1
|
Takaya C, Carpenter J, Muir R, Brittle S, Sarker D, Cooper I. Safety and passivation of faecal contamination in waste. Access Microbiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Absorbent hygiene wastes like nappies and incontinence pads are ubiquitous in municipal and healthcare waste streams around the world as they are convenient products used in child-care and adult incontinence management. Absorbent Hygiene Product (AHP) manufacturing is resource-intensive as the products are required to be of the highest value as they are in almost-constant contact with sensitive body parts. The potential for recovering such valuable resources such as cellulose-based fibres and super-absorbent polymers for reuse in non-food sectors like the construction and wastewater industries has been considered in this study. Appropriate decontamination via chemical methods have been examined using AHPs contaminated with human-associated bacteria.
Findings suggest that for simulated AHP wastes inoculated with 108–109 CFU g-1 of human-associated bacteria like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes, a 1:1 ratio of 0.5% calcium hypochlorite/AHP waste is adequate to inactivate the bacteria particularly when combined with an inorganic salt for at least 60 min. Specifically, 4 to 5 log10 reductions were observed. Following such disinfection, material storage and temperatures above 25ºC minimise incidences of microbial regrowth. The disinfection protocol was not found to adversely affect the AHP quality. Overall, such findings suggest that AHP recycling is a potential alternative to current AHP waste disposal practices like incineration (with or without energy recovery) and landfilling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C. Takaya
- University of Brighton,Brighton,United Kingdom
| | | | - R. Muir
- Medisort Ltd,Littlehampton,United Kingdom
| | - S. Brittle
- Medisort Ltd,Littlehampton,United Kingdom
| | - D.K. Sarker
- University of Brighton,Brighton,United Kingdom
| | - I. Cooper
- University of Brighton,Brighton,United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Takaya CA, Cooper I, Berg M, Carpenter J, Muir R, Brittle S, Sarker DK. Offensive waste valorisation in the UK: Assessment of the potentials for absorbent hygiene product (AHP) recycling. Waste Manag 2019; 88:56-70. [PMID: 31079651 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Offensive human waste refers to non-hazardous waste that contains body fluids from non-infectious humans, comprised of post-consumer Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs), swabs, dressings, bedding, gloves, and other materials. While this waste category requires more stringent handling, storage and disposal measures than general waste, its non-hazardous nature suggests that there are opportunities for waste valorisation. An inventory of 200 offensive human waste bags collected from various healthcare institutions in South-Eastern England show that about 76% of the waste is comprised of AHPs, most of which are adult incontinence pads and child nappies. Mixed plastics comprised of predominantly HDPE represent 9% of the waste. To evaluate the potentials for offensive human waste valorisation, small-scale separation tests involving artificially-soiled nappies and associated mixed plastic packaging wastes have been performed. Findings suggest that about 50% of the total superabsorbent polymer is recoverable from fluff pulp fractions, recoveries of which are unaffected by the presence of ionic species typically present in human waste. On the other hand, recovery of mixed plastic packaging is more challenging. Overall, however, findings suggest that viable AHP recycling is possible if recyclate materials are targeted towards non-food related markets outlets such as the construction and land remediation sectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C A Takaya
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Moulsecoomb Campus, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom; Medisort Limited, Unit A, Fort Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7QU, United Kingdom
| | - I Cooper
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Moulsecoomb Campus, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom
| | - M Berg
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Moulsecoomb Campus, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom
| | - J Carpenter
- Green Growth Platform, University of Brighton, Watts Building, Lewes Road, BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom
| | - R Muir
- Medisort Limited, Unit A, Fort Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7QU, United Kingdom
| | - S Brittle
- Medisort Limited, Unit A, Fort Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7QU, United Kingdom
| | - Dipak K Sarker
