Kinetics study of the photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli

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 inactivati...