Iliana Ivanova

Glass formation range in the SeO2-TeO2-V2O5-MoO3 system

The glass forming region in the quaternary system under increased oxygen pressure and at a slow melt cooling rate (2 to 2.5° C min-1) has been determined. The stable glasses are located in the central part of the system but nearer to the SeO2-TeO2 side. The structural units of these two glass formers are of decisive importance in building up the glass lattice. Infrared spectra of selected compositions from the glass forming region are taken. From the data obtained for the binary glasses in the TeO2-V2O5, TeO2-SeO2, TeO2-MoO3, V2O5-MoO3 systems and the spectra of the four component compositions, it is shown that the basic structural units participating in the glass lattice formation are the SeO3, VO5, TeO4 and TeO3 groups. Structural models are proposed: glasses in the SeO2 direction possess laminar and chain structure, while with increase of TeO2 concentration, a three-dimensional structure is built up.

DETERMINATION OF PSEUDOMONAS PUTIDA LIVE CELLS WITH CLASSIC CULTIVATION AND STAINING WITH "LIVE/DEAD BACLIGHT BACTERIAL VIABILITY KIT"

ABSTRACT Periodic culture of Pseudomonas putida strain ATCC 12633=NBPMCC1090 was investigated in a 24 h experiment for sensitivity to zinc oxide thin films constructed under different conditions. The growth of bacteria was followed at every three hours and three methods were used to determine live cells. Optical density, cultivation and microscopic methods were applied and compared. To distinguish active and inactive cells LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability Kit staining was compared with classical cultivation methods. Bacterial quantity determinated on nutrient media, appear higher than those of live cells counted on epifluorescent microscope.

Preparation and Biological Activity of New Collagen Composites, Part I: Collagen/Zinc Titanate Nanocomposites.

The aim of this investigation was to develop new antimicrobial collagen/zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) biomaterials using a sol–gel cryogenic draying technology in keeping the native collagen activity. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity was demonstrated against Firmicutes (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, and Candida lusitaniae) and Gracilicutes (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas putida) microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity as well as the cytotoxicity were specific for the different test microorganisms (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi) and model eukaryotic cells (osteosarcoma, fibroblast, and keratinocyte cells), respectively, and both were depending on the ZnTiO3 concentration. Three mechanisms of the antimicrobial action were supposed, including (i) mechanical demolition of the cell wall and membrane by the crystal nanoparticles of the ZnTiO3 entrapped in the collagen matrix, (ii) chelation of its metal ions, and (iii) formation of free oxygen radicals due to the interaction between the microbial cells and antimicrobial agent. It was concluded that the optimal balance between antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity could be achieved by a variation of the ZnTiO3 concentration. The antifungal and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of the studied collagen/ZnTiO3 nanocomposites, combined with a low cytotoxicity, makes them a promising anti-infection biomaterial.

Microbial community development of biofilm in Amaranth decolourization technology analysed by FISH

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role, the space distribution and the relationships of the bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas in a biofilm community during semi-continuous Amaranth decolourization process in model sand biofilters. The examined parameters of the process were as follows: technological parameters; key enzyme activities (azoreductase, succinate dehydrogenase, catechol-1,2-dioxygenase, catechol-2,3-dioxygenase); the number of azo-degrading bacteria and the bacteria from genus Pseudomonas (plate count technique); the amount and the location of Pseudomonas sp. using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The results showed that the increase of the Amaranth removal rate with 120% was accompanied with increase of the enzyme activities of the biofilm (azoreductase activity – with 25.90% and succinate dehydrogenase – with 10.61%). The enzyme assays showed absence of activity for сatechol-1,2-dioxygenase and catechol-2,3-dioxygenase at the early phase and high activities of the same oxygenases at the late phase (2.76 and 1.74 μmol/min mg protein, respectively). In the beginning of the process (0–191 h), the number of the culturable microorganisms from genus Pseudomonas was increased with 48.76% but at the late phase (191–455 h) they were decreased with 15.25% while the quantity of the non-culturable bacteria from this genus with synergetic relationships was increased with 23.26%. The dominant microbial factors were identified in the structure of the biofilm during the azo-degradation process by using FISH analysis. Furthermore, the inner mechanisms for increase of the rate and the range of the detoxification were revealed during the complex wastewater treatment processes.

Antimicrobial effect of TiO2 doped with Ag and Cu on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida

Antimicrobial effect of TiO2 doped with Ag and Cu on Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida is studied. The thin films are deposited on glass substrates without heating during the deposition by r.f. magnetron co-sputtering of TiO2 target and pieces of Ag and Cu. The studied films, thickness about 65 nm, were as deposited and annealed (5200C, 4h, N2+5%H2, 4Pa). The as deposited thin films TiO2:Ag:Cu have band gap energy of 3.56 eV little higher than the band gap of crystalline anatase TiO2 which can be explained with the quantum effect of the granular structure of r.f. magnetron sputtered films. The annealed samples have band gap of 2.52 eV due to formation of donor levels from Ag and Cu atoms near the bottom of the conduction band. The toxic effect was determined through the classical Kochs method and the optical density measurements at λ=610 nm. The as deposited TiO2:Ag:Cu thin films demonstrate stronger inhibition effect - bactericidal for P. putida and bacteriostatic for E. coli (up to the 6th hour) in comparison with the annealed samples. The both methods of study show the same trends of the bacterial growth independently of their different sensitivity which confirms the observed effect.

Water quality assessment of aquatic ecosystems using ecological criteria - case study in Bulgaria.

Four aquatic ecosystems (two rivers and two dams) situated in the western part of Bulgaria were investigated over a three years’ period. The River Egulya and Petrohan dam are situated in mountainous regions at about 1000 m altitude, and are not influenced by any anthropogenic sources. Petrohan dam is a site for long-term ecosystem research as a part of Bulgarian long-term ecological research network. The other two systems belong to populated industrial areas. The River Martinovska flows through a region with former long-term mining activity, while Ogosta dam is near a battery production factory. Both the geochemical and geographical ecosystems’ conditions are different, and their social usage as well. Ogosta dam water is used for irrigation and Petrohan dam for electric supply. The ecosystem sensitivity to heavy metals was evaluated by a critical load approach. Two criteria were used for risk assessment: critical load exceedance and microbial toxicity test. All studied ecosystems were more sensitive to cadmium than to lead deposition. The potential risk of Cd damage is higher for Petrohan dam and the River Egulya, where critical load exceedance was calculated for two years. Pseudomonas putida growth inhibition test detected a lack of toxicity for all studied ecosystems at the time of investigation with the exception of the low water September sample of the River Martinovska. The fast bacterial test is very suitable for a regular measurement of water toxicity because of its simplicity, lack of sophisticated equipment and clear results.