Didecyldimethylammonium Research Articles

Evaluating cholinesterases inhibition by BAC and DDAC biocides: A combined experimental and theoretical approach

Disinfectant biocides are chemicals that are heavily used for disinfection purposes in households, hospitals, and agrifood industry. The most common type of biocides are quaternary ammonium compounds (QAs), notably benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), which have been shown to inhibit cholinesterases. This study aims to evaluate the effect of these biocides towards different cholinesterases using both enzyme inhibition and molecular docking experiments. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from Drosophila melanogaster (DM-AChE), Electrophorus electricus (EE-AChE), bovine erythrocytes (BE-AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase from horse serum (BChE) were selected for this study. Using a colorimetric assay, all these enzymes were shown to be inhibited in a competitive form by both biocides, BAC and DDAC, with the exception of DM-AChE, which was inhibited in a non-competitive manner by BAC. Molecular docking experiments enabled to identify structural determinants involved in the different modes of inhibition observed. More particularly, our results suggest that non-competitive inhibition of DM-AChE by BAC could be related to the binding of the inhibitor into a more extended active site compared to other cholinesterases.

Insight into didecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide toxicity following acute exposure in pullets (Gallus gallusdomesticus).

Didecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB) is a quaternary ammonium compound used for the sanitation of drinking water of poultry and water pipelines in farms. There is scarcity of information on the toxicology of DDAB in poultry. This study set out to profile the acute toxicity of DDAB in poultry. Issa brown pullets (n = 34) as experimental birds were orally administered varying doses of DDAB, using a syringe, after 12h fasting, and observed for toxicity over 14 days. Control birds (n = 10) were similarly given normal saline orally. Toxic signs in the experimental birds were depression, anorexia, adipsia, vocalization with foamy salivation, later emaciation and death. The LD50 was calculated as 458.00mg/kg. Birds given 2151mg/kg DDAB died within 24h, while those treated with 516mg/kg succumbed on Day 14. At necropsy, grossly, there were necrosis and sloughing of the oesophagus and intestines, pale and friable liver, congested and necrotic lungs, friable popped out kidneys and emaciated carcasses. Microscopically, desquamation and necrosis of the oesophagus, crop, proventriculus and intestines and disruption of the koilin membrane of the gizzard were observed. The lungs, liver and kidneys were congested with mononuclear cellular infiltration plus loss of architecture in the lungs and liver. In conclusion, at high doses, DDAB caused significant toxicity in chickens and these findings provide new information which could serve as a guide in the diagnosis of quaternary ammonium toxicity in chicken. The results could be extrapolated to other quaternary ammonium toxicities in related avian species.

Development of a QuEChERS-based method for the determination of quaternary ammonium compounds in different food matrices by LC-MS/MS

A QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) - based method was developed and validated for the determination of six benzalkonium chloride (BAC) homologues (C8-C18) and four didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) homologues (C8-C14) in various food commodities. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are cationic surfactants and biocides commonly found in cleaning and disinfecting products widely used in industrial applications, households, agriculture, hospitals, and healthcare facilities and their usage has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The method was validated in terms of specificity, selectivity, linearity, limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy (recovery percentage), precision (CV %) and matrix effect (ME %). %). Intraday and interday precision were evaluated at two levels. Mean recoveries for all matrices fell within 70–120 %, with CV% below 20 %. All calibration curves demonstrated excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.998). The LOQ was set and verified at 0.01 mg/kg for each analyte. The results were satisfactory according to the SANTE/2021/11312 guidelines. In addition, the method included the elimination of water at each stage of sample preparation and throughout the chromatographic system to minimize background noise. The method was successfully applied to analyse 46 samples of animal origin. BAC C14 was the most frequently detected compound (76 % of the samples) and in two samples, the sum of BACs was above the MRL set by EU the Regulation. These findings, coupled with limited data on QAC levels in meat and seafood products, underscore the necessity for further investigation into these matrices.

