Inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in freshwater using HSO5−/UV-A LED and HSO5−/Mn+/UV-A LED oxidation processes

Freshwater disinfection using photolytic and catalytic activation of peroxymonosulphate (PMS) through PMS/UV-A LED and PMS/Mn+/UV-A LED [Mn+ = Fe2+ or Co2+] processes was evaluated through the inactivation of three different bacteria: Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), Bacillus mycoides (sporulated Gram-positive), Staphylococcus aureus (non-sporulated Gram-positive), and the fungus Candida albicans. Photolytic and catalytic activation of PMS were effective in the total inactivation of the bacteria using 0.1 mM of PMS and Mn+ at neutral pH (6.5), with E. coli reaching the highest and the fastest inactivation yield, followed by S. aureus and B. mycoides. With B. mycoides, the oxidative stress generated through the complexity of PMS/Mn+/UV-A LED combined treatments triggered the formation of endospores. The treatment processes were also effective in the total inactivation of C. albicans, although, due to the ultrastructure, biochemistry and physiology of this yeast, higher dosages of reagents (5 mM of PMS and 2.5 mM of Mn+) were required. The rate of microbial inactivation markedly increased through catalytic activation of PMS particularly during the first 60 s of treatment. Co2+ was more effective than Fe2+ to catalyse PMS decomposition to sulphate radicals for the inactivation of S. aureus and C. albicans. The inactivation of the four microorganisms was well represented by the Hom model. The Biphasic and the Double Weibull models, which are based on the existence of two microbial sub-populations exhibiting different resistance to the treatments, also fitted the experimental results of photolytic activation of PMS

Photocatalytic discolouration of Reactive Black 5 by UV-A LEDs and solar radiation

One of the most important disadvantages of photocatalytic treatments is the high cost associated with the use of UV lamps. In this work, the efficiency of two UV-A LEDs (ultraviolet-a light emitting diodes) photosystems as a low cost alternative to conventional UV lamps was tested. The efficiency of the two UV-A LEDs photosystems was compared to that of the most economical UV source—solar radiation. To this end, the oxidative discolouration of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) aqueous solutions was studied using photocatalysis with different concentrations of TiO2 (0.5–1 g/L) and H2O2 (1.76, 4.41, 8.82 and 17.64 mM), exposed to different radiation sources: UV-A LEDs and solar radiation. The use of H2O2 increased the discolouration rate of RB5; however, an excessive dosage reduced the yield of the treatment, and the best results were attained with a concentration of 8.82 mM of H2O2. Strong differences were observed between the use of UV-A LEDs (23 W/m2) and solar radiation. In both cases total discolouration was observed, but the discolouration rate was considerably higher with solar radiation. However, the use of a more powerful UV-A LED photo-system (85 W/m2) allowed the achievement of higher discolouration rates (k = 0.284 min−1) than those obtained with solar radiation (k = 0.189 min−1) using only 0.5 g/L of TiO2. Therefore, UV-A LED radiation is a serious alternative to conventional UV lamps, since they are ecofriendly, have a low operational cost and high energy efficiency