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'All in one' photo-reactor pod containing TiO2 coated glass beads and LEDs for continuous photocatalytic destruction of cyanotoxins in water. (2020)
Journal Article
GUNARATNE, H.Q.N., PESTANA, C.J., SKILLEN, N., HUI, J., SARAVANAN, S., EDWARDS, C., IRVINE, J.T.S., ROBERTSON, P.K.J. and LAWTON, L.A. 2020. ‘All in one’ photo-reactor pod containing TiO2 coated glass beads and LEDs for continuous photocatalytic destruction of cyanotoxins in water. Environmental science: water research and technology [online], 6(4), pages 945-950. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ew00711c

Blooms of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in water reservoirs frequently produce highly toxic secondary metabolites including microcystins which have resulted in both human and animal fatalities. To tackle this global problem, we present here a viab... Read More about 'All in one' photo-reactor pod containing TiO2 coated glass beads and LEDs for continuous photocatalytic destruction of cyanotoxins in water..

Phosphate and nitrate supplementations to evaluate the effect on cell biomass, intra and extracellular nodularin and nodulopeptin 901 produced by the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena KAC 66. (2019)
Journal Article
HAMEED, S., LAWTON, L.A. and EDWARDS, C. 2020. Phosphate and nitrate supplementations to evaluate the effect on cell biomass, intra and extracellular nodularin and nodulopeptin 901 produced by the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena KAC 66. Journal of applied phycology [online], 32(2), pages 937-950. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-019-02008-z

Blooms of the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena occur regularly in the Baltic Sea typically producing a wide range of bioactive peptides including the hepatotoxin nodularin (NOD), spumigins, anabaenopeptins and nodulopeptins (molecular weights: 917,... Read More about Phosphate and nitrate supplementations to evaluate the effect on cell biomass, intra and extracellular nodularin and nodulopeptin 901 produced by the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena KAC 66..

Removal of microcystins from a waste stabilisation lagoon: evaluation of a packed-bed continuous flow TiO2 reactor. (2019)
Journal Article
PESTANA, C.J., HOBSON, P., ROBERTSON, P.K.J., LAWTON, L.A. and NEWCOMBE, G. 2020. Removal of microcystins from a waste stabilisation lagoon: evaluation of a packed-bed continuous flow TiO2 reactor. Chemosphere [online], 245, article number 125575. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125575

Photocatalysis has been shown to successfully remove microcystins (MC) in laboratory experiments. Most research to date has been performed under ideal conditions in pure or ultrapure water. In this investigation the efficiency of photocatalysis using... Read More about Removal of microcystins from a waste stabilisation lagoon: evaluation of a packed-bed continuous flow TiO2 reactor..

Daphnia magna exudates impact physiological and metabolic changes in microcystis aeruginosa. (2019)
Journal Article
SAVIC, G.B., EDWARDS, C., BRIAND, E., LAWTON, L., WIEGAND, C. and BORMANS, M. 2019. Daphnia magna exudates impact physiological and metabolic changes in microcystis aeruginosa. Toxins [online], 11(7), article number 421. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11070421

While the intracellular function of many toxic and bioactive cyanobacterial metabolites is not yet known, microcystins have been suggested to have a protective role in the cyanobacterial metabolism, giving advantage to toxic over nontoxic strains und... Read More about Daphnia magna exudates impact physiological and metabolic changes in microcystis aeruginosa..

Using cellulose polymorphs for enhanced hydrogen production from photocatalytic reforming. (2019)
Journal Article
CHANG, C., SKILLEN, N., NAGARAJAN, S., RALPHS, K., IRVINE, J.T.S., LAWTON, L. and ROBERTSON, P.K.J. 2019. Using cellulose polymorphs for enhanced hydrogen production from photocatalytic reforming. Sustainable energy and fuels [online], 3(8), pages 1971-1975. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1039/c9se00377k

Efficient energy production and waste valorisation are the most challenging fields in photocatalysis. Reported here is enhanced hydrogen production from cellulose, achieved through the conversion of cellulose I to II via a simple pretreatment step.