Differential Expression Analysis Reveals Possible New Quaternary Ammonium Compound Resistance Gene in Highly Resistant Serratia sp. HRI.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in disinfectant use emphasised their pivotal role in infection control. While the majority of antimicrobial resistance research focuses on antibiotics, resistance to biocides, which are present in disinfectants and sanitisers, is escalating. Serratia sp. HRI is a highly resistant isolate, and through the study of this organism, the molecular mechanisms of resistance may be uncovered. Serratia sp. HRI was treated with the disinfectant benzalkonium chloride in preparation for RNA sequencing. Through mining of the RNA-Seq differential expression data, an uncharacterised Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) efflux pump gene was found to be up-regulated at least four-fold at four different time points of exposure. Real-time PCR revealed this uncharacterised MFS efflux gene was up-regulated after exposure to benzalkonium chloride and two additional disinfectants, didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and VirukillTM. Additionally, expression of this gene was found to be higher at 20 min versus 90 min of exposure, indicating that the up-regulation of this gene is an initial response to biocide treatment that decreases over time. This suggests that MFS efflux pumps may be an initial survival mechanism for microorganisms, allowing time for longer-term resistance mechanisms. This work puts forward a novel biocide resistance gene that could have a major impact on biocide susceptibility and resistance.

A new approach for risk assessment of pulmonary toxicants: a preliminary study using didecyldimethylammonium chloride.

Current human risk assessments often rely on animal toxicity data to establish point of departure (POD) values, followed by the application of uncertainty factors. Consequently, there is growing interest in alternative toxicity testing methods that reduce reliance on animal models. In this study, we propose a novel approach for inhalation toxicity risk assessment that integrates in silico and in vitro methods. Human primary alveolar epithelial cells were exposed to aerosolized didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) to assess cytotoxicity. This was followed by transcriptome analysis and biological pathway investigation, utilizing adverse outcome pathway (AOP), to calculate the POD. Additionally, human DDAC exposure was simulated using a multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model to predict exposure levels in the human alveolar region via inhalation. The results from in silico and in vitro studies were then compared, and a comprehensive risk assessment was performed. The POD for AOP 452 key events-oxidative stress, inflammation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis, and autophagy-was found to range between 19.0 and 23.89ng/cm2, according to benchmark dose calculation tools. The estimated human exposure to DDAC in the alveolar region under actual exposure conditions was 0.164ng/cm2/day, resulting in a margin of exposure (MOE) ranging from 121 to 145, suggesting caution regarding DDAC inhalation exposure. This study presents a novel risk assessment method that compares estimated human inhalation exposure values to in vitro results, applying the human equivalent concentration concept. Our findings demonstrate the potential for conducting human risk assessments using both in silico and in vitro methods as alternatives to traditional in vivo studies.

Synthesis of Newly Ester Type Gemini Cationic Surfactants: Surface Properties, Fabric Softness and Antibacterial Properties

AbstractFour ester cationic Gemini surfactants (EDQ‐n, n represents the carbon number in the raw fatty acid of 12, 14, 16 and 18) were synthesized from fatty acid, N, N‐dimethylethanolamine and 1, 4‐dibromobutane by two‐step reaction of esterification and quaternization. Their surface activities at air/water interface were investigated. The application performance such as water solubility, antistatic property, fabric softness, fabric whiteness, biodegradability, and antibacterial activities were tested and compared with traditional quaternary ammonium salt. The results showed that the γcmc increases with increasing the hydrophobic chain length and EDQ‐12 presented the highest surface activity. The diffusion coefficients calculated from the Ward‐Tordai equation indicates the adsorption process is a mixed‐diffusion kinetic adsorption mechanism. The water solubility of EDQ‐n is higher than dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (D1821) and ester quaternary ammonium salt (Esterquats). The fabric softness and whiteness properties of EDQ‐16 and EDQ‐18 are similar to D1821 and Esterquats, which can significantly reduce the cotton fabric softness and have no significant difference in whiteness retention. EDQ‐n demonstrated more readily biodegradation(>90 %) than D1821(0 %) after seven days. In addition, EDQ‐12 and EDQ‐14 show excellent antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in comparison with conventional bacteriostatic agent didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC).

Photogalvanics of the platinum working electrode in the Allura Red d-Galactose-didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride-NaOH electrolyte

Photo-galvanic cell is a photochemical cell device whose performance depends on the combination of several factors like dye and reductant concentrations, dye stability, pH, light intensity, electrodes used, Pt electrode area, diffusion length, etc. An entirely new and unexplored combination of platinum with Allura Red photosensitizer, d-Galactose reductant, and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) surfactant has been explored in present research to upgrade the electrical performance of these cells. Allura Red is a water-soluble azo dye which shows good absorbance in region 501–507 nm. The Allura Red and DDAC is an anionic and cationic species, respectively, and therefore, the opposite charges of dye and surfactant molecules are expected to form a stable dye-surfactant complex enhancing the dye solubility and stability. d-Galactose has been used for its good reducing properties. This unexplored combination of Pt-Allura Red-d-Galactose-DDAC with these characteristics has encouraged further enhancement of the electrical output of the photogalvanic cells. The electrical output, stability, and spectral property of the photogalvanic cells have been studied in the present work. The observed power, current, potential, efficiency, and storage capacity (as half time) are of the order of 443.8 µW, 2400 µA, 721 mV, 11.61%, and 28 min, respectively. These observed results are higher than some reported data. In the spectral study, nearly the same band intensity of the pre-illuminated and post-illuminated electrolyte solution shows quite good photo-stability of the Allura Red dye in electrolyte form. This new combination of platinum-electrolyte still has the scope to achieve the enhanced cell performance of photogalvanic cells for future development.

