations of all authors;
  • the name, postal address, telephone number and e-mail address of the corresponding author;
  • a statement confirming that the manuscript is original, has not been published previously in substantially the same form and is not under consideration elsewhere;
  • a statement confirming that all authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission;
  • disclosure of related manuscripts, preprints, conference papers or other material that substantially overlaps with the submission;
  • declarations of funding, competing interests and relevant ethical approvals;
  • the names, affiliations and institutional e-mail addresses of up to three potential reviewers.

Authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina are encouraged to suggest at least one qualified reviewer from outside Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reviewer suggestions are advisory only, and the editors are not obliged to use them.

5. Manuscript preparation

Manuscripts must be prepared in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx). Authors are strongly encouraged to use the journal manuscript template.

  • A4 page size with 2.5 cm margins;
  • Times New Roman, 12 pt;
  • 5 line spacing;
  • continuous page numbering;
  • standard mathematical and scientific symbols;
  • editable text, tables and equations rather than embedded screenshots;
  • consistent use of either British or American English.

Greek letters should be inserted as Unicode characters or with an appropriate scientific font. Mathematical expressions should be prepared using the Word Equation Editor. IUPAC recommendations should be followed for chemical nomenclature. Relevant recommendations of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology should be applied where appropriate. SI units and other internationally accepted units must be used. A space should separate a numerical value from the unit, for example 25 °C, 10 mL and 5.0 mg L−1. Quantity symbols should be italicized, whereas unit symbols should remain upright. Decimal points, not decimal commas, must be used in the English text, tables and figures. Latin expressions and biological species names should be italicized, for example in vitro, et al., Escherichia coli and Artemisia annua L.

6. Structure of the manuscript

The manuscript should normally contain the following components in this order:

  1. Title page
  2. Abstract and keywords
  3. Graphical abstract, if provided
  4. Main text
  5. Acknowledgements
  6. Author contributions
  7. Funding statement
  8. Competing interests statement
  9. Data availability statement
  10. References
  11. Tables
  12. Figure and scheme captions
  13. Figures and schemes
  14. Supplementary material, where applicable

6.1. Title page

The title page must include:

  • a concise and informative title without unexplained abbreviations;
  • full names of all authors;
  • complete institutional affiliations, including department, institution, city and country;
  • clear identification of the corresponding author;
  • the corresponding author’s e-mail address and, where useful, telephone number;
  • four to six precise, discipline-specific keywords that do not merely repeat words from the title; for biomedical manuscripts, recognized MeSH terms are recommended where applicable;
  • an ORCID iD for the corresponding author, which is mandatory, and ORCID iDs for all co-authors, which are strongly recommended.

6.2. Abstract

The abstract should be a single paragraph of 150–250 words and should briefly state the objective, essential methods, principal quantitative results and main conclusions. It must be understandable without reference to the full text and should not normally contain citations or undefined abbreviations. Authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina should also submit a title, abstract and keywords in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. For authors outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Editorial Board may arrange translation of the English abstract.

6.3. Graphical abstract

A graphical abstract is optional but encouraged. It should communicate the central message of the paper in a clear visual form. The recommended maximum size is 11 cm wide by 5 cm high. It should include the manuscript title, author names and a concise graphic, but should avoid excessive text and fine detail. After acceptance, authors may be invited to provide a short Plain Language Summary of approximately 100–150 words for website promotion and communication with a broader audience. This summary does not form part of the peer-reviewed scientific article unless explicitly published as such.

6.4. Main text

Original scientific papers should normally use the following structure:

  • Introduction – presents the scientific background, relevant literature, research gap and objective or hypothesis;
  • Experimental or Materials and Methods – describes materials, reagents, instruments, sampling, procedures, quality control, validation and statistical analysis in sufficient detail for evaluation and reproduction;
  • Results – presents findings clearly and without unnecessary repetition between text, tables and figures;
  • Discussion – interprets the findings, compares them with relevant literature, discusses limitations and explains scientific significance;
  • Conclusion – briefly states the principal conclusions and their implications.

Results and Discussion may be combined where this improves clarity. Review articles and other contribution types may use a structure appropriate to their content.