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Moulsecoomb Campus, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pinzaru I, Coricovac D, Dehelean C, Moacă EA, Mioc M, Baderca F, Sizemore I, Brittle S, Marti D, Calina CD, Tsatsakis AM, Şoica C. Stable PEG-coated silver nanoparticles - A comprehensive toxicological profile. Food Chem Toxicol 2017; 111:546-556. [PMID: 29191727 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The present study was purported to assess the toxicological profile of bare and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by means of in vitro (on human keratinocytes - HaCat cells) and in vivo non-invasive tests (after intraperitoneal - i.p. administration to mice). Bare and PEG-coated AgNPs were synthesized by applying Turkevich's method slightly modified. The physico-chemical characterization revealed the formation of stable, spherical AgNPs and PEG-AgNPs, with narrow size distributions and mean hydrodynamic sizes in the range of 19 nm and 50 nm, respectively. Toxicity data revealed a dose-dependent safe profile for low concentrations of test compounds (<10 μM) in terms of cell viability, whereas higher concentrations were associated with a high rate of cell mortality. In vivo acute/subacute toxicity data showed no denotive changes in mice health status after i.p. administration. Histological observations of internal organs and the biochemical parameters analyzed together with the other biological observations showed a low toxicity level with no major differences related to control, albeit at skin level a reduced number of mast cells was detected. All these observations provide strong support for the idea that coated silver nanoparticles could be applied as targeted nanocarriers for skin pathologies and diagnostic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Pinzaru
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Sq., Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
| | - Dorina Coricovac
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Sq., Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
| | - Cristina Dehelean
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Sq., Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
| | - Elena-Alina Moacă
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Sq., Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
| | - Marius Mioc
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Sq., Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
| | - Flavia Baderca
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Sq., Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
| | - Ioana Sizemore
- Department of Chemistry, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435-0001, USA.
| | - Seth Brittle
- Department of Chemistry, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435-0001, USA.
| | - Daniela Marti
- Western University Vasile Goldis Arad, 94 Revolutiei Blvd., 310025, Arad, Romania.
| | - Cornelia Daniela Calina
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Petru Rares 2, 200349, Craiova, Romania.
| | - Aristidis M Tsatsakis
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece.
| | - Codruţa Şoica
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2nd Eftimie Murgu Sq., Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dunbar ADF, Brittle S, Richardson TH, Hutchinson J, Hunter CA. Detection of volatile organic compounds using porphyrin derivatives. J Phys Chem B 2011; 114:11697-702. [PMID: 20735119 DOI: 10.1021/jp102755h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Seven different porphyrin compounds have been investigated as colorimetric gas sensors for a wide range of volatile organic compounds. The porphyrins examined were the free base and Mg, Sn, Zn, Au, Co, and Mn derivatives of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3,4-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy)phenyl]-21H,23H-porphine. Chloroform solutions of these materials were prepared and changes in their absorption spectra induced by exposure to various organic compounds measured. The porphyrins that showed strong responses in solution were selected, and Langmuir-Blodgett films were prepared and exposed to the corresponding analytes. This was done to determine whether they are useful materials for solid state thin film colorimetric vapor sensors. Porphyrins that readily coordinate extra ligands are shown to be suitable materials for colorimetric volatile organic compound detectors. However, porphyrins that already have bound axial ligands when synthesized only show a sensor response to those analytes that can substitute these axial ligands. The Co porphyrin displays a considerably larger response than the other porphyrins investigated which is attributed to a switch between Co(II) and Co(III) resulting in a large spectral change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A D F Dunbar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Brittle S, Richardson TH, Dunbar ADF, Turega S, Hunter CA. Alkylamine Sensing Using Langmuir−Blodgett Films of n-Alkyl-N-phenylamide-Substituted Zinc Porphyrins. J Phys Chem B 2008; 112:11278-83. [DOI: 10.1021/jp803577d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Brittle
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,Hicks Building, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, U.K., and Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| | - T. H. Richardson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,Hicks Building, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, U.K., and Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| | - A. D. F. Dunbar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,Hicks Building, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, U.K., and Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| | - S. Turega
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,Hicks Building, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, U.K., and Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| | - C. A. Hunter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,Hicks Building, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, U.K., and Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| |
Collapse
|