Design and Validation of a PLC-Controlled Morbidostat for Investigating Bacterial Drug Resistance.

During adaptive laboratory evolution experiments, any unexpected interruption in data monitoring or control could lead to the loss of valuable experimental data and compromise the integrity of the entire experiment. Most homemade mini-bioreactors are built employing microcontrollers such as Arduino. Although affordable, these platforms lack the robustness of the programmable logic controller (PLC), which enhances the safety and robustness of the control process. Here, we describe the design and validation of a PLC-controlled morbidostat, an innovative automated continuous-culture mini-bioreactor specifically created to study the evolutionary pathways to drug resistance in microorganisms. This morbidostat includes several improvements, both at the hardware and software level, for better online monitoring and a more robust operation. The device was validated employing Escherichia coli, exploring its adaptive evolution in the presence of didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), a quaternary ammonium compound widely used for its antimicrobial properties. E. coli was subjected to increasing concentrations of DDAC over 3 days. Our results demonstrated a significant increase in DDAC susceptibility, with evolved populations exhibiting substantial changes in their growth after exposure.

Occurrence and source identification of the disinfectant didecyldimethylammonium chloride in a Japanese watershed receiving effluent from swine farms

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), a toxic quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) linked to multidrug resistance, is used widely in households and hospitals and on swine farms to prevent disease transmission. However, little is known about its occurrence in watersheds receiving livestock wastewaters or manure. We monitored DDAC and tracers (veterinary and human drugs) once a season over a year at 14 sites in a Japanese watershed where swine outnumbered humans 1.2 to 1 and where both swine and human wastewaters were largely treated on site. DDAC concentrations in sewage-treatment-plant effluent (33–52 ng/L) were close to, whereas those in river waters (3.6–16,672 ng/L) far exceeded, those reported worldwide. DDAC mass flows at the catchment outlet (1692–3816 μg/s) were higher than those of any of the drugs. DDAC concentrations were significantly correlated with total concentrations of veterinary drugs (Spearman's correlation coefficient, 0.95, P < 0.01), indicating that the major pathway of DDAC entry to surface waters was via effluent discharge from swine farms. Comparison of observed and predicted mass flows implied that a substantial percentage of DDAC was washed from the barn floor into swine excrement. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate QAC hotspots attributable to animal husbandry.

Evaluating the Expression of Efflux Pumps in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Exposure to Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride, and Octenidine Dihydrochloride.

Emerging resistance of Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to commonly used detergents and disinfectant is encountering us with hazard. Inappropriate use of disinfectants has forced bacteria to gain resistance. The ability of bacteria to extrude substrates from the cellular interior to the external environment has enabled them to persist in exposure to toxic compounds, which is due to existence of transport proteins. Efflux pumps, in Gram-negative bacteria, are proteins responsible for exporting molecules outside of the cell, by crossing the two membranes. In this study, 40 P. aeruginosa strains from hospitals, clinics, and burn center laundries and 40 P. aeruginosa strains from urban laundries were collected. This study evaluated the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) level of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), and octenidine dihydrochloride (Od) in P. aeruginosa strains. The real-time PCR was carried out to evaluate the expression of MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, and MexXY-OprM efflux system. The obtained results indicated a higher MIC level for SDS, DDAC, and Od in medical laundries. The sub-MIC level of DDAC and Od increased the expression level of MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, and MexXY-OprM in P. aeruginosa strains, suggesting that efflux pumps contribute to disinfectant resistance in P. aeruginosa.

Recovery of Metals from the "Black Mass" of Waste Portable Li-Ion Batteries with Choline Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents and Bi-Functional Ionic Liquids by Solvent Extraction.

