Issue 7, 2024

TiO2 nanopowder and nanofilm catalysts in the disinfection and mineralization of S. aureus with solar-simulated radiation

Abstract

Water contamination with various microorganisms is life threatening. TiO2 semiconductor nanoparticles have been widely described for bacterial inactivation. However, such a process may yield hazardous organic matter in water; complete bacterial mineralization is thus imperative. This study describes how anatase TiO2 nanopowder, suspended in water, photocatalyzes the inactivation and complete mineralization of Staphylococcus aureus using UV radiation from simulated solar radiation. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis confirms bacterial photo-mineralization. Bacterial mineralization is further evidenced by the appearance of ammonium ions in the treated water. In the dark, and under visible light using a cut-off filter, only a small fraction of bacteria is inactivated with no mineralization. Nanofilm catalysts are also examined in batch reaction systems. The film catalyst exhibits a higher photocatalytic efficiency with a turnover frequency of up to ∼4.9 × 108 CFU g−1 min−1 compared to ∼5.8 × 106 CFU g−1 min−1 of the nanopowder film counterparts. The powder catalyst lost up to 65% of its efficiency on reuse. This is due to catalyst lost mass during recovery by filtration. The film catalyst retains about 96% of its efficiency upon second reuse, showing its feasibility in application. Moreover, the film catalyst is useful in a continuous flow reaction system with an efficiency of 5.4 × 108 CFU g−1 min−1, which is higher than that in the batch system, and no measurable efficiency loss in reuse. These results open the door to use the present photodegradation process in large-scale water purification processes.

Graphical abstract: TiO2 nanopowder and nanofilm catalysts in the disinfection and mineralization of S. aureus with solar-simulated radiation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Oct 2023
Accepted
05 Mar 2024
First published
26 Mar 2024

React. Chem. Eng., 2024,9, 1762-1775

TiO2 nanopowder and nanofilm catalysts in the disinfection and mineralization of S. aureus with solar-simulated radiation

R. Shqier, A. Zyoud, M. H. S. Helal, H. Nassar, R. Alkowni, M. Assali, S. Zyoud, N. Qamhieh, A. R. Hajamohideen, S. Sawalha, S. H. Zyoud and H. S. Hilal, React. Chem. Eng., 2024, 9, 1762 DOI: 10.1039/D3RE00540B

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