Effectiveness research on a wavy lamellar plate-type biofilter with a capillary system for the humidification of the packing material applying introinduced microorganisms

To conduct research, a new generation plate-type air treatment biofilter for removing gaseous pollutants from air has been applied under laboratory conditions. A distinguishing feature of the packing material of the biofilter includes wavy lamellar polymer plates placed to each other and producing a capillary effect of humidification. While having such an arrangement, wavy lamellar plates also have rather wide spacing (6 mm), and therefore the employment of the structure of the plate-type packing material decreases the aerodynamic resistance of the device. A wavy porous plate is made of a polymer plate that ensures stiffness. Both sides of the wavy lamellar polymer plate have attached steam exploded birch fiber pellets under which, to increase plate capillarity, not-woven caulking material is put. This technological decision allows effectively enhancing the durability of the biopacking material. The work presents the results of research on the efficiency of the biodestruction process of acetone, xylene and ammonia. With reference to the conducted investigation, the high efficiency of air treatment and microbiological activity has been established. When pollutant gases (acetone, xylene and ammonia), under a velocity of 0.08 m s–1, passed through the biopacking material, microbiological activity in the material reached on average 1×108 cfu/cm2, and air treatment efficiency made 90.7%

Fungi Surviving on Treated Wood and Some of Their Physiological Properties

Wood is still widely used as a construction material but in spite of great assortment of antifungal chemicals, incidents of treated-wood damage still happen. The objective of the present investigation was to identify the fungal species that survived after wood treatment and make a primary screening of some physiological properties important for fungi in wood colonization. Fungal strains from <em>Alternaria, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium</em><em>, Phoma, Trichoderma </em>and <em>Ulocladium</em> genera were isolated and identified. The primary endoglucanase and phenoloxidase activity discoloration assays showed that wood colonization ability of fungi isolated from treated wood differed among the strains and some of them had not only cellulolytic but even ligninolytic activity as well. The spectrophothometric analysis of fungal enzymatic activity on wood showed that <em>Alternaria alternata</em> 8/15-2 was most active tyrosinase producer and <em>Cladosporium herbarum </em>8/15-1 – laccase producer whereas peroxidase activity level and variation tendency of all strains was alike. Among studied strains only <em>Penicillium </em>genus representatives had medium acidification ability. <em>Alternaria alternata </em>8/15-2 was the hardiest to wood preservatives fungal strain. The study of fungal physiological properties could help in selecting wood preservatives, in elucidation of reasons of their inefficiency and creating of new ones.<p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.19.1.3824">http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.19.1.3824</a></p

Enzymatic Biodegradation of Lignin-Cellulose Complex in Plant Origin Material

Lignin and cellulose are chemically hardly destructible complex polymeric materials of organic origin. The main enzymes of fungi taking part in lignin degradation are phenoloxidases: lignin peroxidase, Mn-peroxidase and lacase, while in cellulose - endoglucanase. The aim of the investigation was to define the degradation of lignin and cellulose in the later stages of fungi cultivation, to determine the activity of phenoloxidases and endoglucanase and their abilities to degrade this complex. It was shown that the greatest lignin and cellulose degradation was measured after Galactomyces geotrichum 012 30 and 60 cultivation days. Galactomyces geotrichum 012 showed the greatest peroxidase (68.13 a.u./g) and tyrosinase (0.33 c.u./g) activity, meanwhile laccase activity reached its peak (0.068 ext. coef.) after Sporotrichum pruinosum 60 cultivation days. The greatest endoglucanase activity was observed after Galactomyces geotrichum and Sporotrichum pruinosum in the course of whole cultivation period.http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.17.1.258</p

Biodegradation of woodt reated with copper based preservative by two Dematiaceous fungi: Alternaria tenuissima and Ulocladium consortiale

As cases of treated wood colonization by fungi still happen, the understanding of fungal survival abilities could contribute in the creation of new efficient preservatives. For that reason, two dematiaceous fungi Alternaria tenuissima and Ulocladium consortiale isolated from treated wooden joists with discolorations were tested for their wood decomposition ability and tolerance to a copper based preservative. Our results indicated that the copper based preservative failed to suppress completely cellulose and lignin biodegradation by discoloring fungi studied in wood. Moreover, cellulose degradation was higher in the treated sawdust for both fungi after 30 days than in the untreated. Comparing the results of two strains U. consortiale that is little studied as a wood decomposer, was stronger lignin degrader than A. tenuissima in treated and untreated sawdust. The copper sulphate tolerance test showed that both fungi were able to grow up to 7 mM concentration in a solid medium

Toxic micromycetes in grain raw material during its processing

In 2003-2005 micromycetes were isolated and identified from wheat, barley, rye, buckwheat grain brought into mills or from processing enterprises. Contamination of the produced flour with micromycete propagules (cfu g(-1)), changes in micromycete diversity and abundance in the course of flour storage, preparation and baking of bread, production of groats or other food products and fodder were determined. Most attention was given to widely distributed micromycetes, known producers of toxins: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus candidus, A. clavatus, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. oryzae, A. (=Eurotium) repens, Fusarium culmorum, F. equiseti, F. graminearum, F. moniliforme, F. oxvsporum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum, P. cyclopium, P. daleae, P. expansum, P. funiculosum, P. roqueforti, P. urticae, P. verruculosum, P. viridicatum, Phoma exiqua, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Trichothecium roseum. Abilities of these micromycetes to produce secondary toxic metabolites were determined as well as possible hazard caused to people consuming the contaminated productsVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

alpha-terpinyl acetate: Occurrence in essential oils bearing Thymus pulegioides, hhytotoxicity, and antimicrobial effects

