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Publikation Organic photovoltaics: Potential fate and effects in the environment(Elsevier, 2012) Zimmermann, Yannick-Serge; Schäffer, Andreas; Hugi, Christoph; Fent, Karl; Corvini, Philippe; Lenz, MarkusIn times of dwindling fossil fuels it is particularly crucial to develop novel “green” technologies in order to cover the increasing worldwide demand for energy. Organic photovoltaic solar cells (OPVs) are promising as a renewable energy source due to low energy requirement for production, low resource extraction, and no emission of greenhouse gasses during use. In contrast to silicium-based solar cells, OPVs offer the advantages of light-weight, semi-transparency and mechanical flexibility. As to a possible forthcoming large-scale production, the environmental impact of such OPVs should be assessed and compared to currently best available technologies. For the first time, this review compiles the existing knowledge and identifies gaps regarding the environmental impact of such OPVs in a systematic manner. In this regard, we discuss the components of a typical OPV layer by layer. We discuss the probability of enhanced release of OPV-borne components into the environment during use-phase (e.g. UV- and biodegradation) and end-of-life phase (e.g. incineration and waste disposal). For this purpose, we compiled available data on bioavailability, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, and ecotoxicity. Whereas considerable research has already been carried out concerning the ecotoxicity of certain OPV components (e.g. nanoparticles and fullerenes), others have not been investigated at all so far. In conclusion, there is a general lack of information about fate, behavior as well as potential ecotoxicity of most of the main OPV components and their degradation/transformation products. So far, there is no evidence for a worrying threat coming from OPVs, but since at present, no policy and procedures regarding recycling of OPVs are in action, in particular improper disposal upon end-of-life might result in an adverse effect of OPVs in the environment when applied in large-scale.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation Isolation of two Ochrobactrum sp. strains capable of degrading the nootropic drug—Piracetam(Elsevier, 07/2018) Woźniak-Karczewska, Marta; Cvancarová, Monika; Chrzanowski, Łukasz; Corvini, Philippe; Cichocka, DanutaPiracetam (2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide) is a popular cognitive enhancer, which has recently been detected in waste and drinking water. Nootropic drugs are designed to affect human metabolism and act on the nervous system, but their environmental effects have yet to be the subject of detailed studies. In this report, we present the efficient biodegradation of the cognitive enhancer, piracetam. Two bacterial strains capable of using this compound as the sole carbon source were isolated and later identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi strain MW6 and Ochrobactrum intermedium strain MW7. The compound's mineralization and the cleavage of the heterocyclic ring were shown in the experiments with 14C-labeled piracetam. This is also the first report of a pharmaceutical's degradation by the Ochrobactrum genus. This study presents model microorganisms that can be used in further investigation of piracetam's degradation pathways as well as enzymes and genes involved in the process.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation Bacterial isolates degrading ritalinic acid—human metabolite of neuro enhancer methylphenidate(Elsevier, 07/2018) Woźniak-Karczewska, Marta; Cvancarová, Monika; Chrzanowski, Łukasz; Corvini, Philippe; Cichocka, DanutaThe consumption of nootropic drugs has increased tremendously in the last decade, though the studies on their environmental fate are still scarce. Nootropics are bioactive compounds designed to alter human's physiology therefore the adverse effects towards wildlife can be expected. In order to understand their environmental impact, the knowledge on their transformation pathways is necessary. Methylphenidate belongs to the most prescribed neuro-enhancers and is among the most favored smart drugs used in non-medical situations. It is metabolized in human liver and excreted as ritalinic acid. Here, we showed for the first time that ritalinic acid can be biodegraded and used as a sole carbon and nitrogen source by various microbial strains originating from different environmental samples. Five axenic strains were isolated and identified as: Arthrobacter sp. strain MW1, MW2 and MW3, Phycicoccus sp. strain MW4 and Nocardioides sp. strain MW5. Our research provides the first insight into the metabolism of ritalinic acid and suggests that it may differ depending on the strain and growth conditions, especially on availability of nitrogen. The isolates obtained in this study can serve as model organisms in further studies on the catabolism of ritalinic acid and methylphenidate but potentially also other compounds with similar structures. Our findings have important implication for the sewage epidemiology. We demonstrated that ritalinic acid is subject to quick and efficient biodegradation thus its use as a stable biomarker should be reconsidered.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation Biotransformation of ritalinic acid by laccase in the presence of mediator TEMPO(Elsevier, 07/2018) Kobakhidze, Aza; Elisashvili, Vladimir; Corvini, Philippe; Cvancarova Småstuen, M.Methylphenidate is widely used as a medication for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Less than 1% of methylphenidate is excreted unchanged in urine, while 80% of an oral dose is excreted as ritalinic acid (which is reportedly poorly degradable). This study aims to investigate the biotransformation of ritalinic acid by free and immobilized enzymes. The influence of various laccase mediators on biotransformation efficiency has been tested. Formation of the main transformation products has been monitored and their potential structures suggested. The effective transformation of ritalinic acid was observed only in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl mediator (TEMPO). The most effective enzyme was the laccase of T. versicolor 159. The main transformation product was an N-methyl derivative of ritalinic acid. Ritalinic acid was also reduced to aldehyde and alcohol, and a broad spectrum of intermediate complexes with oxoammonium ion of TEMPO were detected. This is the first time the biotransformation of ritalinic acid has been investigated in detail.