Since the beginning of the present century, tests have shown that some types of clay can present antibacterial activity. In addition, the clay considered for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products have been found to be non-toxic and... more
Since the beginning of the present century, tests have shown that some types of clay can present antibacterial activity. In addition, the clay considered for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products have been found to be non-toxic and non-irritating materials, therefore, the use of these types of clay for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes has increased in recent years. The above being said, different types of clay have been used over time due to their antibacterial properties, but the analytical methods for their characterization are just beginning to develop. This article is part of a study having as main objective the development of multifunctional antimicrobial textile materials to prevent fungal and bacterial proliferation, thus creating an antimicrobial shield for the human body, especially for blemish-prone skin. In this paperwork, a commercial blue clay was characterized through modern techniques. One of these techniques is X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Coupling SEM with an Energy ...
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Disposable personal care products are part of modern life, but these products could become a biological hazard in case of improper disposal. Therefore, our study compared the biodeterioration of plant-based woven materials (cotton,... more
Disposable personal care products are part of modern life, but these products could become a biological hazard in case of improper disposal. Therefore, our study compared the biodeterioration of plant-based woven materials (cotton, linen), animal materials (wool, leather), disposable hygiene products with cellulose fibers (sanitary pads, cosmetic pads), and chemical impregnated products (antimicrobial/sanitary wet wipes) using burial tests in two types of soils for 40 days. Weight loss (%) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that textiles are relatively quickly deteriorated compared to animal-based products, and the process is dependent on the soil type. According to SEM analysis, sanitary pads were the least deteriorated, followed by wet wipes and cosmetic pads (maximum weight loss 24.332% and 27.537%, respectively), and the process was influenced by the composition and structure of the product. These results were correlated with changes in the number of microbes and ce...
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Dr. ing. EMILIA VISILEANU cerc. şt. pr. gr. I – EDITOR ŞEF Institutul Naţional de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile şi Pielărie – Bucureşti Dr. ing. CARMEN GHIŢULEASA cerc. şt. pr. II Institutul Naţional de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru... more
Dr. ing. EMILIA VISILEANU cerc. şt. pr. gr. I – EDITOR ŞEF Institutul Naţional de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile şi Pielărie – Bucureşti Dr. ing. CARMEN GHIŢULEASA cerc. şt. pr. II Institutul Naţional de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile şi Pielărie – Bucureşti Prof. dr. GELU ONOSE cerc. şt. pr. gr. I Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“ – Bucureşti Prof. dr. GEBHARDT RAINER Saxon Textile Research Institute – Germania
Generally, the most common damaging factors for linen textile materials are the environmental conditions, their handling, and natural decay. Such environmental factors are ultraviolet (UV) radiation, humidity, and high temperature.... more
Generally, the most common damaging factors for linen textile materials are the environmental conditions, their handling, and natural decay. Such environmental factors are ultraviolet (UV) radiation, humidity, and high temperature. Therefore, to investigate the effects these factors may cause, an accelerated weathering test was conducted on linen fabrics, using alternating cycles of UV exposure and humidity, along with relatively high temperatures. The effects of this test were investigated using non-destructive and micro-destructive analysis techniques. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to observe any modifications appearing at the surface of the fibers. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDS) was employed in conjunction with SEM for obtaining the spectrum of the chemical elements that were present at the surface of the linen samples. The modifications of functional groups occurring due to the weathering of linen were assessed by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT...
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The vegetal material is an inexhaustible source of biologically active compounds. It was already demonstrated that secondary metabolites of plant origin have practical application in the industry of food and beverage, drugs, and flavours.... more
The vegetal material is an inexhaustible source of biologically active compounds. It was already demonstrated that secondary metabolites of plant origin have practical application in the industry of food and beverage, drugs, and flavours. Furthermore, considering the acquired resistance of bacterial pathogens to existing antibiotics, research on new molecules of plant products is nowadays of great interest. Taking all these into consideration, we conducted a study on the inhibitory activity of Humulus lupulus L. (hops) extract against several gram negative and gram positive bacteria, (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Escherichia coli). The antimicrobial activity was performed by diffusion methods. The hops extract was also studied for its radical scavenging activity and total phenol content and total flavonoid content. The results obtained indicated that the hops extract could be used ...
