Peracetic acid disinfectant efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms on polystyrene surfaces and comparison between methods to measure it

In food industry, biofilms are a source of recalcitrant contaminations, being possible sources of public health problems. The aims of this study were evaluate the disinfectant efficacy of peracetic acid against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown on polystyrene surfaces, determining the best method to measuring its disinfecting efficacy. PERAsafe^® has been used as peracetic acid donor into medium. Direct colony-forming units (CFUs) counts together with two assays based in optical density measurement have been tested. Starting from bacterial suspensions (∼10⁵), the log₁₀ values obtained were 4.34 ± 0.20, 2.60 ± 0.77 and 0.00 for 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.61%, PERAsafe^® concentrations, respectively, showing that this compound achieved the 100% killing efficacy against P. aeruginosa biofilms. Comparative study among the selected tests shows similar results between CFUs counts and spectrophotometry, but there are significant differences between direct counting and McFarland test. At concentration of 1.61%, the correlation factors were 0.8998 and 0.7338 when comparing CFU direct counting with microplate absorbance measurements and McFarland turbidity tests, respectively. These results show that measurement on microplates is an effective tool to evaluate the effectiveness of PERAsafe^® against P. aeruginosa biofilms, being able to effectively replace the CFUs count in routine tests to determine the sterilization levels on surfaces.     

Chlorinated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Associated with Drinking Water Disinfection: Synthesis,Formation under Aqueous Chlorination Conditions and Genotoxic Effects

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most persistent and toxic organic micropollutants present in water and several of them are mutagenic and carcinogenic. Although it has been shown that chlorinated derivatives of PAHs (Cl-PAHs) may be formed during the water chlorination procedure, little is known about their potential genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. The objectives of the present work were to prepare and characterize the major chlorinated derivatives of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and fluoranthene (Fluo), to develop an analytical methodology for their quantification in water samples and to analyse their potential genotoxicity. Chlorinated standards were prepared by a newly developed two phase method (water/n-hexane) using sodium hypochlorite. 6-Chloro-benzo[a]pyrene was selectively obtained from BaP, while 1,3-dichloro-fluoranthene and 3-chloro-fluoranthene were obtained from Fluo. All products were isolated and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The formation of BaP- and Fluo-chlorinated derivatives under aqueous chlorination conditions was observed using a SPE-HPLC-FLD methodology. In addition, the cytotoxic and genotoxic activities of the three chlorinated derivatives were analyzed in comparison to their parent compounds, in a human-derived hepatoma cell line using the neutral red uptake and comet assays, respectively. The results showed that, at the equimolar doses of 100 and 125 μM, 6-Cl-BaP was able to induce a significantly higher level of DNA damage than BaP, suggesting a more potent genotoxic effect. In contrast, neither Fluo nor its chlorinated derivatives were genotoxic in the same cell line. The identification of new and possibly hazardous water chlorination by-product from PAHs emphasizes the need to minimize total organic carbon content of raw water and the implementation of safer water disinfection methods.     

Organic acid based sanitizers and free chlorine to improve the microbial quality and shelf-life of sugar snaps

A screening in a sugar snap packaging company showed a converged build-up of aerobic psychrotrophic plate count (APC) (ca. 6.5 log CFU/100 mL), yeasts and molds (Y&M), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (both ca. 4.5 log CFU/100 mL) in the wash water in the absence of water sanitizer, and a low build-up of chemical oxygen demand (30 ± 5 mg O₂/L) and turbidity (5.2 ± 1.1 NTU).     

Physical, chemical and mineralogical characterisation of hydraulically disposed fine coal ash from SASOL Synfuels

Coal serves as the primary energy source in most parts of the world. It is a fact that coal combustion yields enormous quantities of fly ash some of which are either hydraulically placed or dry dumped. The current study attempts to provide a comprehensive characterisation of a disused alkaline fine coal ash dam (FCAD) towards assessing environmental impact, rehabilitation and utilisation potential. Fine coal ash refers to a combination of approximately 83% power station fly ash and 17% gasification and bottom ash fines (particles <250 μm) at SASOL Synfuels. The hydration products found in Weathered Fine Coal Ash (WFCA) using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) are analcime, calcite, C-S-H gel, ettringite, hydrated gehlenite (Strätlingite), magnetite, periclase, pyrrhotite and sillimanite. High resolution Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results provide additional proof that hydration products are present in WFCA. No indication of appreciable leaching was given by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) results except calcium and silicon. Thus evidence exists that pollutants from saline brines are immobilised in WFCA and an insight of reaction kinetics was obtained. High content of amorphous phase and lack of alteration in some geotechnical properties suggest that WFCA can be reutilised with lime addition to increase alkalinity and activate pozzolanic reactions.     