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation Biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole by a bacterial consortium of Achromobacter denitrificans PR1 and Leucobacter sp. GP(Springer, 12/2018) Reis, Ana C.; Cvancarova Småstuen, M.; Liu, Ying; Lenz, Markus; Hettich, Timm; Kolvenbach, Boris; Corvini, Philippe; Nunes, Olga C.In the last decade, biological degradation and mineralization of antibiotics have been increasingly reported feats of environmental bacteria. The most extensively described example is that of sulfonamides that can be degraded by several members of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Previously, we reported sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation and partial mineralization by Achromobacter denitrificans strain PR1, isolated from activated sludge. However, further studies revealed an apparent instability of this metabolic trait in this strain. Here, we investigated this instability and describe the finding of a low-abundance and slow-growing actinobacterium, thriving only in co-culture with strain PR1. This organism, named GP, shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (94.6–96.9%) with the type strains of validly described species of the genus Leucobacter. This microbial consortium was found to harbor a homolog to the sulfonamide monooxygenase gene (sadA) also found in other sulfonamide-degrading bacteria. This gene is overexpressed in the presence of the antibiotic, and evidence suggests that it codes for a group D flavin monooxygenase responsible for the ipso-hydroxylation of SMX. Additional side reactions were also detected comprising an NIH shift and a Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement, which indicate an inefficient biological transformation of these antibiotics in the environment. This work contributes to further our knowledge in the degradation of this ubiquitous micropollutant by environmental bacteria.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation Bio- and photodegradation of fungicides in agro-industrial wastewater(11/2018) Cvancarova Småstuen, Milada; Svojitka, Jan; Corvini, Philippe06 - PräsentationPublikation Rhizobacteria and Plant Symbiosis in Heavy Metal Uptake and Its Implications for Soil Bioremediation(Elsevier, 2017) Sobariu, Dana Luminita; Fertu, Daniela Ionela; Diaconu, Mariana; Pavel, Lucian Vasile; Hlihor, Raluca-Maria; Dragoi, Elena Niculina; Curteanu, Silvia; Lenz, Markus; Corvini, Philippe; Gavrilescu, MariaCertain species of plants can benefit from synergistic effects with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that improve plant growth and metal accumulation, mitigating toxic effects on plants and increasing their tolerance to heavy metals. The application of PGPR as biofertilizers and atmospheric nitrogen fixators contributes considerably to the intensification of the phytoremediation process. In this paper, we have built a system consisting of rhizospheric Azotobacter microbial populations and Lepidium sativum plants, growing in solutions containing heavy metals in various concentrations. We examined the ability of the organisms to grow in symbiosis so as to stimulate the plant growth and enhance its tolerance to Cr(VI) and Cd(II), to ultimately provide a reliable phytoremediation system. The study was developed at the laboratory level and, at this stage, does not assess the inherent interactions under real conditions occurring in contaminated fields with autochthonous microflora and under different pedoclimatic conditions and environmental stresses. Azotobacter sp. bacteria could indeed stimulate the average germination efficiency of Lepidium sativum by almost 7%, average root length by 22%, average stem length by 34% and dry biomass by 53%. The growth of L. sativum has been affected to a greater extent in Cd(II) solutions due its higher toxicity compared to that of Cr(VI). The reduced tolerance index (TI, %) indicated that plant growth in symbiosis with PGPR was however affected by heavy metal toxicity, while the tolerance of the plant to heavy metals was enhanced in the bacteria-plant system. A methodology based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) and differential evolution (DE), specifically a neuro-evolutionary approach, was applied to model germination rates, dry biomass and root/stem length and proving the robustness of the experimental data. The errors associated with all four variables are small and the correlation coefficients higher than 0.98, which indicate that the selected models can efficiently predict the experimental data.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation Environmental aspects of printable and organic electronics (POE)(Pan Stanford Publishing, 04/2016) Hengevoss, Dirk; Zimmermann, Yannick; Brun, Nadja; Hugi, Christoph; Lenz, Markus; Corvini, Philippe; Fent, Karl; Nisato, Giovanni; Lupo, Donald; Ganz, Simone04A - Beitrag SammelbandPublikation Immobilized Biocatalysts for Bioremediation of Groundwater and Wastewater(International Water Association Publications (IWA), 2015) Hochstrat, Rita; Wintgens, Thomas; Corvini, PhilippeThe book summarises the findings of the EU funded research project MINOTAURUS (FP7 funded, GA no. 265946). It presents bioremediation approaches for contaminated groundwater and wastewater. The focus is on the application of immobilized enzymes and microorganisms in adopted bioreactors.03 - SammelbandPublikation Immobilization of an artificial imine reductase within silica nanoparticles improves its performance(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016) Hestericová, Martina; Correro, Maria Rita; Lenz, Markus; Corvini, Philippe; Shahgaldian, Patrick; Ward, Thomas R.Silica nanoparticles equipped with an artificial imine reductase (biotinylated iridium complex conjugated with streptavidin) display marked redn. activity toward cyclic imines and NAD. The method, based on immobilization and protection of streptavidin on silica nanoparticles, shields the biotinylated metal cofactor against deactivation yielding >46,000 turnovers in pure samples and 4000 turnovers in crude cellular exts.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift