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Dive into the research topics where Brid Quilty is active.

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Featured researches published by Brid Quilty.


Green Chemistry | 2009

Biodegradable, non-bactericidal oxygen-functionalised imidazolium esters: A step towards ‘greener’ ionic liquids

Saibh Morrissey; Bruce Pegot; Deborah Coleman; M. Teresa Garcia; Damien Ferguson; Brid Quilty; Nicholas Gathergood

A series of imidazolium ionic liquids was prepared and screened against 7 bacterial strains. The incorporation of ether groups into the ester side-chain significantly reduced the toxicity compared with alkyl ester derivatives. Biodegradation data are also presented for 15 of the ionic liquids—including 6 examples which can be classed as readily biodegradable.


Biodegradation | 1999

Degradation of mono-chlorophenols by a mixed microbial community via a meta- cleavage pathway.

Alan Farrell; Brid Quilty

A mixed microbial community, specially designed todegrade a wide range of substituted aromaticcompounds, was examined for its ability to degrademono-chlorophenols as sole carbon source in aerobicbatch cultures. The mixed culture degraded 2-, 3-, and4 -chlorophenol (1.56 mM) via a meta- cleavagepathway. During the degradation of 2- and3-chlorophenol by the mixed culture, 3-chlorocatecholproduction was observed. Further metabolism was toxicto cells as it led to inactivation of the catechol2,3-dioxygenase enzyme upon meta- cleavage of3-chlorocatechol resulting in incomplete degradation.Inactivation of the meta- cleavage enzyme led toan accumulation of brown coloured polymers, whichinterfered with the measurement of cell growth usingoptical denstiy. Degradation of 4-chlorophenol by themixed culture led to an accumulation of5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde, themeta- cleavage product of 4-chlorocatechol. Theaccumulation of this compound did not interfere withthe measurement of cell growth using optical density.5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde was furthermetabolized by the mixed culture with a stoichiometricrelease of chloride, indicating complete degradationof 4-chlorophenol by the mixed culture via ameta- cleavage pathway.


Scientific Reports | 2016

Highly Efficient F, Cu doped TiO2 anti-bacterial visible light active photocatalytic coatings to combat hospital-acquired infections

Nigel Leyland; Joanna Podporska-Carroll; John A. Browne; Steven J. Hinder; Brid Quilty; Suresh C. Pillai

Bacterial infections are a major threat to the health of patients in healthcare facilities including hospitals. One of the major causes of patient morbidity is infection with Staphylococcus aureus. One of the the most dominant nosocomial bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been reported to survive on hospital surfaces (e.g. privacy window glasses) for up to 5 months. None of the current anti-bacterial technology is efficient in eliminating Staphylococcus aureus. A novel transparent, immobilised and superhydrophilic coating of titanium dioxide, co-doped with fluorine and copper has been prepared on float glass substrates. Antibacterial activity has demonstrated (by using Staphylococcus aureus), resulting from a combination of visible light activated (VLA) photocatalysis and copper ion toxicity. Co-doping with copper and fluorine has been shown to improve the performance of the coating, relative to a purely fluorine-doped VLA photocatalyst. Reductions in bacterial population of log10 = 4.2 under visible light irradiation and log10 = 1.8 in darkness have been achieved, compared with log10 = 1.8 under visible light irradiation and no activity, for a purely fluorine-doped titania. Generation of reactive oxygen species from the photocatalytic coatings is the major factor that significantly reduces the bacterial growth on the glass surfaces.


Water Research | 2002

The enhancement of 2-chlorophenol degradation by a mixed microbial community when augmented with Pseudomonas putida CP1.

Alan Farrell; Brid Quilty

The effect of the introduction of Pseudomonas putida CP1 to a commercial mixed microbial community for the degradation of 1.56mM 2-chlorophenol was investigated. Degradation of 2-chlorophenol by the commercial mixture was via a meta-cleavage pathway leading to incomplete degradation, while P. putida CPI was shown to be capable of the complete degradation of 2-chlorophenol via an ortho-cleavage pathway. Augmentation of the commercial mixed culture with P. putida CP1 resulted in complete degradation of 2-chlorophenol via an ortho-cleavage pathway. The augmented mixed culture displayed increased degradative capabilities, with times of degradation reduced when compared to those achieved by P. putida CP1 in isolation. The ability of P. putida CP1 to degrade 2-chlorophenol was increased with the addition of increasing concentrations of the mixed culture. Increasing the mixed culture inoculum size added to P. putida CP1 decreased lag periods and increased rates of degradation, resulting in decreased times of degradation.