Exploring the potential resource recovery from pot ale utilising microalgae and novel LED photobioreactors. (2019)
Thesis
MCNERNEY, C.C. 2019. Exploring the potential resource recovery from pot ale utilising microalgae and novel LED photobioreactors. Robert Gordon University [online], PhD thesis. Available from: https://openair.rgu.ac.uk

Pot ale is a protein-rich, high-carbon and acidic (pH 3.5) by-product of the whisky industry. With 4.9 million tonnes of pot ale being produced per annum in Scotland alone, it presents a difficult disposal challenge for the industry. Pot ale has high... Read More about Exploring the potential resource recovery from pot ale utilising microalgae and novel LED photobioreactors..

The effect of water treatment unit processes on cyanobacterial trichome integrity. (2018)
Journal Article
PESTANA, C.J., CAPELO-NETO, J., LAWTON, L., OLIVEIRA, S., CARLOTO, I. and LINHARES, H.P. 2019. The effect of water treatment unit processes on cyanobacterial trichome integrity. Science of the total environment [online], 659, pages 1403-1414. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.337

Many toxic and/or noxious cyanobacteria appear in nature with a filamentous, stacked cell arrangement called trichomes. Although water treatment can be optimized to keep cyanobacterial cells intact and to avoid the release of toxic and/or noxious com... Read More about The effect of water treatment unit processes on cyanobacterial trichome integrity..

Enhancing photocatalytic degradation of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR with the addition of sulfate-radical generating oxidants. (2018)
Journal Article
ANTONIOU, M.G., BORAEI, I., SOLAKIDOU, M., DELIGIANNAKIS, Y., ABHISHEK, M., LAWTON, L.A. and EDWARDS, C. 2018. Enhancing photocatalytic degradation of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR with the addition of sulfate-radical generating oxidants. Journal of hazardous materials [online], 360, pages 461-470. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.07.111

This study investigated the coupling of sulfate radical generating oxidants, (persulfate, PS and peroxymonosulfate, PMS) with TiO2 photocatalysis for the degradation of microcystin-LR (MC-LR). Treatment efficiency was evaluated by estimating the elec... Read More about Enhancing photocatalytic degradation of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR with the addition of sulfate-radical generating oxidants..

Cell lysis and detoxification of cyanotoxins using a novel combination of microbubble generation and plasma microreactor technology for ozonation. (2018)
Journal Article
PANDHAL, J., SISWANTO, A., KUVSHINOV, D., ZIMMERMAN, W.B., LAWTON, L. and EDWARDS, C. 2018. Cell lysis and detoxification of cyanotoxins using a novel combination of microbubble generation and plasma microreactor technology for ozonation. Frontiers in microbiology [online], 9, article number 678. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00678

There has been a steady rise in the global incidences of algal blooms and, worryingly, there is increasing evidence that changes in the global climate are leading to a shift toward cyanobacterial blooms. Many cyanobacterial genera are harmful, produc... Read More about Cell lysis and detoxification of cyanotoxins using a novel combination of microbubble generation and plasma microreactor technology for ozonation..

Development and single-laboratory validation of a UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of microcystins and nodularin in natural water, cyanobacteria, shellfish and algal supplement tablet powders. (2017)
Journal Article
TURNER, A.D., WAACK, J., LEWIS, A., EDWARDS, C. and LAWTON, L. 2018. Development and single-laboratory validation of a UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of microcystins and nodularin in natural water, cyanobacteria, shellfish and algal supplement tablet powders. Journal of chromatography B [online], 1074-1075, pages 111-123. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2017.12.032

A simple, rapid UHPLC-MS/MS method has been developed and optimised for the quantitation of microcystins and nodularin in wide variety of sample matrices. Microcystin analogues targeted were MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-LA, MC-LY, MC-LF, LC-LW, MC-YR, MC-WR, [As... Read More about Development and single-laboratory validation of a UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of microcystins and nodularin in natural water, cyanobacteria, shellfish and algal supplement tablet powders..

