This study assesses the use of eggshell membranes and Rhizopus oryzae as media for the biosorption of p-chlorophenol (p-CP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP), reactive dye and cadmium from aqueous solutions. The performance of the adsorbents was quanti®ed by measuring the equilibrium uptake and the batch rate kinetics from solutions. The constants in the Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich±Peterson isotherm models were calculated through the linearization of the equations and linear regression. The kinetics of the adsorption systems for cadmium and a reactive dye have been assessed in a batch stirred adsorber. The effect of the process parameters such as pH, adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, adsorbent particle size, temperature and agitation speed are reported. The external mass transfer coef®cients are reported for some different system conditions. Both materials are determined to be effective adsorbents and could ®nd application in the treatment of contaminated wastestreams.
IntroductionBacteria have been extensively implicated in the development of smoking related diseases, such as COPD, by either direct infection or bacteria-mediated inflammation. In response to the health risks associated with tobacco exposure, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) has increased. This study compared the effect of e-cig vapour (ECV) and cigarette smoke (CSE) on the virulence and inflammatory potential of key lung pathogens (Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).MethodsBiofilm formation, virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model, antibiotic susceptibility and IL-8/TNF-α production in A549 cells, were compared between bacteria exposed to ECV, CSE and non-exposed bacteria.ResultsStatistically significant increases in biofilm and cytokine secretion were observed following bacterial exposure to either ECV or CSE, compared to non-exposed bacteria; the effect of exposure to ECV on bacterial phenotype and virulence was comparable, and in some cases greater, than that observed following CSE exposure. Treatment of A549 cells with cell signaling pathway inhibitors prior to infection, did not suggest that alternative signaling pathways were being activated following exposure of bacteria to either ECV or CSE.ConclusionsThese findings therefore suggest that ECV and CSE can induce changes in phenotype and virulence of key lung pathogens, which may increase bacterial persistence and inflammatory potential.
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