Water Disinfection by Immobilized Photosensitizers
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Technology
Water Disinfection by Immobilized Photosensitizers
Anton Valkov , Kate Adar Raik, Yamit Mualem-Sinai, Faina Nakonechny and Marina Nisnevitch
Abstract
Fresh water shortage has become a global problem. A partial solution for this problem is the use of treated and disinfected wastewater for irrigation. However, most existing wastewater disinfection methods are based on the use of aggressive chemicals or power-consuming physical processes. Photodynamic eradication of waterborne bacteria by immobilized photosensitizers may be a good alternative to conventional methods. In the present work, the photosensitizers Rose Bengal sodium salt, Rose Bengal lactone, methylene blue, and hematoporphyrin were immobilized in polyethylene or polypropylene using a “green” method of co-extrusion, without addition of any chemicals, yielding polymeric strips and beads containing the photosensitizers. The antibacterial efficiency of these immobilized photosensitizers was tested against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli in batch and continuous regimes upon illumination with a white luminescent lamp. All examined photosensitizers demonstrated a good ability to decrease the bacterial concentration, up to their total eradication. Immobilized photosensitizers are proposed for batch or continuous disinfection of wastewater after secondary treatment.
Keywords: photosensitizers; PACT; Rose Bengal; methylene blue; hematoporphyrin; water disinfection
Water 2019, 11(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11010026
Taxonomy
- Bacteria
- Treatment
- Drinking Water Treatment
- Water Treatment & Control
- Technology
- Water Treatment Solutions
- water treatment
- Anti-Bacterial Dressings
- Photocatalyst
- Photovoltaics
- Water filtration, purifiers, nano filtration
- Cyanobacteria