The objective of this study is to investigate the methods to create durable self-cleaning textiles by coating fabrics with TiO2-(1%)Fe-N-graphene (2%). To improve the adherence of the nanoparticles, the polyester/cotton woven fabrics were... more
The objective of this study is to investigate the methods to create durable self-cleaning textiles by coating fabrics with TiO2-(1%)Fe-N-graphene (2%). To improve the adherence of the nanoparticles, the polyester/cotton woven fabrics were pre-treated with polyacrylic acid (PA), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polyethylene polyamine resin (EZF). The pre-treated materials were immersed in a doped TiO2 for 30 minutes at 40oC and dried at 125oC. The finished fabrics were stained with methylene blue dye and exposed to visible light. The SEM images show the presence of particles on polymers layers firmly attached on the material surface. The treatments determine the decrease of the exothermic peak (452.48oC), characteristic of the cellulose decomposition, demonstrating an increase of the thermal conductivity of the materials. The doped TiO2-graphene induces a double degradation of methylene blue in comparison with untreated material and the materials treated with CMC, polyacrylic acid an...
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Formaldehyde resins are usually used in the textile industry to prevent wrinkling, as well as for conservation of textile artifacts. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans.... more
Formaldehyde resins are usually used in the textile industry to prevent wrinkling, as well as for conservation of textile artifacts. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans. There are several regulations regarding the amount of formaldehyde found in textiles, for example Oeko-Tex Standard 100, REACH and European Ecolabel. In the present work, a spectrophotometric method for quantitative determination of free and hydrolyzed formaldehyde extracted through partial hydrolysis by using aqueous extraction was developed and validated. The method is in conformity with SR EN ISO 14184-1:2012 standard. The results of the validation parameters are 0.0117 mg/l for detection limit and 0.039 mg/l for quantification limit. The working field was proved to be linear in 0.15 µg CH2O/ml – 6.00 µg CH2O/ml range with a correlation coefficient of 0.999977. Furthermore, the recovery parameter value is 89.80%. Selectivity was determined in re...
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This study presents the results of laboratory experiments to prepare cotton woven fabrics with photoactive properties. The fabric was treated with TiO 2 – Fe(1%) – N + 2% graphene by exhaustion followed by a fluorocarbon polymer... more
This study presents the results of laboratory experiments to prepare cotton woven fabrics with photoactive properties. The fabric was treated with TiO 2 – Fe(1%) – N + 2% graphene by exhaustion followed by a fluorocarbon polymer treatment. The fabric was analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDAX), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Contact Angle measurement, physical properties (weight, thickness, breaking strength, elongation, air/water permeability, electrical resistance). The photocatalytic activity was determined initially and after 5 washings by measuring the trichromatic coordinates of the treated fabrics stained with methylene blue and exposed to UV and visible light on a Hunterlab UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The results demonstrate a uniform deposition of doped TiO 2 -graphene particles on material surface. The thermal stability of the coated cotton fabric is practically unmodified in comparison with blank cotton fabri...
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Historical textiles are fragile and more prone to damage. Regarding this inconvenience, heritage sample analyzes arequite difficult to achieve primarily due to fiber degradation, secondly due to the complex composition (the samples... more
Historical textiles are fragile and more prone to damage. Regarding this inconvenience, heritage sample analyzes arequite difficult to achieve primarily due to fiber degradation, secondly due to the complex composition (the samples canalso contain metallic threads or some other components) and last, but not least, because of the microbiologicaldegradation. The samples evaluated in this paper were used as support for a wooden sarcophagus containing anEgyptian mummy which is estimated to be over 2000 years old.The purpose of this work was to carry out a preliminary characterization of the samples, using minimally invasivetechniques. Thus, two types of methods were used: SEM evaluation and microbiological assessment. SEM analysisrevealed that the constituent fibers for all the samples are natural fibers of animal origin: wool and alpaca fibers. SEMalso provided information about the surface of the fibers and more than that, by using this equipment it was possible tovisualize the degree...
