Search

We previously produced a bactericidal filter paper loaded with PAA47-b-PS214 block copolymer micelles containing the biocide triclosan (TCN), using cationic polyacryamide (cPAM) as a binder. However, we encountered a very slow filtration, resulting in long bacteria deactivation times. Slow drainage occurred only when the filter paper was left to dry. It appears that the filter paper with cPAM and micelles develops hydrophobic properties responsible for this very slow filtration. Three approaches were taken to accelerate the very slow drainage all based on modification of binder-micelle interactions: (i) keeping the micelles wet, (ii) modification of the corona, and (iii) replacing cPAM with smaller and more highly charged cationic poly(isopropanol dimethylammonium) chloride (PIDMAC). In all cases, the drainage time of bactericidal filter paper became close to that of untreated filter paper, without decreasing its efficiency. Moreover, replacing cPAM with PIDMAC led to a much more efficient bactericidal filter paper that reduced bacteria viability by more than 6 orders of magnitude. In addition to resolving the hydrophobic drainage hurdle, the three solutions also offer a better understanding of the interaction between cPAM and micelles in the filter paper.

This paper demonstrated an in situ headspace gas chromatography (GC) technique for monitoring bacterial growth using a commercial GC system with a multiple headspace extraction (sampling) mode. The technique was based on measuring the carbon dioxide mass in the headspace of a closed sample vial during the bacteria growth. A mathematic equation was derived in order to calculate the integrated amount of carbon dioxide produced by bacterial growth during the incubation. The method can be used to monitor the bacterial growth rate in a given cultural medium. The present method is very simple, sensitive, and safe.