A photocatalytic impeller reactor for gas phase heterogeneous photocatalysis. (2017)
Journal Article
TOKODE, O., PRABHU, R., LAWTON, L.A. and ROBERTSON, P.K.J. 2017. A photocatalytic impeller reactor for gas phase heterogeneous photocatalysis. Journal of environmental chemical engineering [online], 5(4), pages 3942-3948. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2017.07.068

A novel photocatalytic reactor based on a stirred tank configuration has been described. This reactor employs the use of photocatalytic impellers to aid the mass transport of gaseous organic compounds during photocatalytic reactions. Experiments invo... Read More about A photocatalytic impeller reactor for gas phase heterogeneous photocatalysis..

Uptake and depuration of cyanotoxins in the common blue mussel Mytilus edulis. (2017)
Thesis
WAACK, J. 2017. Uptake and depuration of cyanotoxins in the common blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Robert Gordon University, PhD thesis.

Cyanobacteria produce a variety of secondary metabolites that possess - amongst other things - antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Being primary producers, they are also a vital component within the food web. However, certain strains... Read More about Uptake and depuration of cyanotoxins in the common blue mussel Mytilus edulis..

Energy efficient operation of photocatalytic reactors based on UV LEDs for pollution remediation in water. (2017)
Conference Proceeding
PRABHU, R., HEWITT, F., GEORGIEVA, G., MEENAKSHI, H.N., LAWTON, L.A. and ROBERTSON, P.K.J. 2017. Energy efficient operation of photocatalytic reactors based on UV LEDs for pollution remediation in water. In Proceedings of OCEANS 2017, 19-22 June 2017, Aberdeen, UK. New York: IEEE [online], article number 8085011, pages 2623-2627. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1109/OCEANSE.2017.8085011

Photocatalytic technology using TiO2 is one of the emerging approaches for water treatment, especially as a final step to remove complex organics such as pesticides, hormones or humic acids. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a semiconductor material with st... Read More about Energy efficient operation of photocatalytic reactors based on UV LEDs for pollution remediation in water..

Cellulose II as bioethanol feedstock and its advantages over native cellulose. (2017)
Journal Article
NAGARAJAN, S., SKILLEN, N.C., IRVINE, J.T.S, LAWTON, L.A. and ROBERTSON, P.K. 2017. Cellulose II as bioethanol feedstock and its advantages over native cellulose. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews [online], 77, pages 182-192. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.03.118

Alternative renewable energy must emerge to sustainably meet the energy demands of the present and future. Current alternatives to fossil fuels are electricity from solar, wind and tidal energies and biofuels. Biofuels, especially bioethanol could be... Read More about Cellulose II as bioethanol feedstock and its advantages over native cellulose..

Effects of temperature and salinity on the production of cell biomass, chlorophyll-a and intra- and extracellular nodularins (NOD) and nodulopeptin 901 produced by Nodularia spumigena KAC 66. (2017)
Journal Article
HAMEED, S., LAWTON, L.A., EDWARDS, C., KHAN, A., FAROOQ, U. and KHAN, F.A. 2017. Effects of temperature and salinity on the production of cell biomass, chlorophyll-a and intra- and extracellular nodularins (NOD) and nodulopeptin 901 produced by Nodularia spumigena KAC 66. Journal of applied phycology [online], 29(4), pages 1801-1810. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-017-1115-5

Nodularia spumigena is one of the dominant toxic cyanobacteria which produce blooms in the Baltic Sea, a brackish water body, particularly in late summer. Nodularia spp. are known to produce hepatotoxic nodularins (NODs) and other bioactive peptides... Read More about Effects of temperature and salinity on the production of cell biomass, chlorophyll-a and intra- and extracellular nodularins (NOD) and nodulopeptin 901 produced by Nodularia spumigena KAC 66..

