Examinando por Autor "DE DIEGO, ANA"

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Assessing the efficacy of novel and conventional disinfectants on Salmonella cross contamination during washing of fresh-cut lettuce and their impact on product shelf life
(ELSEVIER, 2022-06) PABLOS, CRISTINA; ROMERO, AITOR; DE DIEGO, ANA; CORRALES, CARLA; VAN GRIEKEN, RAFAEL; BASCÓN, ISABEL; PÉREZ-RODRÍGUEZ, FERNANDO; MARUGÁN, JAVIER
The effect of the application of different disinfectants on the microbial load and sensory quality of fresh-cut lettuce was evaluated during washing, and after subsequent storage at 4 °C under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Different families of potential alternative sanitizers were tested: quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) as benzalkonium chloride (BZK), and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC); isothiazolinones (mixture of chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, CMIT:MIT 3:1); and, essential oils (carvacrol, CAR). All these disinfectants were effective to inactivate Salmonella (103 CFU/mL) present in wash water. In addition, all tested chemicals could reduce Salmonella on produce to levels >95%, with chlorine and BZK-CAR reaching maximum reductions of 99.0%. These disinfectants also enhanced a reduction in natural microbiota present on the produce. The highest reduction corresponded to free chlorine (50 mg/L) (95.1%), CMIT:MIT (50 mg/L) (Kathon®) (94.5%), and BZK (300 mg/L) (91.3%). However, only free chlorine (50 mg/L), CMIT:MIT (50 mg/L) (Kathon®), and DDAC (100 mg/L) resulted in minimal negative impact on end-product quality during 14-day storage. On the contrary, an adequate sensory quality could be only maintained up to 7 days for produce treated with BZK (300 mg/L).
Novel macroporous 3D photocatalytic foams for simultaneous wastewater disinfection and removal of contaminants of emerging concern
(ELSEVIER, 2019-06-15) VAN GRIEKEN, RAFAEL; MARTÍN-SOMER, MIGUEL; MARUGÁN, JAVIER; PABLOS, CRISTINA; DE DIEGO, ANA; ENCINAS, ÁNGEL; MONSALVO, VICTOR M.
A comparative study of the photocatalytic efficiency obtained in water disinfection and the simultaneous removal of micropollutants was carried out by using three different TiO2 photocatalytic materials. The three photocatalysts were immobilized in macroporous reticulated ZrO2 3D foams and their efficiency was compared with that obtained in suspensions for the treatment of synthetic and real wastewater. The results obtained show similar photocatalytic efficiencies for the three photocatalysts used, showing the catalysts WTT-P and AQ1 to be an alternative to the common use of P25 catalyst. The use of supported photocatalysts in the treatment of synthetic water showed lower efficiencies compared to the suspended photocatalysts due to the existence of diffusive limitations caused by the low concentration of the micropollutants. However, these differences were not observed when treating a wastewater treatment effluent. In this case, the non-selective action of the hydroxyl radicals causes the loss of a significant part of the available radicals for the oxidation of non-target compounds present in the water. Consequently, diffusion was not identified as the limiting stage of the removal rate, but the availability of hydroxyl radicals in the reaction medium, which allows the 3D foams to be as effective as the processes in suspension.