Title: Kinetics study of the photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli

Authors: Mojtaba Khani; Nor Aishah Saidina Amin; Seyed Nezamedin Hosseini; Mahshid Heidarrezaei

Addresses: Chemical Reaction Engineering Group (CREG)/ Low Carbon Energy Group, Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Johor Baharu, Johor, Malaysia ' Chemical Reaction Engineering Group (CREG)/ Low Carbon Energy Group, Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Johor Baharu, Johor, Malaysia ' Research and Production Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI), Tehran, Iran ' Institute of Bioproduct Development (IBD), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Johor Baharu, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract: Photocatalysis is a promising method for the disinfection of potable water in developing countries. Water treatment using nanocrystalline titanium dioxide photocatalytic oxidation is a well-known, enhanced and advanced oxidation process for environmental remediation. In this article, the bactericidal properties of TiO₂ nanoparticle suspension irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light for the disinfection of a water sample contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) are investigated. Degussa P25 TiO₂ nanoparticles are used as photocatalyst at concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 1 g/l. The optimal photocatalyst concentration is 0.5 g/L. The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation rates are studied using established kinetic models available in the literature, such as the Hom model. After reviewing the data, it was observed that with increasing the light intensity and system aeration, the effectiveness of the photocatalytic reaction increased. Also, the Hom kinetic model exhibited greater bacteria inactivation reaction speed in case when laboratory data were placed in middle inactivation state.

Keywords: photocatalyst; inactivation E.coli; kinetic; TiO₂; UV light; wastewater.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2016.086106

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2016 Vol.6 No.3/4, pp.139 - 150

Received: 02 Jul 2015
Accepted: 12 Jan 2016
Published online: 25 Aug 2017 *

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