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Casey, Eoin
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Casey, Eoin
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Casey, Eoin
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Now showing 1 - 10 of 51
- PublicationSimulation studies of process scale membrane aerated biofilm reactor configurations(2007-01)In the membrane aerated biofilm reactor oxygen diffuses through the membrane into the biofilm where oxidation of pollutants, supplied from the biofilm side of the membrane takes place. Despite numerous studies at the laboratory scale showing the potential of the technology, efforts to scale-up the technology to process scale have been hampered by problems such as excessive biofilm growth and consequent flow distribution problems. This paper presents results of simulation studies which utilise Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to examine performance of several technical scale MABR design configurations. The simulations suggest that plate-and-frame membrane configuration with a suitable liquid inlet distributor will deliver superior performance compared to hollow fibre configuration with respect to liquid flow distribution.
285 - PublicationInvestigation of energy and operation flexibility of membrane bioreactors by using benchmark simulation model(2019-11-20)
; ; The aims of this study is to investigate operation and energy flexibility of membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment by mathematical modelling. Compared to conventional active sludge technology, membrane bioreactor has better treatment performance and it can achieve complete retention of solids and very high COD removal. Based on variable electricity price structure, appropriate optimization strategy can save 16% energy cost without violating exiting discharge standards.. The results showed that MBRs have a significant potential to create considerable commercial value by providing energetic flexibility.148 - PublicationComparative economic analysis of full scale MABR configurations(2008-08)
; ; ; The membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is a technology that can deliver oxygen at high rates and transfer efficiencies. This paper provides a comparative cost analysis of the MABR compared to the activated sludge process. Membrane cost and electricity cost were found to be the critical parameters determining the relative feasibility of the conventional process to the membrane based process. The general downward trend in the market price of membranes and the steady increase in energy costs in recent years may prove to be a strong driver for the further development of this technology.1648 - PublicationMechanical properties of a mature biofilm from a wastewater system: from microscale to macroscale level(Taylor and Francis, 2015-09-15)
; ; ; ; A fundamental understanding of biofilm mechanical stability is critical in order to describe detachment and develop biofouling control strategies. It is thus important to characterise the elastic deformation and flow behaviour of the biofilm under different modes of applied force. In this study, the mechanical properties of a mature wastewater biofilm were investigated with methods including macroscale compression and microscale indentation using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The mature biofilm was found to be mechanically isotropic at the macroscale level as its mechanical properties did not depend on the scales and modes of loading. However, the biofilm showed a tendency for mechanical inhomogeneity at the microscale level as indentation progressed deeper into the matrix. Moreover, it was observed that the adhesion force had a significant influence on the elastic properties of the biofilm at the surface, subjected to microscale tensile loading. These results are expected to inform a damage-based model for biofilm detachment.Scopus© Citations 21 30 - PublicationEnhancing curcumin's solubility and antibiofilm activity via silica surface modification(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2020-03-20)
; ; ; ; ; Bacterial biofilms are microbial communities in which bacterial cells in sessile state are mechanically andchemically protected against foreign agents, thus enhancing antibiotic resistance. The delivery of activecompounds to the inside of biofilms is often hindered due to the existence of the biofilm extracellularpolymeric substances (EPS) and to the poor solubility of drugs and antibiotics. A possible strategy toovercome the EPS barrier is the incorporation of antimicrobial agents into a nanocarrier, able topenetrate the matrix and deliver the active substance to the cells. Here, we report the synthesis ofantimicrobial curcumin-conjugated silica nanoparticles (curc-NPs) as a possibility for dealing with theseissues. Curcumin is a known antimicrobial agent and to overcome its low solubility in water it wasgrafted onto the surface of silica nanoparticles, the latter functioning as nanocarrier for curcumin intothe biofilm. Curc-NPs were able to impede the formation of modelP. putidabiofilms up to 50% anddisrupt mature biofilms up to 54% at 2.5 mg mL 1. Cell viability of sessile cells in both cases was alsoconsiderably affected, which is not observed for curcumin delivered as a free compound at the sameconcentration. Furthermore, proteomics of extracted EPS matrix of biofilms grown in the presence offree curcumin and curc-NPs revealed differences in the expression of key proteins related to celldetoxification and energy production. Therefore, curc-NPs are presented here as an alternative forcurcumin delivery that can be exploited not only to other bacterial strains but also to further biologicalapplications.Scopus© Citations 24 280 - PublicationA Review of Nanomaterials and Technologies for Enhancing the Antibiofilm Activity of Natural Products and PhytochemicalsBiofilms are communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced matrix constituted of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The recalcitrant and often harmful nature of biofilms, particularly in the biomedical field, motivates a search for antibiofilm compounds and materials. Within this context, nanoparticles (NPs) represent a promising platform for antibiofilm technologies due to their increased penetration into biofilms and facility of tailoring type, size, shape, and surface functionalization. The association of NPs with natural products and phytochemicals is even more appealing as an antibiofilm strategy, since the antimicrobial activity of essential oils, extracts, and isolated compounds can be improved when they are carried on the surface of NPs or encapsulated within them, as well as combined in formulations such as in nanoemulsions. This review article aims to provide an overview of recent methodologies for natural product delivery using nanomaterials and nanoformulations for the effective combat and eradication of bacterial and fungal biofilms. The nano-based technologies are categorized based on the type of antimicrobial delivery (NP coating, encapsulation, or nanoemulsions), and a selection of some widely reported natural substances (curcumin, propolis, and cinnamon components) is explored in more depth.