Lithium-ion portable batteries (LiPBs) contain valuable elements such as cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), lithium (Li) and manganese (Mn), which can be recovered through solid-liquid extraction using choline chloride-based Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) and bi-functional ionic liquids (ILs). This study was carried out to investigate the extraction of metals from solid powder, black mass (BM), obtained from LiPBs, with various solvents used: six choline chloride-based DESs in combination with organic acids: lactic acid (1:2, DES 1), malonic acid (1:1, DES 2), succinic acid (1:1, DES 3), glutaric acid (1:1, DES 4) and citric acid (1:1, DES 5 and 2:1, DES 6). Various additives, such as didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDACl) surfactant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), pentapotassium bis(peroxymonosulphate) bis(sulphate) (PHM), (glycine + H2O2) or (glutaric acid + H2O2) were used. The best efficiency of metal extraction was obtained with the mixture of {DES 2 + 15 g of glycine + H2O2} in two-stage extraction at pH = 3, T = 333 K, 2 h. In order to obtain better extraction efficiency towards Co, Ni, Li and Mn (100%) and for Cu (75%), the addition of glycine was used. The obtained extraction results using choline chloride-based DESs were compared with those obtained with three bi-functional ILs: didecyldimethylammonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinate, [N10,10,1,1][Cyanex272], didecyldimethylammonium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, [N10,10,1,1][D2EHPA], and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinate, [P6,6,6,14][Cyanex272]/toluene. The results of the extraction of all metal ions with these bi-functional ILs were only at the level of 35-50 wt%. The content of metal ions in aqueous and stripped organic solutions was determined by ICP-OES. In this work, we propose an alternative and highly efficient concept for the extraction of valuable metals from BM of LiPBs using DESs and ILs at low temperatures instead of acid leaching at high temperatures.

An Investigation of N-Hydroxyphthalimide Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Toluene without Metal Ions in Liquid Phase: Effect of Solvents and Phase Transfer Catalysts.

The selective oxidation of toluene to yield value-added oxygenates, such as benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and benzoic acid, via dioxygen presents a chlorine-free approach under benign conditions. Metal-free catalytic processes are preferred to avoid metal ion contamination. In this study, we employed N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) as a catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of toluene to its oxygenated derivatives. The choice of solvent exerted a significant impact on the catalytic activity and selectivity of the catalyst NHPI at reaction temperatures exceeding 70 °C. Notably, hexafluoroisopropanol substantially enhanced the selective production of benzaldehyde. Furthermore, we identified didecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide, featuring two symmetrical long hydrophobic chains, as a potent enhancer of NHPI for the solvent-free aerobic oxidation of toluene. This effect is ascribed to its unique symmetrical structure, extraction capabilities, and resistance to thermal and acid/base conditions. Based on the product distribution and control experiments, we proposed a plausible reaction mechanism. These findings may inform the industrial synthesis of oxygenated derivatives from toluene.

Quaternary ammonium biocides promote conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance gene in structure- and species-dependent manner

The linkage between biocides and antibiotic resistance has been widely suggested in laboratories and various environments. However, the action mechanism of biocides on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spread is still unclear. Thus, 6 quaternary ammonium biocides (QACs) with different bonded substituents or alkyl chain lengths were selected to assess their effects on the conjugation transfer of ARGs in this study. Two conjugation models with the same donor (E. coli DH5α (RP4)) into two receptors, E. coli MG1655 and pathogenic S. sonnei SE6-1, were constructed. All QACs were found to significantly promote intra- and inter-genus conjugative transfer of ARGs, and the frequency was highly impacted by their structure and receptors. At the same environmental exposure level (4 × 10-1 mg/L), didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC (C10)) promoted the most frequency of conjugative transfer, while benzathine chloride (BEC) promoted the least. With the same donor, the enhanced frequency of QACs of intra-transfer is higher than inter-transfer. Then, the acquisition mechanisms of two receptors were further determined using biochemical combined with transcriptome analysis. For the recipient E. coli, the promotion of the intragenus conjugative transfer may be associated with increased cell membrane permeability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and proton motive force (PMF)-induced enhancement of flagellar motility. Whereas, the increase of cell membrane permeability and decreased flagellar motility due to PMF disruption but encouraged biofilm formation, maybe the main reasons for promoting intergenus conjugative transfer in the recipient S. sonnei. As one pathogenic bacterium, S. sonnei was first found to acquire ARGs by biocide exposure.

Synergistic Bactericidal Effects of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds with Essential Oil Constituents.