The aim of this study was to evaluate occurrence of T. pulegioides alpha-terpinyl acetate chemotype, as source of natural origin alpha-terpinyl acetate, to determine its phytotoxic and antimicrobial features. Were investigated 131 T. pulegioides habitats. Essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Phytotoxic effect of essential oil of this chemotype on monocotyledons and dicotyledons through water and air was carried out in laboratory conditions; the broth microdilution method was used to screen essential oil effect against human pathogenic microorganisms. Results showed that alpha-terpinyl acetate was very rare compound in essential oil of T. pulegioides: it was found only in 35% of investigated T. pulegioides habitats. alpha-Terpinyl acetate (in essential oil and pure) demonstrated different behavior on investigated plants. Phytotoxic effect of alpha-terpinyl acetate was stronger on investigated monocotyledons than on dicotyledons. alpha-Terpinyl acetate essential oil inhibited seeds germination and radicles growth for high economic productivity forage grass monocotyledon Poa pratensis, but stimulated seed germination for high economic productive forage legume dicotyledon Trifolium pretense. alpha-Terpinyl acetate essential oil showed high antimicrobial effect against fungi and dermatophytes but lower effect against bacteria and Candida yeasts. Therefore, T. pulegioides alpha-terpinyl acetate chemotype could be a potential compound for developing preventive measures or/and drugs for mycosis

Ekologiniai ir technologiniai veiksniai, lemiantys toksinus gaminančių mikromicetų paplitimą ant avižų ir iš jų pagamintų produktų

Pateikiami duomenys apie mikromicetus, aptiktus ant avižų grūdų, auginamų maistui ir pašarui Lietuvos klimato sąlygomis. Ypač daug dėmesio skiriama toms avižų veislėms, kurios Lietuvoje yra plačiai auginamos ir kurių grūdai naudojami avižinių dribsnių ir kitų maisto produktų gamybai. Mikromicetų paplitimas ant avižų, auginamų įvairiuose Lietuvos rajonuose, tirtas 2003–2005 m. Visais tyrimo metais labiausiai ant avižų buvo paplitę grybai, priklausantys Alternaria, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Drechslera, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Acremonium, Rhizopus ir Rhizomucor gentims. Atvežtų į perdirbimo įmonę grūdų užterštumas grybais buvo didesnis, tačiau ir čia vyravo ankščiau minėti grybai. Ryškesni grybų taršos pokyčiai buvo pastebėti perdirbant grūdus, kai veikė stiprūs mechaniniai ir terminiai veiksniai. Didžiausi mikromicetų kiekiai aptikti ant avižų lukštų ir atliekų. Nustatyta didelė perdirbimo įmonės patalpų tarša mikromicetais. Ant perdirbamų avižų grūdų ir jų produktų buvo labiausiai paplitę grybai iš Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporiumi ir Rhizopus genčių. Ištyrus mikotoksinus, nustatyta, kad grybai, augdami ant avižų, gamino nivalenolį, T-2 toksiną, zearalenoną, aflatoksiną B1, ochratoksinus, patuliną ir rugulozinąThe article deals with investigation of micromycetes detected on oats grown for food and fodder under climatic conditions of Lithuania. Attention is focused on the oat varieties that are popular in Lithuania and whose grain is used for producing oat flakes and other products. The distribution of micromycetes spread on oats grown in various regions of Lithuania was investigated in 2003–2005. During the study period, fungi of Alternaria, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Drechslera, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Acremonium, Rhizopus and Rhizomucor prevailed on oats. Fungal contamination of grain brought to a processing factory increased, and fungi mentioned above also prevailed. More evident changes in fungal contamination were noted during grain processing where strong mechanical and thermal factors acted. The highest amounts of micromycetes on oats were associated with oat shells and debris. The contamination was high indoors of a processing plant. Fungi most widely spread on processed oat grain and products belonged to the genera Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, etc. Toxin assessment revealed that fungi growing on oats produced toxins such as nivalenole, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, aflatoxin β1, ochratoxins, patulin and rugulosineVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Impact of environmental conditions on the spread of micromycetes in grain during its harvesting and storage

During the period of 2003–2004, the contamination of grain with micromycetes was investigated before harvesting, at the moment of harvesting, as well as in the course of grain transportation into storehouses and during storage. Isolation of prevailing and potentially toxic micromycetes revealed that during harvesting and transportation microbiological contamination of grain increased, particularly of damaged grain. When wheat was chemically cultivated, the number of micromycete propagules in grain was almost twice lower than when wheat was cultivated ecologicallyVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Evaluation of the Impact of Grain Processing Technology Upon Distribution of Toxic Micromycetes

Santr. angl., lietBibliogr.: p. 112 (19 pavad.)Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Vanillin acrylate‐based resins for optical 3D printing

The investigation of biobased systems as photocurable resins for optical 3D printing has attracted great attention in recent years; therefore, novel vanillin acrylate‐based resins were designed and investigated. Cross‐linked polymers were prepared by radical photopolymerization of vanillin derivatives (vanillin dimethacrylate and vanillin diacrylate) using ethyl(2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate as photoinitiator. The changes of rheological properties were examined during the curing with ultraviolet/visible irradiation to detect the influences of solvent, photoinitiator, and vanillin derivative on cross‐linking rate and network formation. Vanillin diacrylate‐based polymers had higher values of yield of insoluble fraction, thermal stability, and better mechanical properties in comparison to vanillin dimethacrylate‐based polymers. Moreover, the vanillin diacrylate polymer film showed a significant antimicrobial effect, only a bit weaker than that of chitosan film. Thermal and mechanical properties of vanillin acrylate‐based polymers were comparable with those of commercial petroleum‐derived materials used in optical 3D printing. Also, vanillin diacrylate proved to be well‐suited for optical printing as was demonstrated by employing direct laser writing 3D lithography and microtransfer molding techniques