Photocatalytic disinfection of Escherichia coli using TiO2 P25 and Cu-doped TiO2

Abstract

coli inactivation.coli inactivation in the range of 4-9.coli inactivation by a factor less than 3. Both sol gel and wet impregnation method are used to create undoped and Cu doped TiO2 in an effort to enhance the photocatalytic activity, evaluated via the photedegradation and inactivation of Escherichia coli. The results showed that TiO2 doped with 10% CuCl2 prepared by wet-impregnation method resulted in a complete 100% E. coli inactivation within one hour (from ~106 to 0CFU/mL). The results also showed that pH has a negligible effect on E. coli inactivation. The use of river water confirmed that photocatalytic disinfection could be quenched by impurities in the water, such as dissolved organic matter.