6.5. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses must follow the PRISMA statement or another appropriate reporting guideline. Authors should provide a clearly formulated question, complete search strategy, databases and dates searched, eligibility criteria, study-selection process, methods of data extraction, assessment of risk of bias and, where applicable, statistical synthesis and heterogeneity assessment. Prospective registration of the review protocol in PROSPERO, OSF Registries or another suitable public registry is strongly recommended and should be reported in the manuscript. Any deviation from the registered protocol must be explained. A completed PRISMA checklist and flow diagram should be submitted as supplementary material.

6.6. Acknowledgements and declarations

Acknowledgements should identify persons or organizations that contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria. Authors should obtain permission from individuals named in this section. A contributor statement is required and should preferably follow the CRediT taxonomy. All manuscripts must contain separate statements on funding, competing interests and data availability. Relevant ethics approval and informed consent information must be included in the Methods section and repeated in a declaration where required.

7. Reporting guidelines

Authors must use the reporting guideline appropriate to the study design and may be asked to submit the completed checklist during editorial assessment. Relevant guidelines include CONSORT for randomized controlled trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, ARRIVE for animal experiments, CARE for case reports, STARD for diagnostic-accuracy studies, TRIPOD for prediction-model studies and CHEERS for health-economic evaluations. For molecular and analytical studies, authors should follow relevant discipline-specific recommendations, such as MIQE for quantitative PCR and recognized validation guidance for analytical procedures. The EQUATOR Network may be consulted to identify the appropriate reporting standard.

8. Statistical reporting

Statistical methods must be appropriate to the study design and described in enough detail to permit evaluation and reproduction. The manuscript should report the statistical software and version, sample-size basis, number of independent experiments, distinction between biological and technical replicates, inclusion and exclusion criteria, handling of missing data and outliers, statistical tests and their assumptions, significance threshold, exact p-values where appropriate, confidence intervals and effect sizes. Authors should avoid relying solely on statistical significance and should distinguish exploratory from confirmatory analyses. Any data transformation, multiple-comparison adjustment, subgroup analysis or deviation from a prespecified analysis must be described transparently.

9. Clinical studies and trial registration

Prospective registration in a publicly accessible registry is required for randomized clinical trials and strongly recommended for other interventional studies. The registry name, registration number and registration date must appear in the abstract and Methods section. Clinical studies must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki, applicable legislation and institutional requirements. Ethics approval, informed consent and consent for publication of identifiable information must be reported where applicable.

10. Original images, gels, blots and digital integrity

For manuscripts containing electrophoretic gels, Western blots or similar image-based results, authors must retain and, upon request, provide the original, uncropped and unadjusted image files. Cropping must not remove relevant bands, lanes, controls or background information. Any splicing, grouping or rearrangement of lanes or images must be clearly indicated in the figure and explained in the caption. Adjustments to brightness, contrast or colour must be applied to the entire image and must not alter interpretation. Duplicating an image to represent different samples or experiments, selectively enhancing or removing features, or presenting AI-generated material as experimental evidence is prohibited.

11. Tables

Tables must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in the order in which they are cited. Each table must have a concise, self-explanatory title.

  • Prepare tables using the Word table function;
  • do not use vertical lines;
  • do not use spaces or manual line breaks to align columns or rows;
  • place units in column headings, not repeatedly in table cells;
  • explain all abbreviations in table footnotes;
  • use superscript lowercase letters for footnotes;
  • ensure that every table is cited in the text.

Tables should be editable and must not be submitted as images.

12. Figures and schemes

Figures and schemes must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals and cited in the text. Each figure or scheme must have a concise caption that explains all symbols, abbreviations and experimental conditions necessary for interpretation.

Preferred formats are TIFF or EPS. JPEG is acceptable for colour or greyscale photographs. Editable vector formats may be requested during production.

  • minimum effective resolution: 300 dpi for photographs and colour or greyscale images;
  • submit figures at approximately final publication size: 8 cm for one-column width or 17 cm for two-column width;
  • avoid unnecessary colours, decorative effects, excessive detail and small lettering;
  • identify composite panels clearly as (a), (b), (c), etc.;
  • retain original unprocessed image files and provide them if requested.

Colour reproduction must be discussed with the Editor when it has technical or production implications.