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This paper recommends maize stalk as a cheap natural ion exchanger. Ion exchange equilibrium was studied using thermodynamic and kinetic models. The results showed a high selectivity towards cationic species of antimony (III), molybdenum... more
This paper recommends maize stalk as a cheap natural ion exchanger. Ion exchange equilibrium was studied using thermodynamic and kinetic models. The results showed a high selectivity towards cationic species of antimony (III), molybdenum (VI), lead (II) and arsenium (III). Waste waters and sediments from tailing ponds samples were analysed.
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Research Interests: Engineering and Textile
The aim of this research was to prepare photocatalytic textiles by depositing TiO2/ polyacrylic binder dispersions by the pad dry process and on ultrasound bath. The SEM image reveals that all fabrics, regardless the treatment conditions... more
The aim of this research was to prepare photocatalytic textiles by depositing TiO2/ polyacrylic binder dispersions by the pad dry process and on ultrasound bath. The SEM image reveals that all fabrics, regardless the treatment conditions are coated with particles having different shapes and sizes dependent on the binder and titanium dioxide concentration and treatment method. The photocatalytic efficiency is strongly dependent on type and concentration of dyes, being very fast at low concentration and slow at high concentrations, where blocked TiO2 surface is unable to generate reactive species. The materials show good antimicrobial activity against the Trichophyton interdigitale fungal strain.
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The decontamination and preservation of artifacts from natural materials like paper, parchment, leather, textile, etc. is a continuous struggle against their colonization with bacteria, fungi or insects. Decontamination of cultural... more
The decontamination and preservation of artifacts from natural materials like paper, parchment, leather, textile, etc. is a continuous struggle against their colonization with bacteria, fungi or insects. Decontamination of cultural heritage objects by gamma radiation is a better alternative to chemical disinfection. Optimal decontamination dose selecti on is challenging. For this, the nature of the objects, the bioburden and the radioresistance of the contaminant microbial communities should be considered. Also, when establishing the radioresistance of a microorganism, some physical factors (irradiation support, storage temperature before irradiation) should be considered. These factors, especially the water content, influence the radioresistance, expressed as D10 value. Studies on Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma viride, which are common moulds that colonize and attack a wide range of artifacts, were carried out. The range of D10 value, influenced by the factors mentioned above, w...
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This paper presents new perspectives in plasma oxygen using for development of advanced, highly functional textiles and textiles with higher added value. The increasing concerns in textile finishing process due to the use of textile in... more
This paper presents new perspectives in plasma oxygen using for development of advanced, highly functional textiles and textiles with higher added value. The increasing concerns in textile finishing process due to the use of textile in technical fields, determinate the need of advanced surface treatment by using low cost and eco friendly technologies. The conventional textile finishing techniques provide wet chemical modifications where water and chemicals are used in large quantities and wastewaters have an increased toxicity and this conduct to highlighting the ecological impacts to the environment and effects to human health. The environmental concerns and starts from need of environmentally friendly processing of textiles conduct to use of suitable method like plasma nanotechnology. Plasma is the fourth state of matter. It is a gas with a certain portion of ionized as well as other reactive particles, e.g. ions, electrons, photons, radicals and meta-stable excited particles. INT...