Journal of Hazardous Materials | 2017

Antibacterial properties of F-doped ZnO visible light photocatalyst

Joanna Podporska-Carroll; Adam Myles; Brid Quilty; Declan E. McCormack; Rachel Fagan; Steven J. Hinder; Dionysios D. Dionysiou; Suresh C. Pillai

Nanocrystalline ZnO photocatalysts were prepared by a sol-gel method and modified with fluorine to improve their photocatalytic anti-bacterial activity in visible light. Pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) were employed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of synthesized materials. The interaction with biological systems was assessed by analysis of the antibacterial properties of bacteria suspended in 2% (w/w) powder solutions. The F-doping was found to be effective against S. aureus (99.99% antibacterial activity) and E. coli (99.87% antibacterial activity) when irradiated with visible light. Production of reactive oxygen species is one of the major factors that negatively impact bacterial growth. In addition, the nanosize of the ZnO particles can also be toxic to microorganisms. The small size and high surface-to-volume ratio of the ZnO nanoparticles are believed to play a role in enhancing antimicrobial activity.


Green Chemistry | 2015

When can ionic liquids be considered readily biodegradable? Biodegradation pathways of pyridinium, pyrrolidinium and ammonium-based ionic liquids

Y. Deng; Ian Beadham; M. Ghavre; M. F. Costa Gomes; Nicholas Gathergood; Pascale Husson; B. Légeret; Brid Quilty; Martine Sancelme; Pascale Besse-Hoggan

Ionic liquids have been the subject of intense interest over the past decade due to their unique structures which can be tuned to modify the physicochemical properties of the solvent. Nevertheless, industrial processes rarely involve ILs, partly because our understanding of their environmental impact and biodegradability is still in its infancy. The biodegradability criteria for chemical compounds have been defined by the OECD, according to standard protocols in which a chemical is exposed to microbes in an activated sludge over a period of 28 days. However, most reports on IL biodegradation have concentrated on ultimate biodegradability, and have neglected to identify the metabolites along the biodegradative pathway. In fact, intermediate metabolites can be more toxic than the parent molecule and may have a completely different environmental profile. We have studied the antimicrobial activities and biodegradation kinetics of ten pyridinium, pyrrolidinium and ammonium-based ionic liquids incubated with either a pure strain of Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 29672 or an activated sludge, and have also determined their degradation pathways using 1H NMR and LC-MS, with accompanying control experiments under abiotic conditions. Several intermediary metabolites were identified and quantified. All the ILs (except a long-chain alkylpyridinium in C6) proved to be “readily biodegradable” with the pure strain (80–100% degradation) under the conditions of the test, which was not the case with the activated sludges; however, in 3 cases of 10, the biodegradation resulted in an undesirable accumulation of metabolites.


Green Chemistry | 2014

Low toxicity functionalised imidazolium salts for task specific ionic liquid electrolytes in dye-sensitised solar cells: a step towards less hazardous energy production

Mukund Ghavre; Owen Byrne; Lena Altes; Praveen K. Surolia; Marcel Spulak; Brid Quilty; K. Ravindranathan Thampi; Nicholas Gathergood

Novel solvent free task specific ionic liquid (TSIL) electrolytes for dye sensitised solar cells (DSSC) were synthesised and tested. Of great concern is the replacement of low-moderate toxicity second generation ILs, with high toxicity third generation TSILs. As most 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Bmim) and especially 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (Emim) based ILs have low toxicity, the designing of replacement TSILs of comparable toxicity is a challenge. Structural features of TSIL investigated herein were incorporation of heteroatoms into the side chain of imidazolium cations (i.e. ether, ester and amide) and anion (bromide, iodide, and triflimide [NTf2]). Preliminary toxicity screening against 20 microorganisms (8 bacteria and 12 fungi) found that all ILs, imidazolium salts, N-butylbenzimidazole (NBB) and guanidinium thiocyanate (GNCS) do not exhibit high antimicrobial toxicity. However NBB and a pentyl ester substituted IL displayed moderate toxicity to several strains of bacteria and fungi. Further toxicity testing to establish IC50 values shows several novel TSIL compounds and imidazolium salts are in fact less toxic to microorganisms (e.g. bacteria) than commonly used 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (EmimI) and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (DmimI). We have demonstrated that the presence of ether and either ester or amide groups in the structure of the cation of the TSIL and imidazolium salts reduces antimicrobial toxicity, which is consistent with the lowering of the lipophilicity of ILs. Iodide and bromide analogues have lower toxicity than the NTf2 examples in this study. The DSSC performance using these “greener” ILs in place of the standard EmimI compare quite favourably. Two low antibacterial toxicity iodide examples exhibit photocurrents of 9.27 mA cm−2 and 8.85 mA cm−2, respectively, achieving promising efficiencies of 3.39% and 3.31%, respectively (EmimI = 4.94%). DSSC performance is further improved by 15% minimum to 66% maximum, depending on IL chosen, by the presence of small amounts of moisture and DSSCs employing a low antibacterial toxicity iodide TSIL or imidazolium salt can surpass the performance of dry EmimI. Of note the DSSC containing TSIL NTf2 examples, performed poorly compared to the halide analogues, with the outcome that the most toxic TSILs under investigation are also the least preferred based on performance.