13. Equations

Mathematical and chemical equations should be editable and placed within the text. Important displayed equations must be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in parentheses aligned at the right margin. Complex equations should be prepared using the Word Equation Editor.

14. Analytical and spectral data

Analytical and spectral data should be reported consistently and with sufficient experimental context. The following formats are recommended:

  • Melting point: mp 163–165 °C (lit. 166 °C); mp 180 °C dec.
  • Boiling point: bp 98 °C.
  • Specific rotation: [α]D23 −222 (c 0.35, MeOH).
  • 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ 0.85 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.41 (d, J = 8.2 Hz, 1H, ArH).
  • 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ 12.0, 14.4, 23.7, 40.6.
  • IR (KBr) νmax 3236, 2957, 1666, 1528 cm−1.
  • MS m/z (relative intensity): 305 ([M + H]+, 100), 128 (25).
  • HRMS m/z: [M + H]+ calcd for C21H38N4O6 442.2791; found 442.2782.
  • UV–Vis (CH3OH) λmax (log ε) 220 (3.10), 425 nm (3.26).
  • Elemental analysis: Anal. calcd for C17H24N2O3: C 67.08, H 7.95, N 9.20%; found: C 66.82, H 7.83, N 9.16%.

Detailed spectral assignments should be supported by appropriate experimental evidence. Papers reporting enzymes or catalytic proteins should include identity, source, purity, assay conditions, activity and other information necessary to evaluate reproducibility.

15. References and Harvard author–date citation system

The journal uses the Harvard author–date system. Every source cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and every item in the reference list must be cited in the text.

In-text citations must follow these rules:

Number of authors

Narrative citation

Parenthetical citation

One author

Warren (2010)

(Warren, 2010)

Two authors

Corey and Kurti (2010)

(Corey and Kurti, 2010)

Three or more authors

Anderson et al. (1990)

(Anderson et al., 1990)

Several sources

—

(Anderson et al., 1990; Warren, 2010)

Same author, same year

Warren (2010a, 2010b)

(Warren, 2010a, 2010b)

For works with two authors, both surnames must always be given. For works with three or more authors, cite only the first author followed by et al. from the first citation onward. The earlier practice of listing the first three authors at the first citation is not used. Direct quotations should include a page number where available, for example (Warren, 2010, p. 6970). The reference list must be arranged alphabetically by the surname of the first author. All authors should be listed in the reference entry; et al. should not replace author names in the reference list. References by the same author should be ordered chronologically. Works from the same year should be distinguished by a, b, c, etc. Authors are strongly encouraged to include the DOI in URL form whenever available.

15.1. Reference examples

Journal article: Warren, J.J., Tronic, T.A. and Mayer, J.M. (2010) ‘Thermochemistry of proton-coupled electron transfer reagents and its implications’, Chemical Reviews, 110(12), pp. 6961–7001. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr100085k

Book: Corey, E.J. and Kurti, L. (2010) Enantioselective Chemical Synthesis: Methods, Logic and Practice. 1st edn. Dallas: Direct Book Publishing.

Chapter in an edited book: Moody, J.R. and Beck, C.M. II (1997) ‘Sample preparation in analytical chemistry’, in Settle, F.A. (ed.) Handbook of Instrumental Techniques for Analytical Chemistry. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, pp. 55–72.

Conference proceeding: Seliskar, C.J., Heineman, W.R., Shi, Y., Slaterbeck, A.F., Aryal, S., Ridgway, T.H. and Nevin, J.H. (1997) ‘New spectroelectrochemical sensor’, in Proceedings of the 37th Conference of Analytical Chemistry in Energy and Technology, Gatlinburg, TN, USA, pp. 8–11.

Patent: Healey, P.J., Wright, S.M. and Viltro, L.J. (2004) Method and apparatus for the selection of oral care chemistry. US Patent Application US 2004/0018475 A1.

Standard: International Organization for Standardization (1992) ISO 4790:1992 Glass-to-glass sealings—Determination of stresses. Geneva: ISO.

Website: Chemical Abstracts Service (2026) CAS. Available at: https://www.cas.org/ (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

Dataset: Author, A.A. (Year) Title of dataset [Dataset]. Repository. Available at: DOI or persistent URL.