This paper presents the improvement of the antimicrobial character of woven fabrics based on cotton. The woven fabrics were cleaned in oxygen plasma and treated by padding with silver chloride and titanium dioxide particles. The existence... more
This paper presents the improvement of the antimicrobial character of woven fabrics based on cotton. The woven fabrics were cleaned in oxygen plasma and treated by padding with silver chloride and titanium dioxide particles. The existence of silver and titanium on woven fabrics was evidenced by electronic microscope images (SEM, EDAX) and by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The antimicrobial tests were performed with two fungi:Candida albicansandTrichophyton interdigitale. The obtained antimicrobial effect was considerably higher compared to the raw fabrics. Treatment of dyed fabrics with a colloidal solution based on silver chloride and titanium dioxide particles does not considerably influence colour resistance of dyes.
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Erosion of sandy soil due to wind action is a global ecological problem with major implications both in the field of agriculture and in the socio-economic sphere. Erosion and sand transport have a negative effect both in the “active area”... more
Erosion of sandy soil due to wind action is a global ecological problem with major implications both in the field of agriculture and in the socio-economic sphere. Erosion and sand transport have a negative effect both in the “active area” in which it occurs and outside it, not being a strictly defined phenomenon. The present paper deals with the problems due to the erosion of soils by wind, and the way of diminishing this phenomenon by using some protective textile screens placed transversely to the wind direction. The aim of the paper is to provide numerical contributions on wind interaction with permeable soil protection obstacles. For concrete data, a number of numerical simulations of the air flow in the atmospheric boundary layer area was carried out, in the presence of a wind barrier having different degrees of permeability, depending on the textile used, for the determination of the speed upstream and downstream of the obstacle. The program used for the numerical simulation i...
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Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) is a new-generation of sample preparation technique that effectively combines representative characteristics of solid-phase microextraction – SPME (equilibrium-based extraction) and solid phase... more
Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) is a new-generation of sample preparation technique that effectively combines representative characteristics of solid-phase microextraction – SPME (equilibrium-based extraction) and solid phase extraction – SPE (exhaustive extraction). FPSE was introduced in 2014 by Kabir A. and Furon K.G. FPSE utilizes a fabric substrate (natural or synthetic such as cotton or polyester) that is chemically coated with a hybrid sorbent (organic-inorganic sol-gel). The entire assembly (fabric substrate coated with the sol-gel polymer) results in a fast and sensitive micro-extraction device. The FPSE development process can be described in 3 main steps: (1) Preparation of the fabric substrate for sol-gel coating, (2) preparation of the sol-solution for coating the substrate, and (3) formation of sol-gel coatings on the fabric substrate. Using this technique can be ensured a faster, cleaner, and with a high concentration of analyte solution. FPSE is a method that...
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The examination of contemporary textiles continuously offers amazing perspectives of the past for anyone who explores them. The ethnographic textile pieces are complex, both from the perspective of the component materials and regarding... more
The examination of contemporary textiles continuously offers amazing perspectives of the past for anyone who explores them. The ethnographic textile pieces are complex, both from the perspective of the component materials and regarding the techniques used for their manufacture. The action of conserving the cultural and artistic patrimony is firstly a matter of scientific research and then of technical execution. However, the possible health effects on the personnel, which are directly involved in the actions of sampling, conservation or restoration of the textile art objects, must always be taken into consideration. Textile objects can be contaminated with various toxic residues (e.g., pesticides). When investigating archaeological, modern and contemporary textiles it is very important to maintain the integrity of the artifacts, as they cannot be replaced, and the consumption or damage of even a small part of them for analytical purposes should be undertaken only if the data cannot ...
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Far Infrared (FIR) functionalized textile materials are enjoying a special attention nowadays, as a viable and practical solution for treating a wide range of medical conditions (relief of acute or chronic inflammation and circulatory... more
Far Infrared (FIR) functionalized textile materials are enjoying a special attention nowadays, as a viable and practical solution for treating a wide range of medical conditions (relief of acute or chronic inflammation and circulatory problems, prevention of microbial infections, improvement of nervous system functions, reduction of skin lipids, improvement of blood circulation, removal of accumulated toxins by improving lymphatic circulation etc.). At the molecular level, FIR compounds and functionalized materials exert strong rotational and vibrational effects, with beneficial biological potential. These materials are based on the principle of absorbing light energy and then irradiating this energy back into the body at specific wavelengths. FIR functionalized textile materials are a new category of functional textiles that have the potential to improve well-being and health. Present paper explored the antimicrobial potential of four textile materials, functionalized with FIR, UV ...