Antimicrobial tolerance is a significant concern in the food industry, as it poses risks to food safety and public health. To overcome this challenge, synergistic combinations of antimicrobials have emerged as a potential solution. In this study, the combinations of two essential oil constituents (EOCs), namely carvacrol (CAR) and eugenol (EUG), with the quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, two common foodborne bacteria. The checkerboard assay was employed to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) and the fractional bactericidal concentration index (FBCI), indicating the presence of bactericidal, but not bacteriostatic, synergy in all QAC-EOC combinations. Bactericidal synergism was clearly supported by Bliss independence analysis. The bactericidal activity of the promising synergistic combinations was further validated by time-kill curves, achieving a >4-log10 reduction of initial bacterial load, which is significant compared to typical industry standards. The combinations containing DDAC showed the highest efficiency, resulting in the eradication of bacterial population in less than 2-4 h. These findings emphasize the importance of considering both bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects when evaluating antimicrobial combinations and the potential of EOC-QAC combinations for sanitization and disinfection in the food industry.

Polyvinyl Butyral Loading with Combined Repellents Showed Effective Protection Against Leech Bites in Diverse Situations.

Background: Leech bites have long been a persistent problem for individuals engaged in outdoor activities, particularly in environments such as moors, jungles, and grasslands. Methods to prevent leech bites are anecdotal and individual, highlighting the need for the development of universal and effective repellent formulations. This study developed a novel approach for repelling leeches using combined repellent agents and a film-forming material (polyvinyl butyral), to enhance efficiency in multi-scenario applications. Material and methods: This study demonstrates that citronellal, icaridin and DDAC (didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) showcasing active avoidance and contact toxicity on leeches. the optimized repellent formulation (MSRS, containing citronellal, icaridin and DDAC as repellent agents) enables specific sustained release properties of constituents in both air and water conditions. Results: MSRS could effectively achieve the purposes of "proactive repelling", "contact repelling", and "bite detaching". The effectiveness could last for several hours. Additionally, the hydrophobic polyvinyl butyral membrane reduced the transdermal absorption of repellent agents. Moreover, the formulation is biocompatible and environmentally friendly. Conclusions: This study provides a new feasible strategy for the prevention and removal of leech bites.

The different adsorption-degradation behaviors of SARS-CoV-2 by bioactive chemicals in wastewater: The suppression kinetics and their implications for wastewater-based epidemiology

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) is widely used to monitor the progression of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. While there is a clear correlation between the number of COVID patients in a sewershed and the viral load in the wastewater, there is notable variability across different treatment plants. In particular, some facilities consistently exhibit higher viral content per diagnosed patient, implying a potential underestimation of the number of COVID patients, while others show a low viral load per diagnosed case, indicating potential attenuation of genetic material from the sewershed. In this study, we investigated the impact of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPHE), linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LABS), bisoctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (BDAC), and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), the surfactants that have been commonly used as detergents, emulsifiers, wetting agents on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The results showed multiple and dynamic mechanisms, including degradation and desorption, can occur simultaneously during the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and different chemicals depending on the physicochemical properties of each chemical. Through the elucidation of the dynamic interactions, the findings from this study could help the state health organizations and scientific community to optimize the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater-based epidemiology strategies.

Recovery of Strategic Metals from Waste Printed Circuit Boards with Deep Eutectic Solvents and Ionic Liquids

The recycling of metals from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) has been presented as a solid–liquid extraction process using two deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and four ionic liquids (ILs). The extraction and separation of Cu(II), Ag(I), and other metals, such as Al(III), Fe(II), and Zn(II), from the solid WPCBs (after the physical, mechanical, and thermal pre-treatments) with different solvents are demonstrated. Two popular DESs were used to recover valuable metal ions: (1) choline chloride + malonic acid, 1:1, and (2) choline chloride + ethylene glycol, 1:2. The extraction efficiencies of DES 1 after two extraction and two stripping stages were only 15.7 wt% for Cu(II) and 17.6 wt% for Ag(I). The obtained results were compared with those obtained with four newly synthetized ILs as follows: didecyldimethylammonium propionate ([N10,10,1,1][C2H5COO]), didecylmethylammonium hydrogen sulphate ([N10,10,1,H][HSO4]), didecyldimethylammonium dihydrogen phosphate ([N10,10,1,1][H2PO4]), and tetrabutylphosphonium dihydrogen phosphate ([P4,4,4,4][H2PO4]). Various additives, such as didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride surfactant, DDACl; hydrogen peroxide, H2O2; trichloroisocyanuric acid, TCCA; and glycine or pentapotassium bis(peroxymonosulphate) bis(sulphate), PHM, were used with ILs during the extraction process. The solvent concentration, quantity of additivities, extraction temperature, pH, and solid/liquid, as well as organic/water ratios, and the selectivity and distribution ratios were described for all of the systems. The utilization of DESs and the new ILs with different additives presented in this work can serve as potential alternative extractants. This will help to compare these extractants, additives, extraction efficiency, temperature, and time of extraction with those of others with different formulas and procedures. The metal ion content in aqueous and stripped organic solutions was determined by the ICP-MS or ICP-OES methods. The obtained results all show that solvent extraction can successfully replace traditional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods in new technologies for the extraction of metal ions from a secondary electronic waste, WPCBs.