RSC Advances | 2013

Tetrabutylammonium prolinate-based ionic liquids: a combined asymmetric catalysis, antimicrobial toxicity and biodegradation assessment

Nadège Ferlin; Matthieu Courty; Albert Nguyen Van Nhien; Sylvain Gatard; Milan Pour; Brid Quilty; Mukund Ghavre; Annette Haiß; Klaus Kümmerer; Nicholas Gathergood; Sandrine Bouquillon

Chiral ionic liquids (CILs) tetrabutylammonium-(S)-prolinate, tetrabutylammonium-(R)-prolinate and tetrabutylammonium trans-4-hydroxy-(S)-prolinate were investigated as chiral additives in the Pd-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketones. These CILs were easily prepared in one step from the aminoacid and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and characterized (NMR, IR, optical rotation, elemental analysis, DSC, viscosity, decomposition temperature). The research strategy was to assess the antimicrobial toxicity (>20 strains) and biodegradability (OECD 301D) of the CILs at the same time as undertaking the asymmetric catalysis study. The Pd-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of the carbon–carbon double bond of α,β-unsaturated ketones under mild conditions (room temperature, 1 atm of H2) in different solvents with CILs present. The best results were obtained in i-PrOH after 18 hours of reaction with a i-PrOH/IL ratio of 5. While all three CILs have low antimicrobial toxicity to a wide range of bacteria and fungi, tetrabutylammonium-(S)-prolinate, tetrabutylammonium-(R)-prolinate and tetrabutylammonium trans-4-hydroxy-(S)-prolinate did not pass the Closed Bottle biodegradation test.


Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-toxic\/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering | 2006

Bioaugmentation of Activated Sludge with Two Pseudomonas putida Strains for the Degradation of 4-Chlorophenol

Henry Mclaughlin; Alan Farrell; Brid Quilty

The augmentation of activated sludge with two strains of Pseudomonas putida, CP1 and A(a) was investigated. Both strains of bacteria degraded 1.56 mM 4-chlorophenol. P. putida CP1 degraded the chemical using a modified ortho-cleavage pathway while P. putida A(a) used the meta-cleavage pathway. When activated sludge incapable of 4-chlorophenol degradation was augmented with either strain, substrate degradation occurred and followed the same biochemical pathways as when the bacteria were grown in pure culture. Insertion, in tandem, of the genes for gentamycin resistance and green fluorescent protein into the chromosomes of the two strains, enabled the survival and spatial location of the bacteria in the mixed microbial population to be monitored. Labelling the bacteria did not alter their degradative capabilities. P. putida CP1::Tn7-gfp survived in higher numbers than P. putida A(a)::Tn7-gfp following addition to the activated sludge. This was attributed to the ability of this strain to flocculate and become integrated in the activated sludge floc. Addition of P. putida CP1::Tn7-gfp or A(a)::Tn7-gfp to activated sludge resulted in smaller decreases in total cell numbers indicating a protective effect of the introduced P. putida strains on the overall microbial population from the harmful effects of 4-chlorophenol. The non-flocculant strain A(a) did not survive as well as CP1 in the activated sludge system and required a higher inoculum size to effect substrate degradation.


Interface Focus | 2013

Mechanical properties and in vitro characterization of polyvinyl alcohol- nano-silver hydrogel wound dressings

Renata Nunes Oliveira; R. Rouzé; Brid Quilty; G. G. Alves; Gloria Dulce de Almeida Soares; Rossana M. S. M. Thiré; Garrett B. McGuinness

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels are materials for potential use in burn healing. Silver nanoparticles can be synthesized within PVA hydrogels giving antimicrobial hydrogels. Hydrogels have to be swollen prior to their application, and the common medium available for that in hospitals is saline solution, but the hydrogel could also take up some of the wounds fluid. This work developed gamma-irradiated PVA/nano-Ag hydrogels for potential use in burn dressing applications. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was used as nano-Ag precursor agent. Saline solution, phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) pH 7.4 and solution pH 4.0 were used as swelling media. Microstructural evaluation revealed an effect of the nanoparticles on PVA crystallization. The swelling of the PVA-Ag samples in solution pH 4.0 was low, as was their silver delivery, compared with the equivalent samples swollen in the other media. The highest swelling and silver delivery were related to samples prepared with 0.50% AgNO3, and they also presented lower strength in PBS pH 7.4 and solution pH 4.0. Both PVA-Ag samples were also non-toxic and presented antimicrobial activity, confirming that 0.25% AgNO3 concentration is sufficient to establish an antimicrobial effect. Both PVA-Ag samples presented suitable mechanical and swelling properties in all media, representative of potential burn site conditions.

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Nicholas Gathergood

Tallinn University of Technology

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Rossana M. S. M. Thiré

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

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Nicholas Gathergood

Tallinn University of Technology

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Ian Beadham

Dublin City University

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