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Textile wastewater effluents are considered one of the most polluting sources, among all industrial sectors, in terms of both effluent volume and composition, with high BOD and COD values. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) represents the... more
Textile wastewater effluents are considered one of the most polluting sources, among all industrial sectors, in terms of both effluent volume and composition, with high BOD and COD values. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) represents the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms in decomposing organic matter under aerobic conditions. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) represents the measurement of the oxygen required to oxidize soluble and particulate organic matter in water. The main goal of the present study was the investigation in reduction of both BOD and COD concentrations, in a textile wastewater source, using bio-augmented MBBR specific HDPE carriers (composition: 5% talc, 7% cellulose and 88% High-Density-Polyethylene). The HDPE carriers were bio-augmented in an experimental laboratory installation with five fungi microbial strains (either as a mix or individual strain): 3 own microbial isolates (from decaying wood source) and 2 collection strains, namely Cerio...
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Fungal biomass has the ability to decolorize textile industry wastewaters by a series of bio-accumulation/bio-sorption mechanisms, posing an economically promising, eco-friendly and feasible alternative to conventional methods. The... more
Fungal biomass has the ability to decolorize textile industry wastewaters by a series of bio-accumulation/bio-sorption mechanisms, posing an economically promising, eco-friendly and feasible alternative to conventional methods. The present study explored the qualitative potential of previously isolated fungal strains from samples of post-finishing textile wastewater in treatment of synthetic dyes solutions based on Bemacid azo-dyes (red, yellow and blue). The analyses were carried out on solid nutritive media with 200g/L dye concentration, for 9 microbial strains. Previously isolated fungal strains were identified by ITS-RFLP method. Qualitative assessments revealed the increased tolerance of microbial isolates to textile azo-dyes, and their capacity to degrade into non-colored intermediates.
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Petrochemical-based packaging materials represent a billion dollar industry that makes possible modern innovations in sustainable packaging design, but with severe footprint on the environment. Currently, polystyrene products take over... more
Petrochemical-based packaging materials represent a billion dollar industry that makes possible modern innovations in sustainable packaging design, but with severe footprint on the environment. Currently, polystyrene products take over 30% of worldwide landfill space which represents a real issue as sustainable disposal methods must be pursued, given the fact that polystyrene products are incredibly hard to recycle and biodegrade (approximately 500 years for styrofoam to organically degrade). The paper presents main biotechnological advances regarding mycelium based biomaterials used as sources of renewable protective packaging materials, structural bio-composites, thermal insulation materials, packaging materials, decorative objects etc. Biotechnological processes successfully explore the great potential of Basidiomycetes strains (E.g.: Pleurotus djamor, Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus,Grifola frondosa, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma oregonense, Lentinula edodes, Agrocybe aege...
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The aim of the research was the evaluation of antimicrobial activity of a textile fabric treated with essential oils extracted from Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Citrus sinensis (orange), against pathogenic strains of Aspergillus... more
The aim of the research was the evaluation of antimicrobial activity of a textile fabric treated with essential oils extracted from Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Citrus sinensis (orange), against pathogenic strains of Aspergillus niger (IMI 45551), Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), Trichoderma viride (isolated from agricultural soil), Aspergillus flavus (isolated from agricultural soil) and Epidermophyton floccosum (CCM 8339). Plant extracts were obtained by steam distillation from rosemary vegetal mater and orange peel. GC-MS analysis, carried out in hexane and diethyl-ether, allowed identification of main compounds, with high quantities of eucalyptol, camphor and α – pinene, in rosemary oil, respectively limonene, limonene oxide, α – pinene and β-phellandrene in orange oil. A textile substrate (56% cotton/44% polyester) was treated with concentrations of 1%, 3% and 5% of each oil and antimicrobial activity was assessed against each strain. Bioassays registered various percent...