Hepatotoxic-microcystins in two drinking water reservoirs in the central region of Ghana. (2017)
Journal Article
ADDICO, G.N.D., LAWTON, L. and EDWARDS, C. 2017. Hepatotoxic-microcystins in two drinking water reservoirs in the central region of Ghana. Toxicology and forensic medicine [online], 2(1), pages 1-11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.17140/TFMOJ-2-111

Background: Microcystins are cyclic peptides containing seven amino acids with the condensation of two terminal amino acids of the linear peptide to form a cyclic compound. The cyclic nature of microcystins suggests that they are highly stable in wat... Read More about Hepatotoxic-microcystins in two drinking water reservoirs in the central region of Ghana..

Archaeological medicinal earths as antibacterial agents: the case of the Basel Lemnian sphragides. (2017)
Journal Article
PHOTOS-JONES, E., EDWARDS, C., HANER, F., LAWTON, L., KEAN, C., LEANORD, A. and PERDIKATSIS, V. 2017. Archaeological medicinal earths as antibacterial agents: the case of the Basel Lemnian sphragides. Geological society: special publications. Geology and medicine: historical connections [online], 452, pages 141-153. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP452.6

This paper presents the scientific investigation of three Lemnian sphragides (terra sigillata), a famed medicinal clay (earth) of antiquity, dated to the 16th-17th century, and presently in the collection of the Museum for the History of Pharmacy of... Read More about Archaeological medicinal earths as antibacterial agents: the case of the Basel Lemnian sphragides..

Mixing regime simulation and cellulose particle tracing in a stacked frame photocatalytic reactor. (2016)
Journal Article
NAGARAJAN, S., STELLA, L., LAWTON, L.A., IRVINE, J.T.S. and ROBERTSON, P.K.J. 2017. Mixing regime simulation and cellulose particle tracing in a stacked frame photocatalytic reactor. Chemical engineering journal [online], 313, pages 301-308. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.12.016

To sustainably meet the global energy demand, unconventional methods to produce renewable energy must emerge. Biofuels from cellulose (via fermentable sugar production) mediated via photocatalysis provides an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.... Read More about Mixing regime simulation and cellulose particle tracing in a stacked frame photocatalytic reactor..

Comparative assessment of visible light and UV active photocatalysts by hydroxyl radical quantification. (2016)
Journal Article
NAGARAJAN, S., SKILLEN, N.C., FINA, F., ZHANG, G., RANDORN, C., LAWTON, L.A., IRVINE, J.T.S. and ROBERTSON, P.K.J. 2016. Comparative assessment of visible light and UV active photocatalysts by hydroxyl radical quantification. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology A: chemistry [online], 334, pages 13-19. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2016.10.034

A simple method for determining hydroxyl radical yields on semiconductor photocatalysts is highly desirable, especially when comparing different photocatalyst materials. This paper reports the screening of a selection of visible light active photocat... Read More about Comparative assessment of visible light and UV active photocatalysts by hydroxyl radical quantification..

Evidence for functional drift of bacterial isolates in response to cyanobacterial microcystin-lr and multiple peptide degradation in paucibacter toxinivorans. (2016)
Thesis
KREITZ, J. 2016. Evidence for functional drift of bacterial isolates in response to cyanobacterial microcystin-lr and multiple peptide degradation in paucibacter toxinivorans. Robert Gordon University, MPhil thesis.

Bacterial bioremediation has been proposed as an efficient, low cost and ecologically safe method to clean vital water reservoirs from cyanobacterial peptide toxins microcystins (MCs). In previous work carried out in 2008 several bacteria were isolat... Read More about Evidence for functional drift of bacterial isolates in response to cyanobacterial microcystin-lr and multiple peptide degradation in paucibacter toxinivorans..