31Scopus© Citations 35 - PublicationFilamentous fungal biofilm for production of human drug metabolites(2013-07)
; ; In drug development, access to drug metabolites is essential for assessment of toxicity and pharmacokinetic studies. Metabolites are usually acquired via chemical synthesis, although biological production is potentially more efficient with fewer waste management issues. A significant problem with the biological approach is the effective half-life of the biocatalyst, which can be resolved by immobilisation. The fungus Cunninghamella elegans is well established as a model of mammalian metabolism, although it has not yet been used to produce metabolites on a large scale. Here, we describe immobilisation of C. elegans as a biofilm, which can transform drugs to important human metabolites. The biofilm was cultivated on hydrophilic microtiter plates and in shake flasks containing a steel spring in contact with the glass. Fluorescence and confocal scanning laser microscopy revealed that the biofilm was composed of a dense network of hyphae, and biochemical analysis demonstrated that the matrix was predominantly polysaccharide. The medium composition was crucial for both biofilm formation and biotransformation of flurbiprofen. In shake flasks, the biofilm transformed 86% of the flurbiprofen added to hydroxylated metabolites within 24 h, which was slightly more than planktonic cultures (76%). The biofilm had a longer effective lifetime than the planktonic cells, which underwent lysis after 2×72 h cycles, and diluting the Sabouraud dextrose broth enabled the thickness of the biofilm to be controlled while retaining transformation efficiency. Thus, C. elegans biofilm has the potential to be applied as a robust biocatalyst for the production of human drug metabolites required for drug development.Scopus© Citations 26 679 - PublicationCicada Wing Surface Topography: An Investigation into the Bactericidal Properties of Nanostructural Features(American Chemical Society, 2015-11-09)
; ; ; ; Recently, the surface of the wings of the Psaltoda claripennis cicada species has been shown to possess bactericidal properties and it has been suggested that the nanostructure present on the wings was responsible for the bacterial death. We have studied the surface-based nanostructure and bactericidal activity of the wings of three different cicadas (Megapomponia intermedia, Ayuthia spectabile and Cryptotympana aguila) in order to correlate the relationship between the observed surface topographical features and their bactericidal properties. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy performed in this study revealed that the tested wing species contained a highly uniform, nanopillar structure on the surface. The bactericidal properties of the cicada wings were investigated by assessing the viability of autofluorescent Pseudomonas fluorescens cells following static adhesion assays and targeted dead/live fluorescence staining through direct microscopic counting methods. These experiments revealed a 20-25% bacterial surface coverage on all tested wing species; however, significant bactericidal properties were observed in the M. intermedia and C. aguila species as revealed by the high dead:live cell ratio on their surfaces. The combined results suggest a strong correlation between the bactericidal properties of the wings and the scale of the nanotopography present on the different wing surfaces.Scopus© Citations 249 1189 - PublicationProduction of Whey-Derived DPP-IV Inhibitory Peptides Using an Enzymatic Membrane ReactorContinuous processing in the production of peptides is an area of increased interest. In this study, an enzymatic membrane reactor (EMR) was developed whereby whey protein isolate was used as a substrate to prepare DPP-IV inhibitory and radical scavenging peptides via enzymatic hydrolysis. Two separate enzymes were tested: Corolase 2TS and Protamex in conventional batch processes and the EMR. Neither enzyme was considered effective at producing peptides with radical scavenging activity when measured using a DPPH assay. However, both enzymes were capable of producing DPP-IV inhibitory peptides. Corolase and Protamex both produced similar DPP-IV inhibition levels upon completion of batch experiments. In the EMR process, permeate in the Protamex run showed 33.7% lower IC50 value compared to the continuous Corolase run. Protamex was a better enzyme at producing the DPP-IV inhibitory effect. The continuous (EMR) production method showed an increased productivity over batch for both enzymes.
Scopus© Citations 17 569 - PublicationThe importance of laboratory water quality for studying initial bacterial adhesion during NF filtration processes(Elsevier, 2013-05-15)
; ; ; ; ; Biofouling of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for water treatment has been the subject of increased research effort in recent years. A prerequisite for undertaking fundamental experimental investigation on NF and RO processes is a procedure called compaction. This involves an initial phase of clean water permeation at high pressures until a stable permeate flux is reached. However water quality used during the compaction process may vary from one laboratory to another. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of laboratory water quality during compaction of NF membranes. A second objective was to investigate if the water quality used during compaction influences initial bacterial adhesion. Experiments were undertaken with NF270 membranes at 15 bar for permeate volumes of 0.5L, 2L, and 5L using MilliQ, deionized or tap water. Membrane autopsies were performed at each permeation point for membrane surface characterisation by contact angle measurements, profilometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The biological content of compacted membranes was assessed by direct epi-fluorescence observation following nucleic acid staining. The compacted membranes were also employed as substrata for monitoring the initial adhesion of Ps. fluorescens under dynamic flow conditions for 30 minutes at 5 minutes intervals. Compared to MilliQ water, membrane compaction using deionized and tap water led to decreases in permeate flux, increase in surface hydrophobicity and led to significant buildup of a homogenous fouling layer composed of both living and dead organisms (>10⁶cells.cm−2). Subsequent measurements of bacterial adhesion resulted in cell loadings of 0.2×10⁵, 1.0×10⁵cells×cm−2 and 2.6×10⁵ cells.cm−2 for deionized, tap water and MilliQ water, respectively. These differences in initial cell adhesion rates demonstrate that choice of laboratory water can significantly impact the results of bacterial adhesion on NF membranes. Standardized protocols are therefore needed for the fundamental studies of bacterial adhesion and biofouling formation on NF and RO membrane. This can be implemented by first employing pure water during all membrane compaction proceduresand for the modelled feed solutions used in the experiment.Scopus© Citations 25 1045