Proper identification of textile materials is essential, as people use textiles for clothing and shelter, dental and medical devices, protective firefighting, or even military clothing. There have been several developments regarding fiber... more
Proper identification of textile materials is essential, as people use textiles for clothing and shelter, dental and medical devices, protective firefighting, or even military clothing. There have been several developments regarding fiber identification using instruments such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, or electron microscopy. However, the traditional methods are prevalent as they are the cheapest alternative. In the present paperwork, an accelerated weathering test was conducted on two different textile materials – cotton (natural fiber) and polypropylene (synthetic fiber). Alternating cycles of UV exposure, along with humidity and relatively high temperatures were employed for the weathering test. In order to evaluate the degradation degree of the two fibers, the results were compared and investigated using non-destructive and micro-destructive analysis techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), to evaluate the surface modifications ...
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Most widely applied technologies wastewater treatment biological technologies are based on the selection of microbial communities dominated by bacteria (activated sludge).Wastewater treatment through Moving Bed Biofilm Bioreactors (MBBRs)... more
Most widely applied technologies wastewater treatment biological technologies are based on the selection of microbial communities dominated by bacteria (activated sludge).Wastewater treatment through Moving Bed Biofilm Bioreactors (MBBRs) has been widely used during the last years. The wastewater treatment with moving bio media consists in adding biofilm carriers (small cylindrical/ round/ plate shaped polyethylene/polypropylene/ polyurethane foam carrier elements) in aerated or anaerobic basins to support biofilm growth. The paper explored the functionalization of MBBRs (polyethylene support) structures in a Biotec FE 007 fermentor, with Cerioporus squamosus strain (a basidiomycete bracket fungus). Scanning Electron Microscopy and optical microscopy analysis were carried out pre and post microbial functionalization on the MBBRs in order to assess the colonization of the MBBRs structures and internalization of microbial biomass. The functionalized MBBRs will be further used in exper...
The experiments explored the interactions and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles, against a model microorganism, Aspergillus niger. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis were used for assessment of structural alterations done... more
The experiments explored the interactions and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles, against a model microorganism, Aspergillus niger. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis were used for assessment of structural alterations done to fungal cells and hyphae, coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX). The toxicity of the silver nanoparticles was tested using two methods: liquid exposure to the solution containing silver NPs, and spraying the NPs solution directly on the fungal culture. Analysis revealed significant cellular alteration due to the exposure to silver nanoparticles as well as effects on the growth of Aspergillus niger strain, in comparison to deionized water treatment, used at control sample. Microscopic SEM images revealed that silver nanoparticles treated hyphae were damaged on cell walls level, inducing plasmolysis, while EDAX analysis revealed strong silver depositions in the damaged areas of vegetative cells and spores walls, aspects that could ...
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The presence of dyes in wastewaters from the textile industry, even in concentrations of less than 1 mg/l, significantlyaffects the aesthetic properties and transparence degree of public effluents, with direct repercussions on... more
The presence of dyes in wastewaters from the textile industry, even in concentrations of less than 1 mg/l, significantlyaffects the aesthetic properties and transparence degree of public effluents, with direct repercussions on theenvironment. Cerioporus squamosus White-Rot-Fungi (WRF) strain was used for bio-augmentation of MBBR carriers(consisting of a mix of 88% High Density Polyethylene, 5% talcum and 7% cellulose). Cerioporus squamosus, also oftenencountered as Polyporus squamosus, is a basidiomycete bracket fungus, able to cause “white rot” on decaying wood.The bio-functionalized carriers were used for treatment of a synthetic wastewater sample, of Bemacid ROT (Bezema)azo-dye. Azoic dyes represent one of the most important classes of synthetic dyes used in the textile industry,accounting for over 60–70% of the dyes used in this industry. In the case of reactive groups of azo dyes (-N=N-), dueto the low degrees of fixation on the fiber, there are losses of dyes in solution of up...