A Study on the Removal of Humic Acid Using Advanced Oxidation Processes

Abstract

Humic acid (HA) removal using advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) was investigated, particularly UVA/H₂O₂ and photo Fenton‐like process (UVA/Fe(III)/H₂O₂). Changes in the UV₂₅₄ absorbance, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), apparent molecular weight (AMW) distribution, and the Trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) of the organics were monitored. UVA/Fe(III)/H₂O₂ based process was found to be effective in removing more than 80% DOC and 90% UV₂₅₄ absorbance. Differences in the reduction profiles of AMW distributions for UVA/Fe(III)/H₂O₂ based process and UVA/H₂O₂ process were observed, with the latter showing preferential removal of a certain molecular weight range. Selected samples were then fractionated into four components: very hydrophobic acids (VHA), slightly hydrophobic acids (SHA), hydrophilic charged (CHA), and hydrophilic neutral (NEU). The HA used is found to consist mostly of VHA fraction that is very susceptible to AOP treatments. The results illustrate that the degradation process occurred via the fragmentation of VHA fraction to form SHA, CHA, and NEU fractions.     

Short-term dynamics of soil chemical parameters after application of alperujo in high-density drip-irrigated olive groves in Argentina

Two-phase olive oil mills generate a semi-solid waste made of olive pulp, olive stone, and vegetation water commonly called ‘alperujo’. Lack of disposal alternatives drives many Argentinean olive oil producers to apply it directly as soil amendment to the olive orchards. Even though this practice has been widely evaluated in Mediterranean countries, there is little agreement on the environmental impact that it may produce. In this work a surface layer of alperujo was applied to a high-density, drip-irrigated olive orchard, and different parameters were monitored. This report summarises the dynamics of soil chemical properties during the first 200 days after application. The results obtained showed that soil amended with alperujo increased total organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N) and available potassium (K), without affecting soil electrical conductivity (EC), pH and C/N ratio. The results suggest that surface application of alperujo may represent an attractive alternative to disposal under conservationist management. Further research evaluating long term effects on chemical and biological indicators must be performed to ensure the sustainability of alperujo as soil amendment.     

Impact of source waters,disinfectants, seasons and treatment approaches on trihalomethanes in drinking water: a comparison based on the size of municipal systems

This study compares concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) in municipal water for 2001–2007 from the small and large systems in two provinces in Canada (Newfoundland and Quebec) based on source waters, disinfectants, seasons and treatment approaches. Approximately 71 and 94%, respectively, of the municipal systems in Quebec and Newfoundland are small systems (serving fewer than 3000 people). The small systems serve approximately 8.6% (0.57 million) and 44.1% (0.18 million) of the populations in Quebec and Newfoundland, respectively. Concentrations of THMs and its variability are much higher in the small systems (Quebec: 0–941 μg/L; Newfoundland: 0–875 μg/L) than in the systems with populations 10 000 or more (Quebec: 0–364 μg/L; Newfoundland: 2.3–205 μg/L). The study reveals that the differences in THMs between the small and medium/large systems are because of different types of source waters, treatments, disinfection strategies and seasons. The results emphasize that regulatory agencies must focus more on the occurrence of DBPs in small systems and identify strategies to reduce their levels in drinking water.     

柑桔加工下脚料提取类胡萝卜素、橙皮苷、果胶和柠檬苦素

介绍了从柑桔加工下脚料提取类胡萝卜素、橙皮苷、果胶和柠檬苦素类产品的工艺方法 ,并简述了这些产品在医药、食品、日化等方面的应用     

油田废水电解杀菌研究

采用电解杀菌技术处理油田废水，研究了电解时间、电流强度、极板间距以及电极联结方式等因素对废水中硫酸盐还原菌杀灭效果的影响。结果表明，油田废水经3min电解杀菌，硫酸盐还原菌杀灭率高达99．90％。随着电解时间的增加，硫酸盐还原菌的杀菌率进一步提高；电流强度增加，硫酸盐还原菌的杀灭率升高。在电流强度保持不变的情况下，随着极板间距增加，极板之间电压升高，更有利于杀灭硫酸盐还原菌。在极板间电流强度相同的条件下，两种电极联结方式的杀菌率差别不大，杀菌率均在99．9％以上。     

UV+TCCA组合工艺在管道分质供水消毒中的应用

应用UV＋TCCA组合消毒工艺对管道分质供水系统进行了现场消毒实验。研究结果表明，应用此组合工艺将有效氯投加量控制在0．1mg/L～0．2mg／L、管网末梢水有效氯含量控制在0．02mg／L以上，可有效控制管道分质供水系统中微生物指标，并保持饮用水的较好口感。本组合工艺消毒保鲜效果稳定，生成的消毒副产物少，成本低，值得广泛推广与应用。