Benzalkonium salts are widely used as disinfectants, biocides and detergents,among a variety of other applications. The cationic surface-activity of these salts determines their potential to act as a biocide on both target and non-target organisms. In this study, a quick synthesis of a complete set of the benzalkonium salts differing in the length of an alkylating chain (from C(2) to C(20)) is ...

To ensure sustainable use of antifouling paints, the European Union have developed a new environmental risk assessment tool, which product must pass prior to its placement on market. In this concentrations are predicted based estimated release rates biocides aquatic environment and characterization ratios calculated in regional spreadsheets. There currently two methods predict biocides; calcula...

Laser removal of biodeteriogen layers warrants detailed studies due to the advantages it brings with respect to mechanical elimination or the use of biocides. We have investigated elimination of biological crusts on dolomite stones from heritage sites in central Spain. The samples were colonized by epilithic crustose lichens of different species, such as Caloplaca sp. and Verrucaria nigrescens....

To show, as a model system, that mycobacteria can express heterologous luciferase genes and that bioluminescence can be a rapid method of measuring antimycobacterial activity, a bioluminescent form of Mycobacterium smegmatis was made by transformation with a Mycobacterium-Escherichia coli shuttle vector containing the luxAB genes from Vibrio harveyi. The antimycobacterial effects of antibiotics...

In the regulatory evaluation of chemical substances like plant protection products (pesticides), biocides and other chemicals, degradation data play an important role. For the evaluation of pesticide degradation experiments, detailed guidance has been developed, based on nonlinear optimisation. The R add-on package mkin implements fitting some of the models recommended in this guidance from wit...

Biofilms have been observed in the fluid pathways of hemodialysis machines. The impacts of four biocides used for the disinfection of hemodialysis systems were tested against Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto and Candida orthopsilosis biofilms generated by isolates obtained from a hydraulic circuit that were collected in a hemodialysis unit. Acetic acid was shown to be the most effective agent...