Article published online ahead of print: Author, A.A. and Author, B.B. (Year) ‘Article title’, Journal Title. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/xxxxx

16. Citation limits and source quality

References should be relevant, current and proportionate to the manuscript. The former general limit of 30 references should be treated as guidance rather than an absolute rule: concise research articles should avoid unnecessary citations, whereas review articles and methodologically complex papers may require more references. Authors must not cite sources they have not consulted, use retracted articles as valid evidence without clearly identifying their status, or add irrelevant citations to influence citation metrics.

17. Research ethics, data and reporting

Research involving human participants, human biological material, identifiable personal data or animals must comply with applicable law and internationally accepted ethical principles. The approving body, approval number where available, and consent procedure must be stated. Authors must retain the data and documentation supporting their findings. The Editor may request raw numerical data, original spectra, chromatograms, instrument output, unprocessed images, statistical code, protocols, ethical approvals or validation records. A Data Availability Statement is required for research articles. Authors are encouraged to deposit data and code in a trusted repository where ethical, legal and contractual conditions permit.

18. Use of generative artificial intelligence

Generative AI and AI-assisted tools cannot be listed as authors. Human authors remain fully responsible for all content. Use of AI beyond basic spelling, grammar and formatting assistance must be disclosed, including the tool and its purpose. AI-generated references must be independently verified. Authors must not use generative AI to fabricate or misrepresent primary research data, spectra, chromatograms, images or other scientific evidence. Confidential, personal or protected material must not be uploaded to systems that cannot guarantee appropriate protection.

19. Supplementary material

Supplementary files may include datasets, extended methods, additional tables, figures, spectra, videos, code or other material that supports the article but is not essential to the main narrative. Supplementary material must be cited in the manuscript, clearly labelled and submitted in stable, accessible file formats. It is subject to editorial and peer review.

19.1. Revision deadlines

Unless otherwise stated in the decision letter, authors should submit technical corrections within 7 days, minor revisions within 14 days, major revisions within 30–45 days and additional revisions within 14–30 days. Authors who require an extension should contact the Editorial Office before the deadline.

20. Proofs

The corresponding author will receive page proofs in PDF format. Proofs should be checked carefully and returned within seven days unless another deadline is specified. Only corrections of typographical, factual or production errors are normally permitted at proof stage. Substantive changes require editorial approval. Failure to return proofs by the deadline may be interpreted as approval of the proof version.

21. Copyright, open access and permissions

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce third-party material. Copyright and licensing conditions are stated in the journal’s Open Access, Copyright and Licensing Policy. The recommended journal model is immediate open access, author-retained copyright and publication under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0), subject to formal confirmation by the Publisher.

22. Final submission checklist

  • The manuscript is within the journal’s aims and scope.
  • The manuscript is original and not under consideration elsewhere.
  • All authors have approved the submission.
  • The title page contains complete author and affiliation information.
  • The anonymized manuscript does not reveal author identity.
  • The abstract is 150–250 words and up to six keywords are provided.
  • All tables and figures are numbered, cited and supplied in the required format.
  • All references follow the Harvard author–date style.
  • One author is cited as Author (year); two authors as Author and Author (year); three or more as Author et al. (year) from the first citation.
  • Every in-text citation appears in the reference list and vice versa.
  • Funding, competing interests, author contributions, data availability and ethics statements are included.
  • Permissions for third-party material have been obtained.
  • The manuscript has been checked for language, spelling, grammar and numerical consistency.
  • All supplementary files are labelled and cited.
  • Systematic reviews include a PRISMA checklist, flow diagram and protocol registration where applicable.
  • Original uncropped gel, blot and image files are available for editorial inspection.
  • Clinical trials are prospectively registered and the registration number is reported.
  • The statistical analysis reports software, replicates, assumptions, exact p-values where appropriate, confidence intervals and effect sizes.
  • The appropriate reporting guideline and checklist have been used where applicable.
  • The corresponding author has provided a valid ORCID iD.

23. Editorial contact

Bulletin of the Chemists and Technologists of Bosnia and Herzegovina; University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Science; Zmaja od Bosne 33–35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

E-mail: glasnik@pmf.unsa.ba; glasnikhtbh@gmail.com

Website: https://glashem.pmf.unsa.ba/index.php/bctbh