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The paper presents the antimicrobial performances of leather surfaces treated with ZnO nanoparticles as alternative to the use of volatile organic biocide materials. The hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles is described as an... more
The paper presents the antimicrobial performances of leather surfaces treated with ZnO nanoparticles as alternative to the use of volatile organic biocide materials. The hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles is described as an efficient and easy to control method compared to sol-gel methods. The characterization of crystallite morphology and size were measured by XRD, the nanopowder particles were assessed by TEM and the dispersion stability in water and in film forming polymers by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The ZnO nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on leather surface by conventional technologies based on sprayed layers and were available for direct contact with bacteria and fungi. The treated leather surfaces were tested according to adapted diffusion standard methods and proved sensitivity against bacteria and resistance to fungi. The modification of dynamic contact angle of water on leather surface exposed to UV and visible light irradiation confirmed the photocat...
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The present article aims to make a preliminary analyze regarding the fibrous composition of an "opreg"(part of a female folk costume composed of a richly decorated piece of fabric and long fringes applied on the lower edge) from... more
The present article aims to make a preliminary analyze regarding the fibrous composition of an "opreg"(part of a female folk costume composed of a richly decorated piece of fabric and long fringes applied on the lower edge) from the modern-contemporary period, using two micro-destructive methods: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. In order to have a better understanding and a precise result, different fibres from the opreg were analyzed- brightly colored cotton yarn (green, pink, lilac) together with synthetic silver and gold composite yarns (lurex). Hand-made textiles have a very important meaning for our history, therefore it is imperious to know what kind of fibres were used in order to be able to create an adequate environment to preserve them. Further analyzes will be carried out in order to have a more detailed image about opreg characteristics and how it was obtained.
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MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) wastewater treatment technology relies heavily on the type of used HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) carriers, that use immobilized biofilm for the removal of organic and inorganic substances in the... more
MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) wastewater treatment technology relies heavily on the type of used HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) carriers, that use immobilized biofilm for the removal of organic and inorganic substances in the treated wastewater. Present work explored DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) analysis on four novel variants of HDPE carriers. DSC is a thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference is measured as a function of temperature. The four novel carriers were composed of novel recipes of mixes of polyethylene with inorganic and organic compounds (patent pending), designed for greater microbial biofilm development. DSC analysis. DSC analysis was carried out in order to understand the behavior of the developed carriers, in various scenarios. High density polyethylene (HDPE) is a weak, semi- crystalline, thermoplastic polymer that is part of the polyolefin class. Analysis...
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In the present paper work it was evaluated the degradation degree of textile material after different types of exposure using micro-destructive methods such as: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), stereomicroscope and Datacolor... more
In the present paper work it was evaluated the degradation degree of textile material after different types of exposure using micro-destructive methods such as: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), stereomicroscope and Datacolor spectrophotometer. Thus, samples of cotton fabrics were exposed in three different methods: first – outdoors, to natural conditions, second – at a temperature of 60⁰C in an oven and third – buried in commercial plant soil in closed recipients. After 72 hours and 216 hour, specimens of the samples were taken and evaluated. Thereby, microscopic analyzes revealed that the cotton materials are more degraded after burial. The results obtained were correlated with chromatic parameters (DL*, DC*, DE*) and white degree (Berger and CIE). All the samples have color differences in comparison with the unexposed samples; they also present more saturated color and are darker. Cultural heritage represents our history, thus it is important to know how the environment works o...