ТЕХНОЛОГІЯ ПРОФІЛАКТИКИ ОНІХОМІКОЗІВ

The work investigated the problem of preventing the occurrence of onychomycosis. The need to disinfect various materials of a person with mycosis: shoes, socks, clothes, surfaces, sanitary equipment and other materials that can be infected with pathogens of mycosis, in order to minimize re-infection and infection of family members, was substantiated. Currently, on the Ukrainian market of means for the prevention of mycosis, mainly disinfectants are used, which are toxic and have a negative effect on treated surfaces. Thus, there is an urgent need to create an effective, safe means for disinfecting shoes and other materials and surfaces that may be infected with onychomycosis pathogens. The tool should be universal, suitable for processing all surfaces and materials. A significant number of active substances belonging to cation-active surfactants have pronounced fungicidal properties, do not have a negative effect on materials and surfaces, and are safe for humans. Therefore, when creating a disinfectant against onychomycosis, a number of substances related to cationic active surfactants were studied. It was established that the most optimal active component of the new disinfectant is didecyldimethylammonium chloride. On the basis of this substance, a tool and technology for the prevention of onychomycosis was created. Also, nonionic surfactant - ethoxylated alcohol was added to the product. It enhances the fungicidal effect of the disinfectant and gives it a cleaning ability. This property is quite an important component of the disinfectant. First, dirt interferes with the effective action of the biocide, accordingly, the latter is inactivated. Secondly, if there is a small amount of dirt on clothes and shoes, after fungicidal treatment, it will be enough to rinse it with running water so that the clothes and shoes become clean.

Unraveling the permeation-enhancing effect of didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) on poplar wood (Populus cathayana Rehd.)

ABSTRACT Wood is a sustainable, porous material with a diverse range of applications. However, the low permeability of liquids within wood poses significant challenges for the widespread application of advanced wood-based materials such as oil–water separation, as well as traditional chemical modification processes of wood. Surfactants exhibit potential to improve permeability of liquids within wood by effectively enhancing liquid wettability on solid surfaces. In this study, the effects of didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) on liquid absorption of water and copper ethanolamine (CE) by wood were explored under atmospheric temperature and pressure. With an increase in concentration of DDAC, its promotion effect on liquid absorption of wood became more pronounced. The most notable enhancement was observed in wicking test where 0.10% DDAC increased liquid absorption of wood to water by 156.7% and to CE by 65.5%. The enhancement of liquid wettability on wood surface cannot be solely attributed to reduction of liquid surface tension, the adsorption of DDAC onto wood surface also plays a crucial role in this process. This study investigated the intrinsic mechanisms by which DDAC enhanced the permeability of liquids within wood, contributing to increased productivity and reduced energy consumption.

Imidazolium surface-active ionic liquids as antifungal agents in wood protection

This research focuses on five newly surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs) whose commitment to sustainable chemistry allows for their utilization as effective wood protection agents alternatives to traditional surfactants. The synthesis yields were above 93 %, while the purity ranged from 97 to 99 %. Also, a series of properties such as surface activity, wettability, antifungal properties were studied. The demonstrated relationship between critical micelle concentration (CMC) and elongation on alkyl chain length of the investigated imidazolium SAILs aligns with expectations. Moreover, it was shown that all tested SAILs exhibited lower CMC values (ranged from 0.34 to 8.46 mmol⋅L−1) than conventional surfactants such as didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and decyltrimethylammonium bromides (CTAB) proving that the synthesized compounds can serve as substitutes for surfactants. 3-Decyloxymethyl-1-methylimidazolium dicyanamide (SAIL-3) showed the best antifungal properties, which does not translate into contact angle (CA) values. The mechanical properties measured for the impregnated wood samples were consistently inferior to those of the control wood samples. However, wood treated with SAIL-3, in contrast, exhibited a reduced uptake of free water compared to the untreated control wood. The results presented validate our hypothesis regarding the distinctive nature of SAILs and affirm their suitability for wood impregnation.