Research Interests: Engineering and Ageing
The wastewater treatment sector is a very dynamic field, in continuous development. New technologies are developed, or the existing ones are improved [1]. An efficient biological treatment is based on solid small plastic pieces (biofilm... more
The wastewater treatment sector is a very dynamic field, in continuous development. New technologies are developed, or the existing ones are improved [1]. An efficient biological treatment is based on solid small plastic pieces (biofilm carriers) on which different types of microorganisms attach, develop and grow. This technology is known as Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology [2]. The most common materials used for the biofilm carriers’ realization are based on high density polyethylene. This technology is not yet applied for the treatment of the cellulosic wastewaters, since cellulose is hard to be removed by using conventional microorganisms that are usually used in biological wastewater treatment. Some of the authors propose an improved material for carriers to be used in tertiary treatment for textile, paper-mill or tannery wastewaters [3]. The biofilm carriers are adapted for fungal activity. The selected fungal strains (White Root Fungi) capable of removing cellulose...
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Textile materials can be easily used as a support for the nano-decoration with active particles in order to gain new features such as self-cleaning, antimicrobial efficiency, water repellency, mechanical strength, color change and... more
Textile materials can be easily used as a support for the nano-decoration with active particles in order to gain new features such as self-cleaning, antimicrobial efficiency, water repellency, mechanical strength, color change and protection against ultraviolet radiations. In this context, our present research reports the fabrication and characterization (physico-chemical analysis and surface morphology) of cotton fabrics treated with reduced graphene oxide decorated with two types of TiO2 nanoparticles co-doped with 1% iron and nitrogen atoms (TiO2/rGO NPs) and synthesized in different hydrothermal conditions by a simultaneous precipitation of Ti3+ and Fe3+ ions to achieve their uniform distribution or after a sequential precipitation of these two cations for obtaining a higher concentration of iron on the surface of Ti4+ oxyhydroxide. Further, the antimicrobial efficiency of these TiO2/rGO-treated textiles and their influence on human cells were assessed. We demonstrated the succe...
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The Ag deposition on TiO2 nanoparticles (Ag-TiO2 NPs) and N-TiO2 nanoparticles (Ag-N-TiO2 NPs) has been made by electrochemical methodology in view of improved antibacterial properties and enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible... more
The Ag deposition on TiO2 nanoparticles (Ag-TiO2 NPs) and N-TiO2 nanoparticles (Ag-N-TiO2 NPs) has been made by electrochemical methodology in view of improved antibacterial properties and enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The particle size in powder and in dispersion showed similar values and good stability in aqueous medium which made them suitable for use in leather surface covering for new multifunctional properties development. The diffuse reflectance spectra of Ag-TiO2 NPs, Ag-N-TiO2 NPs and TiO2 NPs have been investigated and correlated with their photocatalytic performances under UV and visible light against different silver concentrations. The leather surfaces treated with Ag-N-TiO2 NPs showed advanced self-cleaning properties under visible light exposure through the hydrophilic mechanism of organic soil decomposition. Moreover the bacterial sensitivity and proven fungitoxic properties of Ag-N-TiO2 NPs leads to the possibility of designing ne...
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Research Interests: Microbiology, Food Science, Biology, Aspergillus, Bacteria, and 3 moreLactic Acid, food spoilage, and Mycelium
The present study was aimed at highlighting the applicability of novel generations of functional textile materials based on incorporation of safe, pyroelectric nanoparticles into fibers. The synthetic fibers with negative ions emitting... more
The present study was aimed at highlighting the applicability of novel generations of functional textile materials based on incorporation of safe, pyroelectric nanoparticles into fibers. The synthetic fibers with negative ions emitting properties contain semiprecious stone particles (tourmaline, monazite, opal), ceramic, charcoal, zirconium powders, aluminum titanate and mixtures of such minerals. Currently, the synthetic fibers generating pyroelectric effects are obtained by introducing minerals (e.g. superfine tourmaline powder) into melted polymers before spinning or by dispersing the minerals into the spinning solution. As polymers, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl acetate, polyamide and viscose have been used. In low quantities, these minerals have almost no effect on human health. Included in large quantities, they tend to be too expensive (tourmaline, opal) and the fibers become harsh and fragile. The current generation of FIR functional textile materials faces a series ...